The Shasta courier., 1862-09-06
NUMBER q.
Burial aud Bridal Customs.

Ihere are some strange and many bcauti.
iui customs regarding the burial Of the dead
IN various parts of Europe. Examples that
can surely be numbered among the frst are
gwen by correspondent Of the Hartford
Times as having come under his own observa.
ton at Zurich, in Switzerland. lie sava in
a letter dated June 18th:
An unbaptized infant died last week. and.
although the child of Christian parents w.s
not allowed Christian buria,. or even .
common funeral service-it being the Law in
the canton of Zurich that unbaptized chill.
dren are % be buried privately. and aftsr
aark, IN some uneonsecrated spot, but never
IN the ehurchyard. or the Flower garden Of
zoo, as the corner set apart for the slumber
place OF the little ones is POLITICALLY STYLED.
student OF the Zurich university was
buried yesterday. His remaius were follow.
ed TO tue grave by all his school companions.
who, alter the body was deposited in the
saloon, where they had often held their
scholarly carousals in company with the ds.
ceased; they called for refre. hments and
wine, which. they par,eok of in silence
and as their last glasses were drained Iii
standing, they simultaneously dashed their
empty goblets behind them to the floor
splintering them, as a matter of course. into
thousand pieces. 1t is customary among
the students to meet together in the old festi.
val place, on the year succeeding the death
OF companion, upon the anniversary of his
death day; his glass stands filled in the old
familiar spot the revel continues until after
midnight; they invoke the spirit of their de.
parted comrade to return and empty the un-
touched glass, and often imagine that he
really complies with their request.
1he body of an old man was receutlv fol.
lowsd to the grave by twenty five chief
mourners, old gentlemen, all of whom had
been schoolfellows of the dead. They were
dressed uniformly in black, with appropriate
badges OF Grape each with bunch Of rose
mary upon his breast every one carving
an enormous lemon in his left hand-for
what purpose heaven knowsl But the prac.
tice OF mourners carrying lemons at funerals
Is also universal in many parts of Germany.
IL may have some affinity with the American
iiea OF an onion rs promoter of sorrow.
ihe same correspondent also gives some
curious bridal customs, of which the follow.
ing is specimen:
AL marriage ceremonies are performed
here IN the churches, and it is customary.
especially among the middle classes. for
brides to be attired in black. The country
PN"..s "Suui'i5S are, however, the most
beautiful and interesting. The bride and
bridesmaids are dressed in pretty white bod.
ices, laced across the bosom with crimson
cord flowers are strewn in their pathway an
they come from the church they pass under
an arch of flowers, held on either side by lit.
tie flower bedecked boys. As they approach
the door of their future dwelling, flower.
wreathed pole is held across the entrance.
which the bridegroom, If he is skillfui
enough, must jump over. 1t is rather diff
cult matter, however, as his mischievous
companions raise it with every leap. As
last resort he is often obliged to 60 under
The omen is good one for the bride, but
alas for the merriment it creatss at the ex.
pense of the bridegroom 1t is fortunately
IN his power to moderate the amusement Of
his companions by setting before them extra
potations of wine, which he is sure to do
with the greatest dispatch. The bridesmaids
are not az easily appeased. They continue
to harrass the pour fellow numerically, and
are only silenced in case he succeeds in lock.
ing one of them into closet whereupon the
others are silent. The pretty prisoner is
soon released by the happy bride herself, tho
act proving the supremacy of her will, much
to the chagrin Of the bridegroom, who fegns
the most violent anger. These marriage
revels last until the dawn of the morning.
the guests only departing with the daylight.