The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-03-03
Rural Wedding in Sweden.


wedding iu Sweden. It shall be in
summer time, that there may be flowers.
and in a southern province, that the
bride may be fair. The carly soLg Of
the lark and Of chanticleer are minsling,
in the clear morning air, and the sun,
the heavenly bridegroom with golden
locks, arises in the east, just as our
earthly bridegroom, with yellow hair,
arises in the south. In the yard there
is sound of voices and trampling of
hoofs, and the horses are led forth and
saddled. The steed that is to bear the
bridegroom has bunch offowers upon
his forehead aud a garland Of corn flow
ers around his neck. Friends from the
neighboring farms come riding 10, their
blue eloaks streaming to the winds; and
hcally the happy bridegroom, with a
whip in his hand and monstrous nose.
gay in the breast of his black Jacket.
comes forth from his chamber and then
to horse and away towards the village
where the bride already sits and waits
Foremost rides the spokeman, follow.
ed by some half dozen village musicians.
Next comes the bridegroom between his
two groomsmen, and then forty or fifty
friends and wedding guests, half of them
perhaps with pistols and guns 10 their
hands. A kind Of baggage.wagon brings
up the rear, laden with food and drink
for these merry pilgrims. At the en-.
ceof every village stands triumphal
arch, adorned with flowers and ribbons
and evergreen: and, as they pass be-
meath 1t, the wedding guests fire sa,
Lutte, and the whole procession stops.
And straight from every pocket flies a
black jack, filed with punch or brandy.
1t is passed from hand to hand among
the crowd; provisions are brought from
the wagon, and, after eating and drink
ing and hurrahing, the procession moves
forward again, and at length draws near
the house Of the bride. -Four heralds
ride forward to announce that knight
and his attendants are in the neishbor-
ing forests, and pray for hospitality.
How many are you +? asks the brides
father. AT least three hundred" is the
answer aud to the this the last replies
Yes were you seven times as many,
you should ali be welcome; and in
token thereof receive this cup" Where
upon each herald receives can Of ale
and soon after the whole jovial com.
pany comes storming into the farmers
yard, and, riding round the Maypole.
which stands in the centre, alight amid
a grand salute and flourish of music.
In the hall sits The bride, with crown
upon her head and a tear 10 her eve.
like the Virgin Mary in old church
paintings. She is dressed in red bod.
dice and kirtle, with loose linen sleeves.
There is gilded belt around her waist
and around her neck strings of golden
beads and golden chain. On the crown
rests wreath of wild roses, and below
it another of cypress. Loose over her
shoulders falls her faxen hair and her
blue innocent eyes are fixed upon the
ground. . tEou good soul. thou hast
hard hands, but soft heartl Thou art
poor. The very ornaments thou wearest
are not thine. They have been hired
for this great day, Yet thou art rich
rich in health, rich in hope, rich in thy
first, young, tervent love. The blessing
of heaven be upon thee so thinks the
parish priest, as he joins together the
hands of bride and bridegroom, saying,
In deep, solemn tones, IL give thee in
marriage this damsel, to be thy welded
wife in all honor, aud to share the half
Of thy bed, thy lock and key, and every
third penny which you two may possess,
or may inherit, and all the rights which
UPland's laws provide, aud the holy
King Erik gave"
The dinner is now served, and the
bride sits between the bridegroom aud
the priest. The spokesman delivers an
oration after the ancient custom Of his
fathers. He interlards it we'll with quo.
tations from the Bible, and invites the
Saviour to be present at this marriage
feast, as he was at tho marriage feast
Of Cana Of Galilee. The table is not
sparingly set forth. Each makes long
arm, and the feast goes cheerly on
Punch and brandy pass round between
the courses, and here and there pipe is
smoked while waiting for the next dish.
They sit long at table: but, as all things
must have an end, SO must Swedish
dinner. Then the dance begins. 1t is
led off by the bride and the priest, who
perform solemn minute together. Not
till after midnight comes the last dance.
The girls form ring around the bride.
to keep her from the hands of the mar
ried women, who endeavor to break
through the magic circle, and seize their
new sister aud the crown is taken from
her head and the jewels from her neck
and her bodice is unlaced aud her
tie taken off; and like vestal virgin,
clad all in white, she goes, but it is to
her marriage-chamber, not to her grave;
and the wedding guests follow her
with lighted candles in their hands
And this is. a village bridal. Lonqfsl-
i,c.
God hath chosen the vine. a lowly