The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-12-09
HOW THEY MARIA IN MENiCO.

as the marriage customs IN Mexico:
The information that our correspondent de-
sires. is not OF very great interest as marriages
are arranged here much in the same way as
they are in Europe and the United States
The gentleman sometimes manages to get
introduced into the family and Is ackno"I-
edged as the ''novio'' OF The young lady by
the father and mother even before there is any
formal engagement hut ii is rather dlthcuit -
visit with asSiduly MeMcan mouse uhll! al
ter the engagement and even then me visits
are paid in presence OF The entire family
1t is generally person OF influence wa"
acts as ambassador in asking the hand OF inc
Young lady. Engagements are OF long dura-
ZION in Mexico and very often come to
nothing. ,.
First the civil marriage takes place which is
followed by breakfast, dinner or
bali at the house of the "novio "
and a few days afterwards the relglouS
ceremony is performed to which a great
number of persons are invited and at which
the ladies attend dressed entirely in black
with a handsome silk, satin or velvet toilet and
a black lace mantilla. To dress IN black 4;
a wedding in another country would be con
sidered bad omen but here II is "de rlg-
eur There are no bridesmaids here only
one .madrida" who may be married or single
but is generally married and "padrlno.'
The number of witnesses required is three
and the bride is given away as IN the Onltec
States. In Mexico the regular white wed
ding dress with orange flowers is Away
worn and the bridegroom has to provide II as
also number Of other handsome dreSses,ieW
els, etc. Immediately after the ceremony, the
couple 90 to Photographic gallery and have
their portraits taken in their bridal attire
Marriages take place here very early in the
morning and always in church as 1t is not per
mitted to perform the nuptual ceremony in the
house.
A breakfast is given by the family OF the
bride and afterwards the bride and BRIDE
groom leave for some estate or for their own
house which is prepared some time before.
The trosseau is sometimes provided entire
" by the bridegroom, but generally the Jam
iiy gives the underclothes and some OF the
simple dresses.
INDIAN BRIDAL CEREMONIES.
There is more originality in the way the
Indians marry.
They have the privilege of contracting mar
rage no matter what the relation they bear to
each other with the exception of that of father
and daughter and brother and sister The
ecclesiastical dispensation was granted TO
them on account of the state Of ignorance in
which they live.
The parish priest is always commissioned
TO ask the brides hand, and they marry eX-
ceedingly young.
There is a Slight variation in the manner
in which Indian marriages are celebrated
in the different states; the custom oh
served in the state of Oaxaca appears to
be very interesting. There. the friend:
of the bridegroom hearing of the ap
preaching wedding, undertake to build am
furnish his house leaving in stock OF Prov
sions One man cuts trees down and prepare
other things necessary to construct the hut o.
sort of rude cottage in which the couple are t
live: another provides the modest furniture
another the kitchen utensils, while other sent
the poultry, maize, sugar, DRIED meats ah'
other provisions that are slowed away In IT,
They all attend the ceremony in the churC!
dressed in their very best. Afterwards III
newly married people repair to the hous
either Of the Of the brides family or of tn
BRIDEGROOM and then the friends 60 to work t
arran9e thinks for the reception. They Sc
lect square piece of ground on which no hu
had ever been built and the men and Womel
collect together and 60 hard to work. Ih
men erect the small house with wood an
reeds cemented with mud, matching the roc
and dividing the hut two rooms, on
where the inhabitants are 10 sleep and tn
other which answers the purpose of kitchen
rarlor, dining room and store house The
LEO arrange a sort Of diminutive garden plan
ing vegetables in 1t.
While the men do the harder work, ii
women place everything in order in the interi'
of the house then they make 'tortil'as," 1T
males and 'totni MOLE sort OF gree
"roIe" which is always eaten by the lndlaE
ON the occasion Of wedding
When everything is ready and the supp
on the table, then they all 60 to the hou
where the newly married couple is waiting f.
hem and conduct the bride and bridegroom
the;r new home. The procession is accor
non;ed Inv rustic orchestra that continu
PPiau;ng until an advanced hour in the nigh
The friends partake Of the supper and nal
arry nartaking leave Of the bride and bird
Nm at late hour when at last they rema
Eionn in their comfortable although ra'h
Snmn dwe,Iing las the mud has not had tin
tn LAX dTy( where they find everything they 7
opire among other things large store OF pr
IN O,r,ca an Indian begins married life
ar, economical way, but when his trlen
|otsr into wedlock he has to assist them
they assisted him.