Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-16

household linen. kitchen utensils, sill
yer articles, carpets, curia rs. china
furniture and a piano. The latter is
said to be indispensable. They do not
cave for plated art clcs. but require
that everything should be OF solid sil-
yer. People in very moderate clrcum-
stances begin early to lay by something
for the dowry of their daughters.
Wedding presents are seldom given by
friends. Should a young wife die with
out leaving any children behind. her
dowry can be lawfully claimed by her
parents. The husband can retain only
the bed and the picture with which
his deceased wife was ceremonially
blessed.
Some times the young lad es form
parties 10 help the intended bride make
her clothes. 1t is said to be a popular
belief that if any part Of the rousseau
forming the dowry be u%npicked. the
Young couple will pick quarrels when
they are together.
The month of May is supposed to he
an unlucky month for marrying. The
name OF the month resembles in sound
the Russian verb ITO worry;' hence,
in part, the superstition. A more
likely explanation IS this, that. as the
winter breaks up m May and the snow
melts. leaving much garbage TO tester
in the hot sun, n great amount of OK
ness is prevalent. and the month comes
TO be regarded as one unlucky and
trying.
The guests are far more numerous
at a Russian than ut an English we'd
ding. They are invited to be assist
ants at the wedding. The witness.
who is generally the graudest of tho
'.conneclions' of the family is the most
important person. He pay, the priests
fees. Then come the ladies of honor
and the bridesmen. The latter have to
purchase swectmcats for the brides
maids. The "boyrain.' who carries
the sacred picture of Christ in silver
and gilt, is generally a little boy.
When the party arrives at the church
it is his duty to hand the two pictures
to the 'realer' who places them be-
hind the royal gates" or leaning
aga nst the altar screen.
The old nurse or hou,ekeeper. super
intends the carrying of the d0wry
from the house OF the bride TO that of
her future husband, and arranges
everything for the use of the bride.
There is no law rs To the number of
bridesma ds or their costumes. Their
dresses are not all alike.
On the eve OF the wedding dav some
times n farewell girls party" is Civ
on. No gentleman attends this. All
those present must be from the I'm mar
ried. Thew ; NJ chOruseS, chase each
other in the garden. and romp TO their
hearts content. They devour any
amount Of ten, ice cream, lemonade
and swcetmnats. After supper they
say farewell and leave the Intended
bride very exhausted in view of the
ceremonies of the following day. The
old custom for the betrotied pair to
fast (eat nothing) on the day OF their
marriage until the ceremony. which. IN
the fam ~ of n noble, always takes
place in the evening. This makes the
day most tircsOme TO n z r.. The
bride distributes her east of girlsh
TOYS. ribbons and jewelry to her COM
panions. These Ia ugs are called
'mallcn DeaNtf. ne peasant girls
cut up and divide among their compan-
ions on their wedding day the long
ribbons which are fastened at the end
Of the plait Of hair which hangs down
the back. These peasants immel ate
" after their MARI age have the hair
braide in two plaits and wound around
the head. then covered with a sort OF
tight cap tied behind, or with n cotton
or silk handkerchief. When at Pagola.
in Florin. | often saw the unmarried
girls trooping along in the evetide,
baud in hand. singing their weird mel
odies. and friends told me TO notice
the difference IN the It le OF the hair
of the married and unmarr Ell. The
MARI eel women have in addition, un-
der the invariab'e handkerchief, a lit
piece of linen, a lappet about the 20
of q form, hanging over the centre Of
the forehead. THIS is more evident
proof of marriage than wearing n we'd
ding ring.
When the women begin to braid up
the hair, they sing part of a wedding
song.
Ali nv braid, mv braid OF maiden hair;
Ali soon shall IL be q vided in twol