Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-11-16
Marriage Ceremonies.

Amongst the Tartar tribes the ceremonies
of marriage are somewhat remarkable. Itis
usual to settle some kind of dover upon the
bride. marriage ring is in use; but it is
not, as with US, placed on she BRIDES finger
by the bridegroom, but is sent to her with con-
siderable form, and presents are interchanged
between the families. Among all ranks the
bridegroom appears on his wedding day in the
richest attire and ornaments he can possibly
obtain; as was also the custom among the He
brews, whence the significance of the beautiful
figure in which the Psalmist compares the ris-
ing sun to bridegroom coming forth from
his chamber on the morning of his marriage
day; hence too, the prophet describes, not on
y the bride as adorning herself with her Jew
els, but the bridegroom also as decking him
self with ornaments. On his marriage day
the bridegroom receives the most obsequies
attention from all around him; and he is treat
ed with all the consideration and Difference
which interiors pay to superiors of high rank
All who come to his presence sit below him /;
offerings are brought to him by his relations,
and these are received by his friends with
much ceremony, who on that day act as his
servants. They pretend to receive his COM
mands as those of q monarch--to seize one per-
son, to fine another, to fog third. The joys
in the house of the bride are of more quiet
character. She is bathed, perfumed, and ar
rayed in the richest garments the family can
afford. She also sits in state, and, before she
leaves her house, or tent receives presents
from many of her friends. When this cere-
mony is over, she is enveloped in a scarlet veil
or wrapper; and is then mounted on horse
back, and conveyed to the dwelling of her hus-
band, who receives her on the threshold
On the morning that the bride is to be taken
to her husband, her friends assemble at the
tent of her father. If he be a chief or elder
of tribe he is accompanied by all the horse
men whose attendance he can command
The party then proceeds, accompanied by mu
sic and dancing; and if the place of her desti-
nation be near, a circuitous route is taken that
the enjoyment of this part of the ceremony
may be prolonged When they appear in the
distance the bridegroom mounts his horse, and
attended by his friends proceeds to meet the
eavalcade. He holds in his hand an apple or
an orange, and when he is sufficiently near to
be certain of his aim, he throws it at the bride
with considerable force. The bridegroom has
no sooner discharge the fruit than he wheels
his horse around and rides off at full speed to
his own tent, pursued with great ardor by all
the horemen of the brides party, emulous to
seize the fugitive bridegroom before he attains
the goal; and he who succeeds in this object
becomes entitled to his horse, saddle, and his
CLOTHES. This, however, is only exacted when
the party is wealthy; for among the poorer
classes few pieces of silver are paid, as
fine, to the successful pursuer. But the bride
groom is very seldom taken; for as it is point
of honor for him to escape. he is mounted on
the feetest horse the tribe can furnish, and his
friends do all they can to favor his retreat
Another curious scene takes place when the
bride reaches the tent which is to be her fu-
ture home; the women who have sccompani-
ed her then gather round her, and implore her
not to alight; while the husbands relatives
also crowd about and beg that she will de-
scend. This is the moment of her power
Every male of the family into which she is
about to enter brings her presents, according
to their ability, or their regard for her hus
band. They also solicit her to give up part
of the dover that had been agreed upon; and
it not seldom happens that their solicitations
on this subject are afterwards repeated by the
husband himself
The Working Mans Friend.