San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-16
A RUSSIAN WEDDING.

In the higher circles, almost imme-
diatcly after the betrothsl, Norkmen
are hired to make the trousseau. Ac-
cording to an old Russian rule, the
bridegroom makes his bride present
of a wedding costume as well as Of
| jewelry. The dowry of a Russian
maiden will consist of a full wardrobe,
household linen, kitchen utensils, sill
yer articles, carpets, curtains, china.
furniture and piano. The latter is
said to be indispensable. They do
not care for plated articles, but require
that everything should be of solid sill
yer. People in very moderate circum-
stances begin early to lay by some
thing for the dowry of their daughters.
Wedding presents are seldom given
by friends. Should young wife die
without 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 ceremo-
nially blessed.
Sometimes young ladies form par
ties to help the intended bride make
her clothes. 1t is said to be popular
belief that if any part of the trousseau
forming the dowry be unpicked, the
young couple will pick quarrels when
they are tied together.
The month of May is supposed to be
an unlucky mont! for marrying. The
name of the month resembles in sound
the Russian verb "to worry hence,
in part, the superstition. A more
likely explanation is this: that, as the
winter breaks up in May and the
snow melts, leaving such garbage and
filth to tester in the hot sun, great
amount of sickness is prevalent, and
the month comes to be regarded as
unlucky and trying.
The guests are far more numerous
at Russian than at an English we'd
ding. They are invited to be "assist-
ants" at heSwedding. Tie witness,
who is generally the grandest of the
connections" of the family, is the
most important person. He pays the
priests fees. Then come the ladies of
honor and the bridesmen. The latter
have to purchase sweetmeats for the
bridesmaids. The "boyrain," who
carries the sacred picture of Christ in
silver and gilt, is generally little
boy. When the. party arrives at the
church it is his duty to hand the two
pictures to the reader" who places
them behind the royal gates or
leaning against the altar screen.
Tie old nurse, or housekecper, SUI
perintends the carrying of the dowry
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 as to the number of
bridesmaids or their costumes. Their
dresses are not all alike. On the eve
Of the wedding day sometimes fare
well girls party" is given. No gen.
tleman attends this. All those pres
ent must be from the unmarried. They
sing choruses, chase each other in the
garden, and romp to their hearts con-
tent. They devour any amount of
tea, ice cream, lemonade, and sweet
meats. After supper they say fare
well and leave the intended bride very
exhausted in view of the ceremonies of
the following day. The old custom is
for the betrothed pair to fast (eat moth
ing) on the day of their marriage I'M
til the ceremony, which, in the fam
lily of noble, always takes place in
the evening. This makes the day
most tiresome to a girl. The bride
distributes her cast-Otf girlish toys,
ribbons and jewelry to her cOmpan-
ions. These things are called maiden
beauty" The peasant girls cut up
and divide among their companions
on their wedding day the long ribbons
which are fastened at the end of the
plat of hair which hangs down the
back. These peasants, Immediately
after their marriage, have the hair
plated in two braids and wound
round the head, then covered with a
sort of tight cap tied behind, or with
cotton or silk handkerchief When at
PargOla, in Finland, often saw the
unmarried girls trooping along in the
eventide, hand in hand, singing their
weird melodies, and friends told me to
notice the difference in the style of the
hair of the unmarried and married.
The married women have in addition,
under the invariable handkerchief,
little piece of linen, dappet about the
size of form, hanging over the GEN.
ter of the forehead. This is a more
evident proof of marriage than wear
ing a wedding ring.
When the women begin to braid up
the hair they sing part of a wedding
song
Ali my braid. my braid of maiden hair;
Ali soon shall it be divided In twol
-CaSselis Family Magazine.