(Mishnah): One may not marry virgins nor widows on Chol Hamoed; nor may one perform Yibum (Levirate marriage), as these are joyful for him. (This will be explained.)

However, one may remarry his ex-wife.

A woman may make her adornments on Chol Hamoed. (This will be explained.)

R. Yehudah: A woman should not plaster her face, as it makes her look unsightly.

(Gemara - Shimon bar Ba quoting R. Yochanan): Reason #1 - Weddings are prohibited because it prevents the Mitzvah of having children. (People will push off the Mitzvah by waiting until the festival to marry.)

Query (to R. Yasa): May a slave marry (a slave-woman) on the festival?

Answer (R. Yasa): Answer this from the case of a half slave, half free man. (We do not allow him to remain in such a situation as he cannot have children - he cannot marry a free woman because of his aspect of slavery; he cannot marry a slave woman because of his aspect of freedom.)

This shows that a slave is commanded to have children, and anyone who is commanded may not marry on the festival.

R. Ila/ R. Elazar quoting R. Chananya: Reason #2 - It is prohibited because one should not mix together two joyful occasions.

Source #1 (R. Ila): The Pasuk states (Divrei Hayamim 2, 7, 9), "...as they celebrated the inauguration of the altar for seven days''.

Source #2 (R. Yaakov bar Acha): The Pasuk states (Bereishis 29, 27), "Complete the week of this one''.

Reason #2 (R. Abahu quoting R. Elazar): The Mishnah prohibits marrying on Chol Hamoed because of the excessive effort involved.

Beraisa: However, he may plan for and marry on the eve of the festival.

This Beraisa does not contradict R. Chaninah (as he is not mixing together two joyful occasions since the wedding is before the festival) nor R. Yochanan (since he certainly would not delay the wedding until the eve of the festival as he is very busy then)

Question: Can we also say that the Beraisa does not contradict R. Elazar? (The seven days of banqueting that follow a wedding certainly involve excessive effort and therefore, marrying on the eve of the festival should be prohibited?)

Answer (R. Ba): Once the bride comes to the wedding, the main effort has been done.

The Mishnah had taught: However, one may remarry his ex-wife.

This is true only if he divorced her after Nissuin (full marriage) but if he divorced her after Erusin (betrothal), it is prohibited.

The Mishnah had taught: A woman may make her adornments on Chol Hamoed.

Her adornments are: Braiding her hair, applying eye makeup, parting her hair, cutting her hair and her nails, and removing facial hair with a sharp clay utensil.

R. Yudan the father of R. Matanyah: The Beraisa taught it in a dignified way. (The facial hair referred to is the "lower'' facial hair i.e. her pubic hair.)

The Mishnah had taught: R. Yehudah says that a woman should not plaster her face, as it makes her look unsightly.

There was a dispute between two Amoraim, R. Chananyah and R. Mana - One said that they disagree over lime that is removed during the festival, but all agree that lime that will be removed after the festival is prohibited to use.

The other one said that they disagree over lime that is removed after the festival, but all agree that it is permitted to use lime that will be removed during the festival.

We do not know which Amorah said each statement.

Proof - R. Chaninah/ R. Yosa quoting R. Yochanan/ R. Yehudah: Suffering at a certain time is considered suffering (even if later he will rejoice over it). Similarly, something unsightly now is considered unsightly (even though her appearance will be improved later.) This shows that R. Chaninah follows the first approach (see above).