The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-07-15
Matrimonial ceremonies ofthe ancien, Ro-


mans.
1.-The consent of parents being obtained,
the parties were afiianced some time before
the celebration of the actual marriage. This !
was accompanied with many ceremonies, at
which the marriage contract was drawn up
in the presence of witnesses, and confirmed
by the betrothed pair breaking straw be-
tween them the bridegroom then presented
his bride with the wedding ring presents
were made to the young couple by their i'm
mediate friends, who were present on the oc-
cason; and the fathers, or nearest relatives
Of the bride, at whose house the ceremony
usually took place, gave a grand entertain
mcnt. The wedding ring was worn on the
third finger of the left hand, from an idea
that nerve communicated thence directly
with the heart. 1t consisted for a long time,
IN nothing more than a plain hoop of iron
but it was afterwards made of gold or bronze,
with various amatory notices and devices,
and frequently with small ornament in the
form OF key, to denote that, with it, the
husband delivered up the care of his house.
twas not every day, or every month that
wasdeemed equally auspicious to the celebra-
tion of marriage: they avoided the k lends,
nones and ides, and every day mark cd black
IN the kalendar the month Of February,
because it was commemorated the anniver-
sary OF all funeral obscquics: that of March,
during the Salian feast and above all,
May. Jane on the contrary, was, of all
months, considered the most propitious. But
widows, whether more careful to improve
the passing time, or less attentive to omens,
(Which the former connubial engagements of
many of them had no doubt proved the fall
lacy, considered every day as equally forum.
ate, and were married at all Seasons.
On the morning of the wedding day the
bride appeared in Simple robe of pure
white, bound with zone of wool which her
husband alone was to loosen her heir was
braided with woolen threads in imitation of
the vestals, and divided into six tresscs, fas-
tened at the cXtremitles III a knot in the form
Of javelin head, and was arranged with
the iron of pike; she wore large fam,
coloured veil and caplet of vervain gather.
cd by herself Thus attired, she waited the
arrival of the bridegroom, who went, at.
tended by numerous party of friends, t,
carry her off with an appearance of violence
from the arms of her mother, or ncares
relative, either in commemoration of the rap,
ot the Sabines, or to denote the reluctanc,
she was supposed to feel in quitting the pa
ternal dwelling for that of husband. Th,
nuptlal ceremony was then performed. Ii
the evening She was conducted to her future
home, followed by her relations, friends, am
servants, carrying presents of various do
mestic utcrsils, and was attended by thre
boys whose parents were still alive, on tw
of whom she leaned, while the third wake
before with torch of pine wood, which tn
friends of both parties carried off when the
had arrived at the house, lest it should [
employed in any witchery that might endal
ger the life of either.-One young slave ca
ried covered vase containing her toilet,
child's coral and playthings, and aneth
bore adistif and spindle furnished with WOO
both symbolical of her domestic pleasur
and her cares.
The door of the bridc-groom's house W
hung with garlands of flowers in honour of Il
festive occasion; and with wreaths of wo
smeared with the fat of hog or wolf,
protect it from witchcraft, the effect of viii,
on the newly married pair was as anxious
guarded against as it was seriously drea
ed.
When the bride arrived, instead of beil
received with all the rapture that might
presumed, she was tremendously asked W
she was, and was expected toanswer 81 a
GAIA" to assure her husband that she wou
prove as notable as that celebrated hous
wife She was then carried over the thre
hold, both that she might appear to enter t
house involuntarilv, and as Z presage that s