Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-01-24


young mans name, and never drop q
hint that they are wife hunting. From
their demeanor one would suppose that
they were simply paying friendly visit
AS soon as the visitors have made q
choice the wooer dispatches them again
to the maiden's home with instructions
to ask her hand in marriage. They go
to her parents house and, standing on
the threshold, say: eve como to you
your daughter in marriage seeking. To
US be not disappointing" The Syrian
Greeks chant this in Arabic, thus:
iaincoum Ehaatbeen
Lab binteoum Tahlbeen
EAh terropddoons klaibeen.
If the maiden's parents do not object
to the proposed match they invite the
visitors to enter the house and partake
of their hospitality. The evening is
spent in feasting and making arrange
ments for the wedding. The girls par
ents announce the amount of her dowry
and the young mans relatives give an
inventory of his worldly possessions.
The wooer himself visits the girl on tho
following day and is formally betrothed
to her, the ceremony being performed
by q priest, who simply hands to the
girl small present from her wooex.
Thenceforward, until the wedding takes
place, he may visit her every day, but
he will have no chance to be alone
with her. When he enters the house
her mother has her eye on him, and
she Is supposed to keep her eye on him
until he leaves. That she dozes occa-
sionally, however, IL proved by the
fact that there are few amorous Greek8
who do not manage to get Q taste Of
their sweethesrts' lips long before they
are married to them. A few stolen
kisses, however, are all the luxuries
they can hope to obtain during the
ante-nuptial period, for the girls are
guarded most carefully, not because
the parents distrust the suitors, but be-
cause they consider it their duty to pro-
tect their daughters honor as long a.
they arc under their roofs.
Their guardianship does not last
long after a sutton declares himself. To
get married is his object, and he easily
persuades his betrothed to have the
ceremony performed during the next re-
ligious festival. When the wedding day
ut last arrives he gathers his friends in
hia own house at boon and spreads .
marriage feast before them. His be-
trothed gathers her friends likewise and
entertalns them In ner parents home.
So in the two homes the day is spent in
feasting and merrymaking. Friends:
Mock from all directions, and those who
enter the mans house say in greeting:
MAY good LUCK like this soon befall all
bachelors" while those who enter the
girls house say: MAY happiness like
this soon be the lot Of all young maid.
ems"
When they reach the house they find
. priest ready 10 perform the marriage
ceremony. To the young couple stand
ing before him he reads the ritual of
theGreek church, and then, after plac-
ing his hands On their heads first simply
and afterwards crosswfse, he joins their
hands and pronounces them man and
wife.
The guests now offer congratulations
and gifts, and the bridegroom in return
offers them beakers Of wine and
other lavish hospitality. So during the
night and long after dawn the Toast Is
continued, and not until the sun is high
In heaven haa the bridegroom q chance
to be alone with the bride. BY that
time the last guest has departed, and
the only persons In the house are the
married couple, tho BRIDES mother and
the hridegroona's parents The two
motAera conduct the married couple 70
, their apartment, close the door on them.
return To- on adjoininR room, and lying
on coaches remain there until the bride
and groom como out to break their fast.
A week later there IL regular ''house
warming" to which all Of tho friends of
the bride and bridegroom are invited.
Thia ia succeeded by feasts and sofrees
In the hoases Of the wedding guests At
these entertainments, which last foRsev-
eral days, the newly-married couple are
tAa principal attraction. Not until
those enioysble days are over is o Greek
honeYnoon considered at an END.