Smyrna times., 1871-09-13
M ISceIIU ID e D IL s.
Matrimonial Superstitions.

|,
Those superstitions which are found in this
country are mostly mpOItatlOnS from the old
world, where they are still rife. Great Bri-
tain is not whit behind the other nations Of
Europe iii the variety aud abeurdity of its Su,
persttious obscrvances, especially OF those re-
iating to marriage, the subject which has most
charms for the young. Some active contribu
tors to ChdmGere journal and to Notes and
Queries, have recently exercised their pa
tlence IN collecting these matrimonial saws and |
proverbs, and from the number Of them it is |
evident that the schOolmastCr will have to work |
| long and hard to eradicate them. The greater |
| portion originated, probably, in the fertile
brains of fOrtune-teers who imposed certain |
observances upon their creduOus customers on
pretence OF bringing about speedy marriage.
Others may have been derived from the acci-
dental coincidence of good or bad luck with
some actual occurrence. Others again, are
evidently the remains Of ancient religious cere-
monies. OF the latter class is the practice of
the women of Jarrow, in the county of Dur
ham, who, Immediately after the marriage
ceremony seat themselves in an ancient oak
chair said to have belonged to the venerable
Bede; if they omit doing this, they will not
have children. So is the abstaning from mar
rying in Lent, and upon lnnOcents Day and
St. Joseph's Day. MARRY in Lent, and
you'll repent" is very old provelb Perhaps
the belief that certain months and days are
more prOpitious for marriage than others, is
derived from the Romans who observed their
dies fdStj ct nefdSti lucky and unlucky days.
June was their tavOrite month, and in the
olden time, in England it was considered the
most propitious for marriage Of all the months
in the year but that prOSaic record, the Reg
ister-Generars report, shows that May is now
the month which boasts of supremacy in this
|. respect. Anyhow, there is little heed given to
the ungalant remainder, that no man enters
the holy state without repenting before the
IS year is out
e In England, among the country lasses, each
3, day of the week has its good or bad character
thus if money be desired, Monday is the best
% day; if health, Tuesday; if happiness, Wed
S, nesday; but marriages made on Thursday
result in crosses; those on Friday in losses
and those on Saturday have no luck at all
Friday ls looked upon unucky day by al
classes among the uneducated; no man viii
r. begin building house, and no sailor will 20 tt
sea- on that day, if he eau help it. The BOOl
o. of dsys cites an old manuscript of the fifteenth
,, century for the superstition that there ar
- thirty-twO days in the year on which it is un
a. lucky to marry these days are: January |, :
4, 5, Z, 10, Is; February g. l8; March !, c
m, 8; April 6, III May 5, 6, 7; June 7, Is; Jul
=, 5, 10; August Is, 10; September 6,7; Octc
rd ber g.; November 10, l6; and December Il
-. AS II Is uOG easy u carry Iu6Se udyS II
ones memory, many violations OF this doub
H. less occur unwittngy, though it is also to b
IN IN feared that there are many persons SO regarC
less of times and seasons to marry whenevt
d. it suits them to do so. 1t is vain to press upo
in them the wisdom of our ancestors" but thel
OF may be others who are open to the conviction
az and their attention is invited to the followlI
morselS of advice and experiment handed dow
from sire to son and from mother to daughte
moi 1t is unucky to put off wedding whe
se' 'o, once the day has been fixed to be marie
an when the sun is not shining on the bride;
rF marry any one out Of whose initials and yol
own word can be formed to meet a wo
dog, cat, lizard serpent spider or toad,
the way to church 1t is fatal for bride
and hear cat sneeze the day before the wedding
iO' and for her to unit throwing away every OF
of the pins in her bridal dress; if she retains
single one OF them nothing will go right
+ there is any odd number of wedding CUES
" one of them will die before the year is out.
~ In Scotland it is customary for the brid
der groOms mother to welcome home the new
'"0 married couple, by meeting them at the do
sm and breaking a currant bun over the bride
head before the foot crosses the threshOl
but it is very bad omen if the bun
broken over tie wrong person, or after t
bride has crossed the threshold. Formerly
,om. the Highlands . warlOcks and witches W.
Iher kept off by taking care that the bridegroom
ior lett shoe bore no buckle or atchet or
nnd driving to church with gray horses. In so
anu @ parts of England good luck is supposed to
,orS ,o% brought by friend making hen cackle in
and house of the welded pair; but the breaking
ever the wedding ring is an omen that its wea
sipe will soon be widow. The custom of throw
nOrs, a sinner after tho hrida for good luck is G
'aIn- - r. -.