Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-11
CURIOUS WEDDING GIFTS
CUSTOMS ATTENDING THEIR BE-
srowAL IN VARIOUS LANDS.

Ctiiity Rather Than Orn.E.sss-fhs 3D.
Gard sf the Chinese aad the Pig. sheep
ar Gov Of the swedes-tDvigis a thS
Mory~nx.b~ and the Welsh HidSssgA
What snail ~e send As q wedding presenf-
something useful or something oruamenfaif
How often this question Is asked oy people
who wish 70 remember their friends on Their
neutial day II we are without the pale o.
eo,lsaigui.ity or affinity We fear to trans
grsss etiquette by sending useful articles, un
k~-z. in.is-si we are on terms OF the cioaess
friendship Un tine other hand every one
feels that i, would be far wiser TO send scsns
thing USEFUL that the gifts may escape fhs
fate Of many wedding presents that ars
stor..i away In TRUNKS or deposited In the
vaults aad ssfss Of banks
IL, tine matter Of wedding presents our fore-
fathers displayed degree Of taste and Judg-
nlent thai the present generation might well
follow
Among the Greeks il was formerly the
custom tor friends TO send to the newly mar
ried people what were known a. the unseiling
presents, bs,csttIse they were given on the &C
casiou Of tie brides first appearance unveiled
She was seated in her apartment, with gut
crown on ter head, and there she received
the presents Of her guests Among the Romans
both parties gave presents 10 those friends
who had negotiated or favored their mar
riage The custom Of sticking coins ON the
Bridegroom forehead is common TO several
Eastern races among others to the furco
mans and Moors Of West Barbary The
briett.,ronu on these occasions Is placed within
a cirel. OF dancers. and the guests and by
ISLANDERS. wetting small coins, place them on
his forehead All the money thus collected is
added to the dowry of the couple As the
coins are put on the brdegroorns forehead
the attending servants shake them off into
bass I, which Is placed iii bis lap, his eyes
being meanwhile shut, and the name OF the
donor and the value Of the gift are announced
GIVE AND TAKE
With modern Arabians the bridegroom
makes the bride presents, which are sent
day or two before the nuptials As SION as
the bride reaches the bridegfoons house she
makes him presents of household furniture, a
spar and tent. The marriage contract
am z the Persians stipulates for the settle
m.lt of numerou, presents, III addition to
certain sum OF money II the bridegroom is
in moderate circumstances he gives the bride
two complete dressos, a ring and Il mirror.
He also supplies the furniture, carpets, mats,
culinary utensils and other uecessaries for
their home preseutsare exchanged between
the bride anil bridegroom on the evening be
fore an Armenian wedding
The introduction OF the Chinese method in
the United States would revolutiouiZe the
present etiquette in respect to present max
ing With the Celestials the family of the
bridegroom make presents 10 the family Of
the bride OF various article, few days be-
fore the day liked for marriage. The pres
euts generally consist of food, q cock and
hen, the leg and foot Of pig. the leg Of q
goat. eight small cakes OF bread, eight
torches, three pairs Of large red candles, a
quantity of vermicelli and several punches
Of hrecrackers. Two or three DAYS before
the time fixed for the wedding red card is
sent oy the fainIy of the bride to that of the
bride lrooln, stating the quantity of furn
turc that will be furnished as the brides
dowry
In siam all The guests must bring presents
Swedish brides used to receive from their
friends pig, sheep or COW, and from the
bridegroom a colt, dog, cat or goose. Among
the wealtniar class the couple sat on raised
platform under canopy Of silk on their
wedding Gay and their presents. consisting
of plate. jewels aud money. were arranged on
II silk covered bench before them
the fee for the officiating priest at wed
DIM in Norway and Sweden formerly con
sisted OF "A pro-4'iit of one or more bladslers
filed with a hi sly seasoned alince of differ
ent kinds OF meat, and also IA bottle or two
Of bra idy Every guest at a Norwegian
acdd.u. brought the brIds. n present In
MANY pJrt> kcg Of butter was the usual
gilt, and y TIE marriage took place in the
winter salIel or frozen meat offered
THE toRGEHGABl
Among the early Germans money was given
to the brides relatives on the wedding day,
but this usage WAS not followed If the mar
rage happened to lee an unequal one Men
of rank who had lost their wives, but had
children. III order to avoid hurdenlig their
estates, married low born women, who, bring
Ing no fortune, were not entitled to dover
In snch casss the husband gave his wife such
gifts as II pair Of oxen for blowing, a har-
messed horse, buckler. IA lance and sword,
to signify that she ought not to lead an idle
and luxurious life, but should be "A partner
with him IN his labors and companion of
h,s dan'cers the wife. likewise, gave her
husband arms.
The morsehgabe, or morning gift was
probably found II on the custom Of the hus-
band u,aklH, prt1ents. At first the morgen
gah. .sa> IA pit-..ut made by the husband To
HIS 81 e on the .npfnin after his marriage
S1..c. inics il was cuain Of gold or jewel.
AMI at othcrss portion of the husbands for
tune Formerly such present was given at
every marriage. but later only at the wed
hlngs OF the uuiii.y This custom was often
carried to great excess, the bride having the
privilege of asking for any sum of money, or,
| In fact, any thing hat she pleased. and which
could not, M honor be refused by the hus-
band Tue demand sometimes was very ex-
orbitant. il the woman chose to he avaricous
hence the Laws limited the amount to he
I given Pay weddings were general
throu ;hout Gornaay at one time At the
| entertainment v hch followed the marriage
the guest, q posted gold or silver money or
/ jewelry in a basin which stood before the
briie, who was seated at table with her
female friends.
/ IN other Instances every visitor paid for
| the refreshments which he had. as at an inn.
, Years ago it was common in some parts OF
/ Germany. ms well as in Holland and France
to distribute at tine weddings OF the upper
classes medals on which were various devices.
Presents were made at the entertainment fol
/ lowing the uuptial ceremonies in France by
+ all tine ~. SIS vino were invited to be present
| The presents were deposited in basin that
stood before the couple while music wa,
being played
/ The wei,.ta = in Wales were characterized
/ by several cftvIGus customs. among which the
/ "Diadin.,n Wa one ~ the most interesting.
The richer people sent circular letters to the
guests by paid bidder or inviter, in which
do,