Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-03-04
PENNY WEDDINGS IN SCOTLAND.

1t may be right tomenton, Tor the intorma-
ton of American readers, that penny weddings
used to be quite common in the Highland dis
trcts of the north OF Scotland, though latter
ly they have been gradually becoming less fte-
quent. They are called penny weddings, be-
cause the parties present pay for the pleasures
of the evening. The bride and bridegroom per-
sonally invite their owa respective acquant-
ances to the wedding several days before the
time appointed for the performance Of the mar
riage ceremony bat any person who wishes
it, aud is willing to pay tine stipulated sum, is
always welcome quest. That sum Is usual
~ regulated by Tie current price of whiskey-
whiskey being the Only spirits drunk on the
occasion-and varies from three shlllngs and
slxpense to four shllIngS for each person. On
some occasions as many as 300 persons have
been present at one of these penny weddings :;
and the profits 10 Tie bride and bridegroom,
after paying all expenses, have in some cases
amounted from twenty 10 thirty pounds. With
the profits Of their wedding The author has
known several instances ia which the ''newly-
married couple" as the newspaper advertise
ments say, have ,nsJIc beginning in the world,
and afterwards become opulett persons.
1t may be known 10 many Of our readers,
that in Scotland all msrriages take place at
the house of the parents Of The bride, or of
those relations with whom she may chance at
the time TO be singing, If in ti,e humber
ranks Of life, and she has been faithful and
obiging servant, it squite common for the bride
10 be married IN the house of her mistress. In
any case, a marriage in n church or chapel Is
as the clergyman is concerned, is performed al
the house of the brides parents, if she has any
and if not, at the house ofsome relative or friend
But the festive part of the occasion is rcser
we'd until she is brought home to the house o
her husband. Marriage in Scotland usual,
take place about five in the afternoon; aud
when The wedding is penny one, only few
pei sons, and these, for the most part, near re
latons. are present at the clerical part of th'
ceremony. The party afterwards sit down t.
tea, which is followed by glass Of genun
whiskey, and few biscuits. II the bridegroom
house be not FAR off, the newly married pair
with their friends, at once adjourn to 1t, wher
the evening is spent in feasting and hilarlty
But in rural dstricts-aud in these only ar
penny weddings heard oi-the bride, in tn
great majority of cases, either resides, or is Il
service, at Ia distance of some niles. In thes
cases, the common practice is, TO be married a
her locality on Thursday-the guests bcn
all invited to the latter place.
Persons residing in populous towns can hav
no idea of the sensation created in a parllcula
district in Scotland, for six or seven miles
round, when it becomes known thata weddln
is in contemplation. The bride and bridegroom
are in everybody's mouth. For weeks betol
the cyyrcyi genes oif. nottriss else Is ia'ked
in the whole eonnuy side Every ilt'le 'he
dent in the history of either party is raked
from oblivion, and discussed and commend
ON With freedom and boldness which wou
satisfy the most devoted friend 10 liberty
speech.
The interest in the coming marriage &c
tinues To grow as the period at which 1t Is a
pointed to take place approaches. Former
the custom used TO be--a custom then requ'r
bylaw-,hst the bsnns should be pub!ish