Wichita eagle., 1888-08-15
THE NUPTIAL KNOT.
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS AND CEREMo-
MES OF MANY LANDS.

fst@S NJ S"sSSs
Weddings Among tho Primitive Jews.
Among the Ancient Babylonians-I In
Old Norway-The Laws of Scotland,
Ireland, England aud Wales
In the earliest records that have come
down 10 Us, very little is said about the
ceremony by which couple were ordi-
nariIy united. Among the primitive Jews
there was betrothae and espousal, but
no further formal ceremony except tbs
mere removal of the bride from her
fathers house to that Of the bridegroom
or his father. At later time the cere-
monies began TO be more elaborate. On
the wedding day the bride would be as
elegantly attired as her circumstances
would permit, and yelled ike Rebecca i
maid was always married On the fourth
cay Of the week, and widow on the fifth.
During the ceremony the father, if he
were the celebrator. would take the hand
Of his daughter and give her TO the bride
groom, saying: Behold take her after
the law OF Moses and lead her away" If
the father did not act as celebrator the
rabbi or head Of the synagogue would
take the extremity Of the scarf or gar
Tnent which was around the bridegrooms
neck and cover the head OF the bride with
It, after which he e~nsecrated cup Of
wine and gave 1t TO the TWO contracting
parties
THE MODERN CUSTOM.
In modern times canopy OF silk is
usually put up under which the bride
and bridegroom stand on either side of
the parents or guardians, and In front is
the chief rabbi, standing between the two
ministers Of the synagogue Then the
bridegroom presents the ring (Which was
only modern custom IN leu Of dower)
The ring is examined by the chief rabbi.
who asks the happy man il the ring is his
own, and being answered II the affrma-
tive the bridegroom places the ring upon
the forednger of the bride, saying: BE
hold, thou art sanctifed to me, according
TO the law Of Moses and Israel" Then
follow blessings and prayers by the
rabbi, after which one OF the synagogue
officials deposits On the ground at the
foot Of the bridegroom q small board,
upon which an ordinary wine glass is
placed. The bridegroom then stamps
upon it and dashes il to pieces, when all
assembled cry out: "Mazzletouri! Mazzle-
tourir' Good luckl Good luckD Then
follow the usual handshalings and con-
CALCULATIONS, and the ceremony is over.
Among the ancient Babylonians the
ceremonies were originally the same.
There were festivals lasting three days,
and in their course occurs the following
curious custom: The bridegroom was
placed within circle of dancers, and the
guests and bystanders then proceeded to
stick small coins upon his forehead As
the money fell it WAS caught in On open
handkerchief held under his chin. After
this party of young men would rush
into the crowd and carry of the most
wealthy guests and lock them up in d
dark room until they paid proper ransom,
which would 90 to swell the Gowry.
The custom that guests at a wedding
should make presents to the bride and
bridegroom is very old; in fact, it has
been observed in all parts Of the world by
many people and at all periods of the
worlds history The old Greek, the
Roman and the Jew all did it, and it is a
common custom among even sava tribes
TO this day, but the presents na-.e vary
with the people making them, and nth
the rank which is given to woman IN the
national customs. In old Norway the
brides wedding outfit included q SHE'D. a
sword and an ak, it being supposed that
she would need these to protect herself
against her husbands blows
THE LAWS oF SCOTLAND.
The easiest wedding to make in any
civilized country in the world at tbs
present time is what is known as q con-
mon law marriage under the laws of Scot
land Such weddings have been held
valid for at least 700 years, but labor I'M
der the disadvantage of being considered
disreputable. The leading principle"
said Lord Deas. in judgment delivered
by him few years ago, lis that consent
makes marriage. No ceremony, civil or
religious; no notice before or publication
after, no contamination, no cohabitatiol,
10 writing, no witnesses, even, are essen
tial." : peculiar feature of this kind Of
marriage is that the law Of the place
governs the marriage; hence all persons,
though not of Scottish douliciIe, may, By
q very little fooHshness, find themselves
securely married by the operation OF the
Scottish law.
In Ireland an important part Of the
ceremony is collection for the priest,
which sometimes amounts to $50 or $50.
AAASAA CA-iSoo IL ~
ing this SO as TO secure the largest re-
suits, and here is one Of the methods: 4
Wedding feast is provided and eaten In
nediately upon the removal Of the cloth
the priest marrie5 the young couple. and
the bride cake is brought in and placed
before the priest, who. putting on his
stole, blesses it and cuts it up into small
slices, which are handed around on a
large dish among the guests. Each one
takes a slice of the cake, and lays down
in the place OF il donation for the priest,
consisting of pounds. crowns or shilings,
according 10 the ability Of the donor. II
the amount given By any guest be not
considered sufficient. those present are by
no means slow il making II unconforts-
bic for the cues. Until he shall pay
proper amount.
In many places II England and Ireland
il is considered prudent Oh the par. Of the
bride to take care 81 the altar to put her
right foot before that OF the bridegroom,
for then she viii be sure TO get the better
of him during the whole OF the married
life. This is especially prudent IN Wales,
for, under the Welsh law, husband
might administer three blows with
stick On any part Of the person Except
the head OF bis wife II case she Eisbe-
baved, and another directed that the stick
should not be longer than the husbands
arm nor thicker than his middle finger
Marcus Lane IN Chicago Globe.