Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-04-21
4 NORWEGIAN WEDDING.
The Costumes and the Ceremonies.

!. LA JD6 more T6lnOJ6 EHTIS Oh. norway
many of the old customs which have
fallen into disuse in the towns and
their environs are still kept up among
the peasantry. Weddings are events
of great Importance, and the occasions
Of much rejoicing among the kinsmen
and neighbors of the happy couple.
The village does it's utmost to celebrate
the event with quaint costumes and
curious ornaments.
It was my good fortune to be in the
village of Odde, on the Sogne Fiord,
one summer day, when two substantial
peasants were united III wedlOck. The
day before that fixed for the ceremony
the guests began to arrive. Stalwart
men and sunburned maidens came
tramping down from the mountains OF
rowed up to the landing place of the
village from neighboring hamlets,
| which nestled under the cliffs on the
| ford. The men were clad in blue
homespun, and the women in their or
binary rough and well-worn dresses.
Each of the latter, however, carried q
brentwood box containing her finery,
and those who were married, spotless
and well -starched cap. The boxes We're
gaudily painted In red, green and yell
| low, and were ornamented, in addition,
/ with the name of the owner and date
of her birth % Ia.-
Late,in the afternoon the ''fittin,'' as
it is called in Scotland, took place.
The dowry of the bride--linen clothes
and household furniture-was piled up
on a cart. Each box and article was
marked with the brides name, and date
Of her birth, and of her intended mar
riage, "Ingeborg Margalen, June ID,
1850 Gift July 10, 1874" Margalen
means the daughter of Margal, for it is
in this Scriptural manner that women
are alw avs. and men often designated in
Norway. When the cart had been
loaded, the bridegroom, leading the
horse, started III the direction of his
home, followed by his future wife with
a basket of cake on her arm, and all the
married women of the Village. None
of the actors in this little scene appeared
to enjoy themselves very much, if one
could Judge Of their feelings from their
loo s. The members of this bridal
party considered themselves engaged IL
very serious bus ness. Indeed, the pro-
cession marching soIemnly along with
downcast eyes would have become q
funeral better than it did the beginning
of a wedding festival The bride,
having distributed her cakes, and the
household effects having been safely
placed in the bridegrOOm's house, the
party broke up. During the evening
the young men and maidens amused
themselves in dancing the ''spring
1,,,an'i 10 e nj 4
dies Next morning about II o. clock
we were informed that the bridal
party were approaching. Having
seated ourselves on a stone wall by the
roadside, we waited patiently for their
appearance. At length we saw them
winding along the narrow road where it
crossed the brow of a hill about half q
mile distant. First came the bride and
groom hand-in-h hand, passing slowly
along, with downcast eyes. About them
were the men Of the place. After these
came the married wome en-, and last of all,
the girls and children of the village.
The little procession made pretty ap
pearance-the white caps of the women
shining in the bright sunlight, and the
red in their costumes making brilliant
contrast with their blue skirts and the
dark dress of the men. Of course every
one was in his or her best, the bride be
ing particularly noticeable in her we'd
ding finery.
On her head was gaudy crown, per
haps twelve inches high, ornamented
with beads, beadwork and gold. A
band of beadwork around her forehead
formed the base of the crown. From
this rose wires, covered with red thread,
supporting a circle Of gold lozenges,
measuring about two inches from point
to point Above these lozenges the
wire spread out until the circumference
of the crown at their tips became twice
as great as that of the band about the
head From the tips of these wires
were suspended strings of the large
white, red and blue beads, about four
inches long, ending ia little plate of
so-called gold. The brides hair was
combed down her back, and over
it lay three broad ribbons,
covered with beadwork, from the
brides neck a scarf, stiff
with embroidery and beadwork, hung
down almost to the ground. Her hands
were hidden-except when the groom
udU POSSESSION OF one Oh tUoL-lu d SOU
of muff of embroidered muslin, with
an edge of open work. The rest Of her
costume consisted of dark blue home
spun skirt, over which hung white
apron, white shirt of not very fine
material, and close fitting, sleeveless
vest of brilliant red stuff, cut low in
front to show the silver flagree breast
pin, and other ornaments in the bosom
Of the shirt. The lower part of the
shirt bosom, however, is usually cover
ed by band of beadwork, the various
colored beads of which form a sort of
lozenge pattern, The bridegroom and
the other men wore suits of dark blue
homespun which, although not pecu-
liar or attractive, formed good back
ground for the brilliant colors of the
womens dress.
The other women of the party wore
white shirts, red or green bodices, and
blue skirts cut exactly like the brides.
The head-gear was by far the most
striking part Of the women's dress, and
is the badge which distinguishes the