The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-12-03
A BULGARIAN WEDDING.
The way IA which the Eastern Folk Cele-
citrate Their NuptiaIs.

bFGh42l occurs Lnr6e uOnLlS before
marriage, and in q most unromantic
fashion; the preliminaries are all ac-
complished by proxy. On betrothal-
day bride and groom separately enter
tain their own special circle of friends,
Tie men of the party occupying one
room, while the women have their
pleasant little talks by themselves; to
all guests, coffee, jelly, wine and
sweetmeats are offered, and each indi-
4idual receives 4 little roll containing
candy, cloves and a kind of chewing
gum, the gift neatly inclosed in blue
paper; this peculiar presentation is re-
garded as an invitation to the wedding.
At this preliminary festivity many
specimens of the brides handiwork are
shown to the eOmpany-towels of cots
ton and silk interviewer, embroidered
Gndergarments; slippers and handket@
chiefs; they are tastefullg set forth
upon solid silver salvers.
The three months interim are Occu-
pied in making the household plenish-
ing and the brides outfit IS varied and
elegant as circumstances will permit;
oddly enough. the materials or pur-
chase monoy for a comfortable start in
life are mainly furnished by the groom
or BY bis father. Two days previous
o the wedding (Which is always on a
Sunday again occur merry gather
ings; acquaintance are now included,
and, as before, bride and groom ''re-
ceiye" ut their respective houses. The
bride, tastefully attired, as Il distin-
gushing mark adds a peculiar head
dress and a glittering train of tinsel
fabric, eight inches wide and q ward i'll
length; this is secured 10 q band OF
her new head-dress,, and flows grace
fully over her shoulders.
Each guest on entering is saluted by
the bride; the offered hand she Bows
over, and in token Of great respect
presses it to her forehead. Music is
furnished by group of gypsies, with
fiddles and tambOurines, and young
girls join in a queer sort of dance called
chOrO, but the grand feature of this
days mirth is a formal procession of
the bride and her female friends to the
public bath set apart for women; this
is, under usual circumstances, q great
| occasion for lively gossip, and upon
this occasion five hours are given to
chat, and perchance for rest and sleep;
the musicians are on hand and tiddles
are constantly pressed into service.
The groom at his own home holds an
evening entertainment; the young men
gather in an upper room, where an
ample feast is set forth. while the mas
/ ter of the house receives the older men
/ in lower room.
On the morning of the wedding-day
the bride, attired in delicate silk,
/ with many bracelets and necklaces,
and upon her head the glittering tinsel
/ fabric worn on Friday evening, and
/ with musicians in attendance, receives
| her guests. Her girl friends gather
/ about her. her parents, brothers, sis
ters, cousins, Join the circle, all of
whom are greeted, as she kisses q hand
Of each; then follows mOurnful,
| solemn dance; a sort of farewell this;
all of them shedding tears the while:
| A procession of married ladies now
/ file in, a delegation from the groom $
/ house; at the threshold handfuls of
/ rice are thrown over them; they ac-
/ knowledge the courtesy by kissing the
/ hand of the performer. Each delegate
/ now receives a sprig of sweet basil, and
/ q third person pOurs over it drops OF
rose wafer; now they approach the
bride, who is attended by two little
| girls holding burning tapers. Sud-
| denly an old lady appears upon the
/ scene, bearing a beautiful brOadclOth
/ sacque lined throughout with rich furi
/ all former helpers stand aside as the
4 venerable relative sOlemnly robes the
/ bride in this matrOnly garment, lead
/ ing her to the door, where farewells
/ are given to father and mother and
/ procession Of guests follow, with
neither joke. laugh nor loud word,
! and SO they walk to the house of the
groom, who, surrounded by friends,
awaits the coming of his lady-lOve,
/ and stepping forth to meet her as she
/ passes through the low gateway, halts
a moment, as Jointly they receive in
token Of welcome another shower Of
( rice from the groom mother; this,
mingled with bonbons and coins, chill,
| di'en eagerly seize.
The couple now enter a room where
HI ngs a picture of the Madonna with
a amp before it. burning. On a table
/ arc wax candles, swcatmeats and two
crowns made Of artificial flowers and
. Joined by green silk ribbon. A priest
swings a censor filled with burning in
cense; another lights the candles,
offers one to his associate, then to
bride and groom each one, and one he
/ retains. The service, in the Sclavic
tongue, is given in alienation by both
/ priests; responses are given by other
/ men. II DElCSJ now LdhGS Il IlI9 4IOiA1
the groom finger, makes with it the
SIGN of the cross upon the fOreheads OF
the man and woman before him, puts
it on the brides finger, takes it off,
changes 1T back and forth several times
and finally places it on the grOom's
little finger. The pair then join right
hands as candles are held over them:
the crowns are blessed and crossed and
bv the priest put on their heads, then,
bv a lady standing behind the couple,
are interchanged three times.
Into a hemispherical cup n priest
pours wine, blesses it, then offers it to
the couple, who drink, then walk
around the table three times, preceded
by the priest; guests meanwhile busy
themselves shOwering bOnbOns upon
the crowd. After salutations from all,
a collection is made for the priests,
and the ceremony Is over. Not a
pledge is asked from the couple, not
even 4 question for response from
them.
The mother may not see her daugh-
ter for a week, after which the bride,
accompanied by the new mother and
sisters, and on later Sundays by the
groom, may make further acquaint-
ance with the bride relativcs.-HayP-
er's Bdzdr.
-@ S--
How hard it is to keep apace and
abreast of all the new agODies. 1t IS
now quite the proper idea for young
lady to entvine a wreath of autumn
leaves of beautiful colors, and attach
ing a big bow of hame-colOred ribbon
thereto, to have it transported to her
best young man, per district messen-
ger boy, if the boy ever gets there
-Ehn an11 hIn-drnl ainniLinannn of lhis