Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-04-15
Marriage Ceremonies Ia the Different
Countries OF Asia.

| NOT one oil these ceremonies COuiu
prove satisfactory TO the woman Of the
period. In nearly all the countries of the
East, women are regarded as property,
and marriage consists of a bhfgain be-
between the bridegroom and the parents
ofths btlde, The affections of the women
are seldom consulted they afe passlgely
| guided by otiie5irSc, and accept theft situn'
ton, as useful and convenient slaves TO
| the stronger sex. The wedding ceremo-
nies In the different countries bear gencr-
oil resemblance. In pitmahl marriage is
civil contract, the law allows but ote
wife. The formalities are conducted the
saitie ns in India Relatives agree con-
corning the amount Of dcwry the bride
groom sends presents according 70 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 man In Siam the parents consult
the daughters inclination In regard 10
the young man who demands her for a
wife. If all approve the match,
omens are consulted, contracts signed,
dowries paid, the priest sprinkles them
with oonsecrated water, and repeats
prayers Feasting and dancing complete
the ceremony.
Among the different castles of the Hin.
doos the ceremonies varyl Some of them
require no form but the consent of the
parties. They exchange. necklaces or
wreaths, the girl saying, II am thy wife"
and the bridegroom, ut 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
Ing, the bride, who is. always veiledf
mounted on a superbly decorated mule,
and accompanied by long train OF rela:
| tlves 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 lawful
wife. The festivities Usually continue for
three days The customs in Thibet are
very extraordinary, one woman is the
wife of whole family ofbrothers, be the
family large or small. IL is custom
which prevails with all ranks. The mar
riage is without ceremony, mutual con-
sent being the bond of union. This union
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-
tremely rare.
In China the bridegroom knows moth
ing of his intended wife, except what he
gathers from the friends who arrange the
preiminaries. of the marriage, and de-
termine the sum to be paid for the bride.
On the day of the wedding, the bride is
placed in 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. If he is
pleased, he conducts her into his dwelling,
where the marriage is celebrated with re-
joicings; but If he is not favorably i'm
pressed, he closes the palanquin and sends
her back. In that case he is obliged to
pay sum of money equal to the first he
gave for her.
After Syrian lady is betrothed, 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, &C.
cording 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 a corner
with closed eyes for whole day; then
she is escorted, with eyes still closed, to
the house of her husband, by his rela
tives, and accompanied by procession of
women, musicians, and mules bearing the
dresses, ornaments and utensils which
she has received In Arabia the cere.
mony is performed by priest. He joins
the hands of the parties and reads verses
| from the Koran, then blindtolds the bride,
The bridegroom leads her to his tent,
seats her on mat and says, "You are at
home" He returns to the assembled com.
pany and Joins in the feastilg. The bride
remains blindfolded 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 foreheads together. A cruci6x is
swung over their heads while the priest
chants and sings. After this he ties
around the bridegroom's brow red and
white string, and asks: " II she is lame,
thou acceptest her." If she Is blind
thou acceptest her" "If she is hump
backed, thou acceptest her ?" To each
question he answers, 81 accept" Then
tying a string around the brow of the
bride, the priest says: "Thou acceptest p
az accept" she replies. Feasting and
Amusement last for three days. during
which time the bride Is obliged to sit 81.
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 10 speak. The
Turkish ceremonies are simple, and usu-
| al1x af hn hu
priest, who Joins the hands OF the couple
and recites prayers from the Koran. The
bridal veil is bright red, with yellow
border. The wedding festivities last foul
days, and usually commence on Monday
so as to avoid the Mohammedan Sabbath
which comes on Friday. The Babylon
ians had the custom of yearly conducting
all the marriageable girls to a public
assembly, where they were put up at auc
ton. The most beautiful were sold first
and often for large sums. The deformeC
and homely 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 tn,
sake of their portion.
In the patriarchial age the marriag
ceremony among the Hebrews was yer.
simple, and took place upon the day
supposed TO have been appointed b.
Moses. Friday for bride who had neve
been married, and Thursday for widow
The bride was given to the bridegroom
by her parents, the father saying, "Tak
her according TO the law of Moses" an
the husband answering II take her &C
cording TO that law" Then followe
singing and dancing for seven days, unles
the bride were a widow, in which case
was limited to three days. AT later ag
the form was changed, and the bride
groom said TO the bride Z" Be thou a viii
to me according to the law of Moses, an
will worship and honor the according
the word of God, and viii feed and gov
, ern thee according to,the customs of thos
who worship, honor, and govern thei
wives faithfully. give thee fifty shekel
for thy dowry." During the period {
Israers prosperity, greater pomp and mal
| nifcence were displayed in the ceremt
D nieS, and IL became the custom for parent
| to endow the bride instead of the brid,
; groom, paying money or performin
! service for her. The bride, II her paren
were wealthy, was arrayed in brilliaI
I marriage robes costly ieWels annointe