West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-01-29

such price rs the vic,ers dcn,end. All
over That cvnniry sonic ccr.non, of
Nio'vn'e OF physical powers must pre-.
cede wet lius. IN certain districts
heremu~t be- a wrestling match be-
tween the bride and GROOM. II tho
man wins, the woman must surrender
herself 20 him II she wins. she hss
th" option of accepting him or not.
o'm" native tribes cCmuol a foot race
between th' bride and bridegroom Il
decide the question of marriage. an
others re, u'rc long chase on horse.
back
"lNcy have interesting marriage
ceremonies ia NORWAY AMI SNedon.
Inc custom among tine Swedish peas
ants is eNcccdiugi, droI When "a girl
j. To be married m sweden She 3.
dr"Ssvd m her bridal glrm"n,s. aud is
placed in the middle ~ room. As
shc stands she Is surrounded bv e'rrl.
ot bright lights. The gruomsint thcn
enter eaoh carry ing a liyhtcI lamp.
The villagers have assembled about
the cottage in the meantime. aud the
doors aud windows are thrown omen
through them whoever wishes may
enter, and the most liberal criticisms
OF the bride arc made. Men aud wo.
men walk about her and talk ,lecly e.
TO one another about her appearance.
her character, her prospects, etc. One
will hoar some Young fellow say:
We'll, she's TO be- married at last.
oh9 About time, think It's the lir,
oltrr she has had since tilted her.
Yes, some one else will say, and
| pity the man who martics hc-'
but don't sho lopk old, though.
another spectator viii SAY, and won
she make the poor felloy stand
arOuud2
women wearing masks AMI differ.
ent DISCUSSES will ALWAYS be present foi
the purpose of making remarks both
pointed and Insulting. bat ever, thing is
boone patiently and in good part by thr
bride and groom. Tho chumng is kept
up for nm hour or two, every one bnt
the friends of the parties are orlcred tn
quit the house, and the ceremony Is
performed
1t iakos a good while for villag,
wedding festival to be- carried out n
Norwegian villages, som ,tmcs as lonu
as week. Beer. spirits plenty TO oat.
music and dancing are the features.
Ihe guests begin 20 assemble on the
day before the wedding. Ihev arc
welcomed with plenty of spirits and
beer by the bride and groom. The
village schOolmaster is ALWAYS master
II the ceremonies, aud it Is he who i'm
slies the guests to the reception meal
III says grace A psalm is then sumo
lo the accompaniment Of two violins
The rcpast is simple, and served on
bare table. No plates are used, bu
large, Hat cakes OF meal instead. The
night Is spent in revclmg. The nnx
morning at eight y clock the wcldn.
procession starts for church. Tie brid
always wears - silver crown and sil,e
ornaments. In some parts OF The Kin.
dom she IS clad i'm purple robe, ctl,
embroidered with gold, frequently the
heirloom of centuries. Sometimes the
way to church is by boat and sometime
on horseback Music leads tho \yny.
The march to church is never halted.
but when the party returns after the
church ceremony q salute is fired from.
every house along the route, aud at
every one the ncwly-murried pai
aligIt and parIako of beer. The iour
ncy homo often takes day, owing tu
this general joining in the festivities.
''As soon as the bridal party rcache.
home grand dinner is ,erved. After
that what is known as the cradle tax Is
collected. A tin dish is placed before
the bird D, and her father deposits in II
bank note aud two silver spoons
The guests all contribute money or
silver gifts. The rest Of the wcddine
day aud part of the night are spent in
drinking and dancing. Then pro-
cessiOn Is formed, and each person
carried lighted candle aud escort
the bride aud groom 10 their apart
mcnt. The next day the wedlinp
gifts are presented 1noy are not dis.
played. but each giyer shouts out what
he or she gives, aud shakes hands with
the married couple. The revcling aud
rejoicing are kept up until the following
sunday, when they nrc brought TO 4
close, aud the young couple arc consid.
cred litly married. ! know something
about marriage in Norway. for WA
married there myself and went through
the entire programme. IN Y SIM