The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-04-14
Marriage Ceremonies i'm the Different
Countries OF Asia.

East, women are regarded as property
and marriage consists of bargain be
between the bridegroom and the parents
Ofthc bride. The affections Of the women
are seldom consulted they are pasSively
guided by others, and accept their situa
ton, as useful and convenient slaves tC
the stronger sex. The wedding ceremo
nies in the different countries bear gcncr
al resemblance. In Birmah, marriage is a
civil contract; the law allows but one
wife The formalities are conducted the
same as in India Relatives agree con-
corning the amount of d0wry; the bride
groom sends presents according to his
wealth, feasts are given, and the married
couple eat from the same dish, which is
the only time woman is allowed to eat
with a man, In Siam the parents consult
the daughters inclination in regard to
the young man who demands her for q
wife. If all approve the match
omens are consulted, contracts signed
dowries paid, the priest sprinkles them
with consecrated water, and repeats
prayers. Feasting and dancing complete
the ceremony.
Among the different castles of the Hin
docs, the ceremonies vary. Some OF them
require no form but the consent of the
parties. They exchange necklaces or
wrcaths, the girl saying, am thy wife, "
and the bridegroom, 1T is true" Among
the higher castles they are conducted with
great fOrmality and pomp.
In Persia, the bridegroom sends, on the
morning of the wedding, train of mules,
laden with presents, to the bride. The
day is spent in feasting. Towards even
ic nj
mounted on superblv decorated mule,
and accompanied by a long train of rela-
tivcs and friends, proceeds to the house of
her destined husband, who, with similar
procession, rides forth to meet her. She
is accompanied to the apartments prepared
for her, and from that moment is "a lawful
wife. The festivities usually continue Tor
three days. The customs in Thibet are
very extraordinary, one woman is the
wife of whole family OF brothers, be the
family large or small. II is a custom
which prevails with all ranks. The mar
Rage is without ceremony, mutual con
sent being the bond Of union. This unicn
can only be dissolved by the consent of all
the parties, and they are never after at
liberty to form any other connection. 1t
is said that instances of infidelity are eX
tremcly rare
In China the bridegroom knows moth
ing of his intended wife, except what he
gathers from the friends who arrange the
prcliminarics of the marriage, and de-
terminc the sum to be paid for the bride.
On the day of the wedding, the bride is
placed in Il palanquin, the key of which
is sent to the bridegroom. She is escorted
to his house, where he opens the palan
quin and examines his bargain. Ii he is
pleased, he conducts her into his dwelling,
where the marriage is celebrated with re
joicings but if he is not favorably im-
pressed. he closes the palanquin and sends
her back In that case he is obliged to
pay a sum OF money equal to the first he
gave for her.
After a Syrian lady is betrothcd, she
does not see her intended husband until
the wedding ceremonies are completed.
Five days before he summons her, he
sends female friend, who bears to her
Jewels for her head, neck, and arms, ac-
cordng to his wealth and rank. Under
the supervision of this friend the bride is
bathed, hand stained, face painted, and
wedding robes put on. Alter she is
adorned she is obliged to sit in corner
with closed eyes for a whole day; then
she is escorted with eyes still closed, to
the house of her husband, by his rela
tives, and accompanied by "a procession OF
women, musicians, and mules bearing the
dresses, ornaments ami utensils which
she has received In Arabia the cere-
mony is performed by Il priest. He joins
the hands of the parties and reads verses
from the Koran, then blindiolds the bride
The bridegroom leads her to his tent,
seats her on mat and says, "You are at
home" lie returns To the assembled com
pany and joins in the ieastlng The bride
remains blindfodcd a week, during which
time some friend performs the domestic
duties for her.
In Armenia the priest performs the GER
emony by leading the bridegroom and
bride, whose head is covered with linen
veil, into the centre of the apartment,
where he joins their hands and knocks
their forcheads together. A crucifx Is
swung over their heads white the priest
chants and sings. ARer this he ties
around the bridcgrooms brow IA red and
white string, and asks eff she is lame.
thou acCeptcst herr" "If she is blind
thou acceptest herr" at she il hump
backed, thou acceptcst her 2" To each
question he answers, 81 accept" Then
tying a string around the brow of the
bride. the priest says: Thou acceptest ?"
"l accept" she replies. Feasting and
amusement last for three DAYS durinc
which time the bride is obliged To SIT ST
lent and motionless. At the end of that
time the priest removes her veil, takes
off the string from her brow, and she is
allowed for the first time To speak. The
Turkish ceremonies are simple, snt, usu-
ally performed at the r.Gsque by the
priest, who joins the hands of the couple.
and recitcs prayers from the Koran. The
bridal veil is bright red, with yellow
border. The wedding festivitie. las, four
days, and usually commence on Monday.
so as To avoid the M0hammedan Sabbath.
which comes on Friday The Babylon
ians had the custom of yearly conducting
| all the marriageablc girls To- public
assembly, where they were Put up at auc-
ton. The most beautiful were sold first.
and often for large sums The deformcd
and homcly ones were disposed of next,
and as the price paid for the beautiful
ones was divided into dowries Tor them,
the poor received them willingly for the
sake of their portion.
In the patriarchial age the marriage
ceremony among the Hebrews was very
simple, and took place upon the days
supposed TO have been appointed by
Moses. Friday Cor bride who had never
been married, and Thursday for widow
The bride was given TO the bridegroom
by her parents, the father saying, "Take
her according to the law of Noses" and
the husband answering Il take her ac.
cording to that law" Then followed
singing and dancing for seven days, unless
the bride were widow, in which case i,
was limited To- three days. AT later age
the form was changed, and the bride
groom said to the bride BE thou wifi,
To me according tn the law of Moses, and
/ will worship and honor the according tc
the word of God, and viii feed and gov
crn thee according to,thc customs of thos,
who worship, honor, and govern Their
wives faithfully. / give thee fifty shekel'
for thy dowry." During the period o
Israels prosperity, greater pomp and mag
| nifccnCc were displayed i'm the CeremO