Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-06
Sardinia n Marriage Customs.

dinia, as elsewhere. When arrived at the Sc
rious point, sometimes the lover, accompanied
by friend, sometimes the lovers father, pro-
ceeds to the house of the girls parents, and
there gravely processes to have lost sheep,
for which he is in search. If the parents are
agreeable to the match, they proceed if they
have several daughters, to present them one by
one, reserving the one wanted until the last
Then follows the bargain as to exchange of
gifts. A day is fixed for the exchange, and the
lover gives his bethrothed solemn kiss--hence
this meeting is called " oradel facio," and from
this solemn pledge he cannot swerve without
dishonor 10 his betroihed, and taking upon him
self the vengeance of her ,latives ianl clan
On the day OF SetrothdT tao ff3eSnds Of the
bridegroom, called paralymphos, form a pro-
cession, and carry the articles composing his
store to her fathers house, where they knock
and pretend to be impatient because the door
is not Immediately opened to them. The in
mates inquire who and what are these impatient
people, and what they bring; to which the
paralymphos answer, that they have honor and
virtue Then they are admitted-the family
and friends in their gayest costums; and they
proceeded to exchange the segnati or gifts; and
the list of the various articles being examined,
the business is solemnized by feast. The day
of marriage is then fixed and proclaimed in the
village church for three consecutive Sundays
Eight days before it takes place the bridegroom
accom- mpanicd by his friends, form procession
with carts loaded with the furniture, etc., he
has undertaken to supply to the house of the
intended BRIDE Here they are examined, con-
demned if not up to the customary mark, and,
when finally passed, repacked and conducted in
state to the new house of the bridegroom. The
BRIDES procession follows few days atterward.
The musicians, playing on the peculiar pipes of
the island, march first, and friends follow, each
CARRYING something-one, q looking glass,
another basket of crockery and glasses,
third, q new dstaf with the flax or wool ready
to be spun off. Another guest carries the picture
of the favorite saint destined to adorn the nup-
tial bed. A pillow, trimmed with collored rib
bons and myrtle, is favorte gift; and the pref
tiest maiden of the party carries the vase to be
used thereafter by the bride for fetching water
from the foundation, but which, on this occa-
sion, is filled with flowers. Each of her friends
is the bearer of some little article of future
use. Behind them follow the carts with the
heavy goods, the horns of the oxen tipped with
oranges and covered with colored ribbons
| Some wheat. with pair of grinding stones
fills separate cart behind which follows the ass
, whose future duty it will be to work the mill
, his ears and tail adorned with ribbons and how-
ers. All the furniture being arranged, is
adorned with flowers, which, however faded
must not be removed for many months after the
marriage. On the marriage day the bridegroom
t proceeds with his companions to the house O
4 the bride; who, on his arrival, takes her fare
! well, receives the blessings of her parents, ant
y is consigned to the hands of the priest. Th,
d bride takes with her bottle of wine and u eak
d of the finest wheat, colored with saffron ant
= adorned with flowers, as present to the priest
n and distributes several cakes of her own maxim,
among her young frindsin the procession. Th
}, ceremony being over, they return home, where
It at the marriage feast, the young couple, seate
e next each other, eat soup outof the same base
'e and with the same spoon. During the festivi
|, ties which follow the feast, the bride is not al
III lowed to move or speak during the whole day
ID though around her all is gayety and merr,
o. making She. must not speak word until SD
leaves her grand chair to start for her own hous
r She is then placed upon horse gaily capar
soned, and led by one of the men at the rigt
Is hand of the bridegroom, the females folowin
S. behind her, and the men joining in his retinu,
ty The cavalcade is preceded by the launedda, {
Sc Sarde pipes ian exact copy of the instrumer
ht on which Pan and the satyrs perform in ancier
e. bas-reliefs,) playing nuptal song, in the oh,