Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1871 — Curious Marriage Customs. [ARTICLE]

Curious Marriage Customs.

Since time immemorial, the customs antecedent to awl uttcndaiit upon marriage have been widely different, in different laud* and among different people, and ltnve excited universal interest. Not always the sacred and holy thing it is reganled now, by all the right minded ,aml upright, marriage has been in all ages an important and significant consummation, and as such has beep generally observed with significant ocrcmonUls. A volume recently published, entitled “The Wedding Day in all Ages and Countries,” tells of these Ceremonials, and we collate from it some of the most uncommon and curious. A law of Solon, at an early day in Greece, required that the newly-wedded pair, on first entering the bridal chamber, should cat a quince together, to indicate that their mutiinl relationship should lie sweet and agreeable. It the indication was always a true one, anil Imd any lasting after-influence, would it hot be wise to revive this ancient law ? In Chaldea, on the wedding day, the priest entered the bridegroom's house anti kindled a fire, which it was thought ought never to be put out until the death of one of the pair. If, during the life of both, the fire did die out, it was deemed a sign that their marriage was annulled. Hence, as a writer said in IHSJ, the expression—- “ Provoke me not too much lest I throw water oh the fire."

In Assyria all marriageable young girls were assembled in a public gflace, and the crier put thein up at auction. The sum received for those who were handsome, and therefore sold well, became the wedding gxirtion of those who were lacking in good looks; and as money, then, as now, had utt attraction even in a matrimonial way, all young women found husbands. This custom was doubtless an effectual guard against the prevalence of old maids. In modem Egypt, a woman can never be seen by her future husband until after the marriage, being always closely veiled. On the day before the wedding, she goes in state to bath, walking under a canopy of silk carried by four men. Following the hath, the bride, bridegroom and their friends had a supper; after which a quantity of henna paste is spread on the bride’s hands, and the guests make her contributions by sticking coins on the paste. When her hands are covered, the money is scraped off. On the day of the wedding, the bride goes in procession to the bridegroom’s house; and at night, when the bridegroom returns from prayers at the mosque, lie is first introduced to, and left alone with the bride. Then, having paid for the privilege by giving her money, he first lifts the veil from her face. * A Circassian bride was conducted to the bridegroom’s house by her relatives, messengers being sent on before to announce her coming*. These messengers were presented with food and wine, which they poured round the house as an offering for the about-to-be-wedded couple’s prosperity. The bridal ptarty was shown into an apartment, on arrival, in the middle of which were a pitcher of wine and a vessel of bread dough. As soon as she entered this room, the bride kicked over the wine, and scattered the paste about with her hands. The marriage ceremony was then gierfonned in a girivatc room, with a priest, who sewed the garments of the two together, crowned them both with flowers, changing the crowns several times, and, after presenting wine ahd bread to each, cut the thread by which their gannents were united, and the ceremony was'at an end. A Hindu marriage is attended with many .ceremonies, which are not especially interesting, in the main. Chief among these are the tying together of the hands of the bride and bridegroom with sacred grass; the taking of seven steps by the bride, a particular text being repeated for each; and the tying into a knot of the skirts of the mantles of the pair. The seven steps are the essential feature: and ■vVhen these are taken, the marriage is indissoluble, though there are wearisome details which come after.

. It was customary in Russia, at one time, for brides to present their lords with a whip, upon their wedding day, in token of submission. Among the YaJmUcks, marriage is performed on horseback. The girl is first put upon a horse, when site rides off at fqjjspeed, her lover giursuing. If he overtakes Tier, the marriage ensues, and she returns to his tent. If she dislikes him she is pretty sure to distance him in the race, riding as if for life. Vaughan, writing, in 1008, said, “The ancient Frenchman had a ceremonie, that when they would marrie, the bridegrome should glare his nayles and send them unto his new wife; which done, they lived together afterwards as man and wife.” There have been some singular statuary provisions in regard to marriage. An Act of the Scottish Assembly in 1600 was to the effect tkat men (?) should not marry under the age of fourteen years, or women (?J under the age of twelve years. Marriages have been recorded in Scotland since, however, where the parties were aged respectively only eleven and thirteen years. An old Welsh law provided for wifely discipline, on the ptart of the husband, by decreeing that he might administer three blows with a stick upon any portion of her body but her head,- but it was modified by another law, which prescribed that the stick should not be longer than the husband’s arm, or. thicker than his middle finger.