A Brazilian couple, Manoel Angelim Dino, 105, and Maria de Sousa Dino, 101, have set a new Guinness World Record for the longest marriage for a living couple. They were awarded the title after their marriage, which took place in 1940, was verified by Guinness World Records and LongeviQuest, a site that tracks the lives of centenarians. As of Valentine's Day, the couple had been married for 84 years and 77 days.
According to Guinness World Records, Manoel (born 1919) and Maria (born 1923, maiden name Almeida de Souza) first met around 1936 while working in agriculture for their families. Manoel had travelled to the Almeida region in the Boa Viagem district to collect a shipment of rapaduras (a traditional Brazilian candy) where he made her acquaintance, but it wasn't until some years later that they started a relationship.
In fact, their original meeting did not lead to much at all, and it was only after a chance encounter around 1940 that Manoel decided Maria was the person he wanted to spend his life with. He apparently fell in love at first (well, technically second) sight and was determined not to let the opportunity slip away again, so declared his feelings for Maria and asked her out, to which she said yes.
Maria's mother was initially against the relationship, so Manoel had to earn the trust of her family and soon began building a home for the future they would share.
After getting the family approval, Manoel and Maria wed in 1940 and built a life together in the home he built, working side by side cultivating rolled tobacco to sell and support their growing family. It was a struggle, but they were able to raise 13 children, who later blessed them with 55 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, and now 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Now both centenarians, their days are spent in peace. Due to his age, Manoel mostly rests during the day but often joins Maria in the living room in the evening to listen to the rosary prayer on the radio at 6 p.m., followed by the televised mass.
So, what's the secret to a long-lasting marriage? Well, according to Maria and her family, it's simple: love. And that's something even the most advanced computer could never calculate.
