Gnome marriages are usually prearranged, and relatives keep an eye out for a suitable partner. Wits and scholarship are traits commonly sought for. Several meetings take place once a suitable partner has been identified. The families visit each others' homes, dining and socializing to get to know one another. This procedure lets the suitors meet their potential spouses in an informal environment, and under the supervision of the elders. If the courting ensues to everyone's liking, the suitors enter an engagement to be married. It is traditional to give each other a gemstone at this point. These are later mounted in the wedding bracelets, shortly before the wedding. Determining the wedding date can be a complicated affair, and an astronomer or mystic is commonly consulted. Should a gnome marry someone of another clan, he or she undertakes an oath to never reveal its secrets. The wedding ceremony is held at the clan hall. The ceremony often begins with recitation from a written passage that has sentimental value to the couple. A priest is present to lead the ritual and to witness the pledges. The newlyweds vow to never keep any secrets from one another, and to be forever loyal to their clan. After the ceremony they both receive a copy of a document that describes their rights and obligations as spouses. They also sign their names to the clan genealogy. Traditionally all present share a bottle of Boffle Brew, to toast for the fortune and happiness of the newlyweds. The couple receives gifts that will help them as they start to build a future together, such as clothing, household items or money. Far from all gnomes marry, and many prefer a life of celibacy in order to concentrate on their chosen path, a trait that causes low birth rates among the gnomes. The clan is treated as an extended part of the family, and many household duties are shared among its members. It is common to have an astrological chart or a mystical divination made for a newborn child. Children receive much attention from the adults, and it is common to teach them puzzles and games that encourage wit and memory. They are also encouraged to learn to read and handle simple crafts at an early age, since scholarly and artisan careers are favored in gnomish society. Gnomes bury their dead in hidden underground tombs that are protected by traps, fake chambers and secret passages. The deceased are carried to their final resting place in a somber procession, and are sealed within a stone casket or a niche in the wall. Personal possessions, such as prized tools, are laid next to the corpse. Some earn themselves a burial place within the clan hall, something which is considered a great honor. Their remains are secured beneath the floor or behind walls, often in communal areas such as the clan library.