Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1919 — Marriage Customs in the Sudan. [ARTICLE]

Marriage Customs in the Sudan.

lu “Sudan Notes and Records,” Mr. W. Nicholls describes a remarkable marriage custom in the Sennar province which is known as “stealing’the fire." On the final night of the festivities the bridegroom goes- to the bride’s ’house escorted bv a band of youths bearing torches. These torches can be lit only by fire taken from the bride’s house, and tills the relatives of the bride take every possible method to prevent. Some of the bridegroom's friends creep in secretly at night, or a body of them forces its way Into the house to carry off the fire The editor quotes as parallels the custom recorded by Sir James Frazer (“The Golden Bough," “The Magic Art,” vol. 11, pp. 216-320). in which fire Is used as a fertility charm in marriage ritual. But this 4s not an exact parallel, and, assuming that the charm is In the Interest of tne bride, it does not account for the resistance made by her friends when the bridegroom’s party endeavors to procure fire from her. home hearth.