Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-05-29
A COurland Peasant Wedding.

COurland is inhabited by mixed peO
ple: the nobility and middle class are
almost wholly German, while the peasants
are for the most part Lettonians, or, per-
haps more properly, Courlanders. This
race belongs to the Lithuanian family,
whose branches are found in East Prussia,
North Poland, and West Russia; they all
have a language peculiar to themselves,
as well as a common origin. And, In
many things, the customs also OF these
peasants are very different from those or
their German neighbors. Indeed, in those
districts inhabited exclusively by them
selves, they still live quite as their fathers
did generations ago; which, in many par
ticulars, to US seems strange enough. For
example, according to our notions OF pro-
priety, marriage proposals may be made
bv men only; the Lithuanians think diff
ferently. Among them the girls, as well
as the Young men, select their partners
for life. and it is not looked upon as at all
improper or lndelicate for the girl to
propose. Nor is she in any degree dis
graced or made subject of ridicule If she
is so unfortunate as 20 be rejected among
the many from whom she can choose
She readily finds another, provided
ALWAYS that her pretensions are supported
by something of this worlds goods, but
here little suffices The ownership OF
cow, in most cases, is sufficient
Preliminaries being settled between a
couple who are disposed to make the
matrimonial venture together, the cere-
monial begins. The bridegroom chooses
two so-called "good,men" and one of the
other sex, with whom he approaches the
residence of his lady-love, who, when she
sees him coming, hastens to run away
and hide. Meantime the lover waits at
the gate, while his escort enters the house.
where they are received most cordially,
and shown into the best room. There
their spokesman makes formal speech,
in which he says that on the way they
saw beautiful bird sometimes hand
some fox), which, however, they suddenly
lost SIGHT of: and as they have looked
everywhere else for it in vain, they are
convinced it must have concealed itself
in this house. The parents and relations
of the girl protest that they have seen
nothing of the kind, and that their neigh
bors must be in error. The neighbors,
however, are not to be convinced, and
Justify their persistency by stating that
thev have seen the animals tracks
on the premises. The parents are
greatly surprised, and no longer
hesitate to allow an immediate and
thorough search to be made. And now
the chase begins. The girl will appear
very bashful and coy; she runs from room
to room, her pursuers close after her. FL
nallv she is driven into the most remote
corner. when she surrenders, but not
wholly. The woman who is one of the
pursuing trio now puts a silk kerchief
around her neck, which she spitefully
tears off and throws as far away from her
as possible Again it is put around her
neck and again she tears it OFT; but the
third time she allows it to remain, thereby
intimating that she finally yields to her
sEitor's oft-repeated opportunities.
Now she is led to the room where the
parents wait, and where now the lover
makes his appearance. Here the couple
exchange breezen, that is, silver or tir
buckles, which serve to hold cloak OF
shawl together, and the bridegroom re
ceives from his lady-lOve either pair o
stockings or mittens, of her own knitting
of course.
They are now husband and wife. Al
for the church ceremony, that sometimes
does not take place till months after
ward.
The weddings are usually in the
autumn ~DeCduSc IllO pCdooiioo eshO eA'Sh
after the harvest, best off, and because
their cattle are the fattest. The day be-
fore the wedding ceremony the relations
of the bridegroom meet at his house, and
after having fortified themselves with
"drinks all round" they mount theil
horses and ride to the house of the bride
Here they find a numerous company as
sembled, and now, until late in the night
they feast, dance and make merry. Early
the following morning they all start fol
the church. which not untreQuently Is
several miles away. The procession is
led by a so-called dtscltSGs aoeddets, /. e., 6
chief-leader. He is followed by the mar
shals, each with white kerchief tieC
over his shoulder like sash. BEHIND
the marshals come the guests on horse
back or in wagons, we'll provided witt
pistols or loud-cracking whips, in ordel
that they may make themselves heard
They finally arrive at the church, when
after the sermon is over, the ceremony
takes place Here, as in all countries ant
at all times, on like occasions, all eye
are on the bride, who, among the be
decked, is most bedecked. On her heat
she wears crown-like structure of tinse
and her face is thickly powdered witt
rye-four, through which, however, tn
sun-browned skin can be plainly seen.
AS soon as the ceremony is over, tn
bridegroom seiZes his bride firmly by Tn
hand, as though he were fearful some on
might rob him of her. and leads her ou
OF the church. The procession now start
back in the order it came to the house c
the bride, where the wedding feast is celt
brated
While at the table all try to rob th