Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-10-07
COurtship and Marriage Customs
OF various Countries.

In Der tmark, marriageis only re-
garded as amere civil contract among
the priyil leged OF fders; among the low
er ranks, a prizes is necessary to rem
der the n nlarriage binding
In Brittany, very peculiar customs
prevailed In tine bishopric Of Leon,
gallant appro oaches aIyoungs girl
without Offering aFord to her; he sa-
: lutes her by taking off his hat, and
then laying hold 4f the string or
band of her apron, begins to twirl
and roll it betw weeh his fingers. II
; the young woman interrupts him,
and draw the string away, it is an
unfavoraBle sign, and he may try his
fortunes tlsewhe RE; but if. on the CON
trary, she permit It's him to roll it to
the end, he may reckon himself toll
erably su fe of favor. H
In Cofnouaille, the tailor is the
important pers3 3nage to whom the
candidate for m matrimony applies for
a list of eligiblb b girls. Having se-
Iected one, the tIlilor at once proceeds
to the d 1laiden'B father, carrying d
wand of broom, (Which gives him
the title Of Ba zYalan, the name Of
the plainly lie is dressed for the
occasion in official stockings, one Of
which is bf a violet color, and the
other red, and With him is the suitor
and his nj eaTest relatives, Whilst the
family CHI Eefs are making theirarrange-
ments, tile lovers retire to the other
end Of til house, and discourse their
own 'swee et music IT is necessary
that the Engaged pair should put an
end themselves to the term Of the
negotiate bn They approach, holding
each oth{ {r by the hand, to the table,
where til cir mutual parents OF rela-
tives are seated, when bread, wine,
and brandy ar e brought in. The
yoang m Iln anu maiden cat. with the
same knife, and drink out Of the same
cup; and the day for the union is then
agreed u bon. The bride makes her
choice of a bridesmaid, and the gal
liant seledts his groom's s-man; then,
accompanied by the tailor with his
White wahd, they altogether proceed
to invite their relatives to the we'd
ding. The c cEremony takes place
neatly always on q Tuesday, in the
/ house of the bride. Immediately
The bride groom enters the house, the
Brotaer, on the part Of the brides
family, aoes on his knees, and says a
pqter for the lying, and a de prgf4a-
IRts for the dead. Then he asks fol
The young mai den the blessings of
the family, Mirth and laughter is
Frequently inte frupted by tears a nd
Itsobs during thi is singular ritual. In
I|some pl4ces, it is customary for the
: -lInother to cut with scissors the q nd
IEof the bAide's sash.
H After the wedding ceremony comes
Ithe feasti AT The end Of each course
1.-The music / stril lkes up, and the co M
Hpanv dis tibute themselves to my
amusemd hits, d 8 wrestling, dancing
running, & l., a 5 they tire running tc
the festive bbard. Midnight an
nounces Ito the guests that it is tt me
Ifor. refining. The groomsman ant
Ibridesmai id ar the only strang ger;
Iwho remain Of all who attended the
Hwedding7feast. These two are boqne
to put tile bride and BRIDEGROOM W itf
due soldmnity to bed, then re
tire singing the Psalm eni Crea
tor Jl somd places, thy are OF Ten
confpelleh to watch during the en- tirt
night in the cA mber Of the newly
married couple. In other distrl cts
they hold at tile foot Of the nuptia
bed q liahted Ga ndle between the an
gers. and do hot withdraw till thu
flame reaches the palm Of the ha nd
or until the Sc ervants bring a Ger tai
famous milk sbup, in which crusts q
Thread are silly attached together by
: a thread. Elsewhere the groom $
n man 4 bbund during the whole of th,
] night.to throw nuts at the husband
i who cracks, and gives the kernel t
S his bridd.
: In some parishes in the south herl
: districts, as sod in as the Bazvalan pre-
/ septs himself At 4 house, and sta ind
II on the thresh& bid Of the door, salu
.IItinc those vi khin. should it harper
) that no dne invites him to enter, o
. fbe brands of the fire are standing
! ,iInrioht In TIE chimney when he doe
! enter or6f the mistress takes crepe