National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-01-06
Ill.
Marriage In Brittsny.

"Sc Ill DTlttt ny.
There are IN Country rs N town, tive
marriage cerernOnies, the civil and the
religious. The peasantry attach little OF
no importance TO the first. They go tC
the cN'L marriage in their everyday
clothes, and do not invite their friends
or h'.ye any festivities on the occasion OF
IT, The ceremony is performed by n no
'Ary III the presence of tho parents, who
look rpon it as little more than n formal
betrothal. The young couple do not re-
g4. themselves as married until after
the religious consecration of the bond.
A fortnight, sometimes month, inter
venes between the two ceremonies. Du-
ring the interval the couple return to
their Wonted occupations, as though
they had not relinquished the duties or
the position of single life, and mean
while do not see or communicate with
each other. Then comes the pomp of
the religious rite, alluring to the sight
and imagination of the excitnble reasnn-
try, withits chants and joyous chimes,
the mysterious veil the beneliction of
rings the sacrament of bread and wine.
The night before this imposing feast, the
bridegroom husies himself with prepara-
tons, and sees to it that all is in readi-
ness The musicians from the nearest
town are provided with the best cham
ber in his fathers house. Early on the
wedding morning these artists begin to
perform before the door, to remind the
folk of the approaching event, and to
commence the day with the brisk har-
monies proper to it, Everybody is
dressed IN his or her best, the women es-
raclally taking care that their toilets
md dresses shall rival their neighbors'.
lhemen mount their lusty horses, the
women march on foot. and thus a pro-
ression is formed, which proceeds to the
antique little village church. Bride and
bridegroom, godfather, POdmother, priest,
choir, and beadle, have already arrived.
The audience assembled, the solemn GER
auonv goes on. You would at once he
struck by the simple and blind devotion
Of the homrly group, rs they stand or
lecI below the altar. The benediction
Is pronounced, and there is general
movement towards the little sacristy :;
''A-l"t'iidllblIN' hloSlllS anu 'iH''i az
mg@ on the way, the priest as merry and
laxative as the rest Meats and vines,
provided hv the bridegroom are set out
10 the ,acristy. 1t is a temporary refresh
urg before returning home. Here the
lbmty Of the festival begins to come
ugt, not To- cease for several days. The
clergyman, with pretty speech, offers
the first ehss of wine to the bride, who
,ns q, signal for the rest to drink.
The bsrsos ma next brought ont before
'@chWch door The bridegroom is the
4'St to mount several of the men lift
'hs bride up behind him, where she sits
Ndawals smiling, blushing, and cling
hg to her good mans arm. The
other men mount their wives climbing
p behind them, and 50, laughing, jok-
lag SINGING screaming, they all jog of
mem'y home again. They stop at the
largest open green which the village af-
i,ords; and here the traditional wedding
a4ra begins 1t il a well-known histor-
lrd ia'I that in classical time, the dance
was solemn religious ceremony, per
i'rmed on the occasion Of sacred festi-
'aI' and specially was it one of the
.'HgIous rites attendant upon marriage.
. the wedding dance, Immediately after
ID Ie marriage is in Brittany mdispensa-
''' ana IN some sort completes the rites
ot the day.