The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-12-16
How Russian Girls Are Courted.


Love is the same the world over, but
counting is managed very differently in
different countries. Russian counting,
among the middle classes, is peculiar. The
first Whit-Sunday after the young girl is
acknowledged by her mother TO be Of mar
riageable years she is taken to the Petersburgh
s~ummergarden, to join the bridal promen-
ade.' This consists of the daughters OF the
Russian tradesmen walking IN procession,
followed by their parents. Up and down
they go, pretending to chat with each other
and pretending to take notice of the young
men-the tradesmen's sons, dressed in their
best clothes-who walk in another process
sion on the other side. However, every
now and then, some young fellow slips out
Of his proper rank and adds himself to the
line of girls OH the other side, speaking 10
one particularly. The parents of the girl
join in the conversation in a few moments
and soon they leave the promenade and are
joined by the parents of the young man.
Generally. the old folks have talked it we'll
over before, but on this occasion everyone
pretends to be surprised. On the next day
a female cohJfdante calls on the girls
parents and request her hand. This granted
all the relations on both sides meet and
argue about the portion to be given with the
girl. If not satisfactory, all is at an end
if il is what is expected, the betrothal takes
place.
The bride and bridegroom kneel down
upon a great fur mat, and the bride takes a
ring from her finger and gives it TO the
bridegroom who returns the gift by another.
The brides mother meanwhile crumbles a
piece of bread over her daughters head,
and her father holds the image of his
daughters patron saint over his future SON.
in-law's well-brushed locks. AS they rise
the bridesmaids sing a wedding song. The
guests each bring forward a present of
some sort. Wine is handed about, and
some one says it is bitter and needs sweet
ening. Upon this the bridegroom kisses
the brlde---the sweetness being supposed 10
be provided by this kiss---salutes the COM
pany and takes his leave, on which the
bridesmaids sing q song with a chorus some-
thing like this:---
Farewell happy bridegroom,
But return to be still more happy."
Counting time has. now begun. Every
evening the lover comes 10 his lady's home
with a present which is always something
good to eat.-generalIy cakes or sugar,
plums. He makes love under rather avyk-
ward circumstances. for the bridesmaids sit
about the betrothed pair in a circle. singing
songs descriptive of their happiness.
The / st evening of the courtship Is en-
IIVenpd bV the nrpSpntafion of tho r,(te 20
the bridegroom. which must include brushes,
combs, so p, and perfumery. On receiving
these the bridesmaids instantly carry the
bride away, and wash her, dress her hair,
and perfume ter pocket-handkerchief.
Thus touched up, she returns to the COM
panY, and the BRIDES father gives his future
son-in-law the marriage portion, which he
takes nome with him in a neat bag.
The next morning he returns for the lady
herself. She receives him with her hair
unbraided and flowing down her back. They
aremarried by the ceremonies of the Greek
Church, and the old folks never 90 TO the
wedding dinner.
Those eternal bridesmaids, whom they
must hate by this time, are there, however,
still on duty, and the evening closes by the
bride kneeling down and pulling off her
husbands boots to prove her intention TO be-
an obedient and submissive wife.
Good-natured bridegrooms generally hide
jewellery or money in their boots. which the
bride may take possession OF as balm for
her pride. After the wedding day the
parents begin to give feasts, and keep it up
a week, and it is not until all this is over
that the & young couple see those blessed
bridesmaids take their departure. They are
then compelled to kiss them, thank them,
and give them each a present.