Complex sentence: At the time of an engagement, the fiancée took a hairpin from her hair and gave it to her fiancé as a pledge: this can be seen as a reversal of the Western tradition, such as the future groom presents an engagement ring to his betrothed.
Split into simpler sentences: At the time of an engagement, the fiancée took a hairpin from her hair and gave it to her fiancé as a pledge. This can be seen as a reversal of the Western tradition, such as the future groom presents an engagement ring to his betrothed.