Delaware journal., 1827-12-14
POPULAR CUSTOMS, SC. IN FRANCE.
The .9in.


The lin.
1iiarriagc. Formerly, wife, or husband was
never chosen out of their village and this rule is.
indeed, seldom departed from at the present time.
Not long since, a young girl of IIuchsv was about
to be married, contrary their custom, to rich in
habitant of neighbourins village. who persuaded
her to throw off her Chzcrote costume and put on
the dress Of Macon. consisting of rich stus, bright
and gttering With gold embroldcry.-'Th mother
Of the glr being informed Of this change, becomes
indignant seeks her child. and loads her with re-
proaches--the full force of which in their pofois. il
is net easy to transfer into any other language. The
following is the substance:
Unnatural child. behold these fields where we
have endured the burning sun OF harvest What
trouble have not taken to noursh and rear thee.
to set an example, and TO nstil into thee the love
of labor. Thou abandonest our custom"-thou will
soon lose thy virtue Must thou leave thy father
to die in peace? What will he say? What will
our ancestors say? o! may they rise from their
graves to see thee and to punish thee Thou des
plses US, migrate l will no longer acknowledge
4 thee for nv child"
The young woman, with her eyescast upon the
ground, tor time was silent soon, however, her
tears begin to flow--shc hastily tears off her new
dress, and puts on the Chizerote costume
throws the other into the fire. and embraces her mo-
! ther.
| But to return to their marriage ceremonies The
young girl. c'a'lm black, with sash of the same
color, and several gold chains round her neck, leaves
her father, house in triumph to the sound of cheoncs
or ba9ppcs She is followed by great number Of
relations and friends the young men shouting and
hallnon9 forjnv-screaming out their huchcncnS, as
they are called i'll the country pf Bresse.
When they arrive at the church. there is a dispute
between the bride and bridegroom. who shall ente,
first, The GIRLS take the man. and the yDunp apn
; the woman each makes one step forwards, ant
two backwards. and they amu-e themselves III this
way till the time or the performance of the ctremo
: ny arrives.
After the nupial bcnediction. and on leaving th'
church. the wife thus addressed her husband
5 WHY did YOU come 70 seek for me ? She saws il
a loud vulce was very happy why did you no
let me be with my mother = and other questions o
e the like nature.
t At the door Of the church, the new married cou
t pie begin TO dance the whole company follow thei
o example, d. dividing themselves into two bands
one Of men and the other of women, the latter i'm
: media ely proceed with the bride to the house Of he
mother, to partake of the entertainment provided 70
the women and girls who attend the wedding Will
the men with the bridegroom 90 to dine at his faith
d er's house. This double ecnertanment-ths spec
. dy divorce of man and wlc-and this separation
y the sexes, is very remarkable.
e The two enter ltalnments being concluded. mex
the departure that is, the bride quits he
pa'crnal home. The husband, accompanied by a
+. his male relations and friends, presents himself
t. the hahtaton of his 'bctter ha for the purpose
Il conducting her to her future residence Atihe al
A. proach Of the company she melts into tears, utter
the most piercing cries, and bids passionate fart
At we'll to her family. her friends, the servants. til
i cattle. and the fowls particularly the oxen in II
d plough which she calls by their names. She the
ID takes leave Of the furniture and other inanimate
$. and lastly bids 'good by' to the house in whit
she has passed SO long and so happy portion ofh
L life.
y She tears herself from the place, and at last re
cles the house of her husbands father Here Il
Al dancers are busy with their .'many twinkling fee
the Iesta board is spread, and sumptuous su
ne pcr is prepared for the guests sand when the mig
draws on. and the festivities are about to termina
n the bride again sheds tears becomes timd and CO
u fused and, ..hall-consentng half-relenting,''
i signs herself to the arms of her husband. s.Ne
'r add says NJ. Ribond. that the more hashl
nd the lady is, the viruons she is esteemed ~
NJ In the other parts of la Bresse, the marriages
mt equally accompanied by some very singular custom