The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-08-29
A Siberian wedding.

rian marriage. The courtships are not le
"a mo- th is sometimes the extent of the
quaintanceship. This in some degree NAV
caused by the vast number of presents
BRIDEGROOM is going to make, he never a
| preaching the house empty handed. One
the gifts must. of necessity, be shawl, e
va!ne depending on his means. I once hes
of gentleman sending courier express
England for one for his future bride.
sooner has gentleman made his proposal
the parents of the young lady, aud beco
her accepted snitor, than he is introduced
the whole ofthe the relations Of the family
servants as vel! he is then looked upon
one Of its members, and is hcnceforth pc
mitted to make his calls without being in f.
uniform
| Ga the eve Of the Wedding lhe Young laat.
assemblies her lnpanioDs, when they all joi
| in singing farewell to the maiden. TIL
bridegroom sends them vast quantities of boz
| bons, and sometimes he seuds 4 present !,
each of the young ladies' the bride al,
divides amoag them little trinkets which ST.
has worn. Meanwhile the bridegroom give
dinner to his bachelor friends, and takes
his leave of them. The dowry, for day G.
so before the ceremony, is spread out for The
inspection of friends, who call to see it. Tha
room in which it is displayed looks like T.
magazine. The dresses are suspended o.
stands, and tables covered with jewelry, lace
and linen tied with pink and blue ribbon, &c
Before it is packed to take to the brides owl
home the priest comes to bless. the article.
and sprinkle all with holy water.
He is usually admonishcd to be careful of
velvet dresses, &c this he appears to under
stand, and, if sufficiently rewarded, Is most
sparing of the consecrated water. was toiT
when such was not the case, he wodld spite
fully throw large quantity over tie perish
able articles The bridegroom furnishes the
house but the bride provides the silver and
linen, as likewise dozen shirts, a dressing
gown and pair Of slippers for her future hu,.
band. presume it is supposed that she,
with her own naods, spins the fax, and then
weaves it into cloth.
On the marriage day it is not permittc'
for the bride and bridegroom to meet till theJ
do so at the church, the ceremony usually
taking place about eight P. NJ. The young
couple are also obliged to fast from the tim;
Of rising on the eyentful day, until after their
return from church, with the exception of a
cup of tea without cream. AS soon as the
bridegroom and his party, have entered the
sacred edifce, the bridegroom drives of to
announce the fact to the bride. The dress OF
the bride is usually very beautiful it is full
bal! costume, and always pure white, With
veil and orange blossoms. She is not allow
ed to do tke Slightest thing for herself; all
her relations, aud even the merest acquains
tai1ce, provided they are unmarried, are iut4
yited to assist 10 the dressing Of the BRIDE
The shoes, which are of white satin. are put
on by the Youngest brother, or if there is no,
brother, by the nearest relation, who places q
piece of money in one Of them; this is The
femme de cKum,bre. On one side Of the
church are relations and friends of the bride.
groom, and ON the opposite those OF the bride
when the ceremony is concluded all return to
the home of The brides parents. and are met
by music.
Then the father and mother come forward
not the real parents but couple chosea for
the occasion called here asslse and ere assis
The young couple kneel to them, and receive
their benediction, being crossed three times
each with the image Of the Virgin aud Chit.
which aiterward is pressed to their lips; ard
then the crossing is repeated With the bread,
in the centre of which is silver salt cellar
containing salt This is repeated BY both ia
Their and mother to each of the newly married.
After this is over, they both rise, and kiss
ING the hands of those who have blessed them.
are conducted into an inner apartment and
seated on sofa, where they receive the con
CALCULATIONS Of the guests; their health being
drunk in champagne, which is often declared
to be excessively bitter, and is rendered swcc,
by the bride and bridegroom embracing each
other.
After drinking tea. the guests retire. and
the young couple, if they have another home
to 60 to, do the same. preceded by some of tn"
married relations of the bride, whose duty 1t
is to divest her of her bridal dress, and in
its stead clothe her in a muslin capote linet
with silk and dainty little cap to correspond.
Thus equipped they sit taking tea and chat
ting, far into the small hours of the night;
the poor husband doing solitary duty by
marching to and Fl in another apartment.
waiting patiently till the ladies choose to sep
-Recoltecttons Of Tartar Stripes.