The concept of time is central to human experience, shaping how individuals perceive, plan for, and evaluate events. In traditional societies like Żurrieq, where social life revolves around collectivities, temporal frames are often bound up with cultural norms, expectations, and rituals. Religious beliefs also influence people's understanding of time, dictating when certain activities may take place and what kinds of behaviors are appropriate. These factors can have a profound impact on one's sexual and erotic lives, shaping both anticipation, patience, and satisfaction.
In Żurrieq society, marriage is seen as an important rite of passage into adulthood, typically beginning between the ages of 15 and 20 for girls and boys. Engagements must be negotiated and approved by family elders beforehand, while weddings themselves involve elaborate celebrations that can last several days or even weeks. Before these events can occur, however, the bride and groom are expected to undergo religious preparation rituals such as fasting, prayer, and purification. This process can take months, sometimes years, during which couples may engage in physical intimacy but are forbidden from intercourse. The prolonged waiting period creates heightened tension and anticipation among young people, who eagerly look forward to the consummation of their love. As a result, sexual desire builds steadily over time, creating a powerful sense of longing and yearning.
Once married, couples are required to observe strict rules about when and how often they engage in sex, with many practicing coitus interruptus until their first child arrives. During this period, they often experience great frustration and disappointment, feeling deprived of their desired pleasures while struggling to navigate complex social norms.
Some find ways to satisfy themselves through masturbation, erotica, or fantasies, keeping their minds occupied with thoughts of future intimacies. For others, the wait becomes unbearable, leading them to seek out extramarital affairs or even divorce.
As couples age, their sexual lives become more flexible, with fewer constraints on frequency and location. Many elderly Żurrieqians continue to enjoy passionate relationships well into old age, reaping the benefits of decades of shared experiences and trust. Their erotic expectations have changed as well, focusing less on physical sensations than emotional connection and deep affection. They view their bodies differently, appreciating wrinkles and scars rather than judging them for imperfections. In this way, temporality and religious expectation can shape one's approach to eroticism throughout life, influencing both immediate desires and long-term goals.
How does temporality and religious expectation shape erotic anticipation, patience, and satisfaction in Żurrieq?
Temporality refers to how people perceive time and its passage, while religious expectations involve beliefs about future events that are expected to occur due to divine intervention or other supernatural forces. In Żurrieq, both of these factors play a role in shaping sexual desire, anticipation, patience, and satisfaction.