New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-07
TZIGAN WEDDINGS
MIDNIGHT SCENES m THE HUNGARIAN
FORESTS.


weddings, and in many different cmes' . nes'
baer nresent M the marriage ceremony OF AUS
trian Archduchesses. OF Montenegro ana oi
prittonv peasants of Russian Imperial rr'n-
cessess and OF Egyptian Hanums, but the one
which has left thc most lasting impression upon
nv mind is the wedding Of young 1zgan 70
n Girl OF his tribe which took place in forese
near Jemisrar at the dead OF night The scene
was solemn and weird 1t was illumined oy a
huge pile Of flaming pine logs, in front OF which
with his back towards the fire STOOD e"e
"yaida." or chief, draped In long cnn'son
mantle and holding in his hand on ebony s.ah
with a heavy silver knob, as symooi OF his
dignity and autocratic power This persohnee
hos tho RIGHT Of life and death over his trioe anu
his authority is supreme. II rs he VINO periorhS
the marriage. birth, and burial ceremonies "c-
cordine to the true Zngari rite, Tor ai.hous.
thousands OF the Tzigans have nominaliy emoraoeu
Christianity. vet they still remain at heare as
devoted 10 the worship Of fire as their aIiceS
tors who dwell on the slopes Of the indian hii'-
alayas
Hand in hand the young couple stood perore
the flames under the dropping branches Oh inc
great dark trees, listening reverenty 10 '"e
solemn words of the "Vajda.' The bridegroom
was only sixteen and the bride little more Vhan
twelve-ages however corresponding DOM Us 'e
cards physical and mental development to ABOUT
twenty and sixteen in the case OF Europeans
The handsome stalwart boy, clad IN CRIMSON
dolman and dark breeches high, tasselled poo's
ard email velvet cap with o beron's plume, tow
cred head and shoulders above his tiny darkeyeo
Nancee She was an extremely pretty creature,
this graceful girl. and her scarlet skirts and bod
ice. with the necklaces of gold sequins when
glittered at her throat and in her dusky braios'
set off her strange beauty wonderfully. AS soon
as the "Vaida" had concluded his address. an
earthen vessel was dashed TO pieces on the ground
as a symbol that the past Of both young people
had come to an end and that new lie was
BEGINNING for them, and the bridal couple was
sprnkled with mixture Of salt and brandy TOT
the purpose of putting TO flight any evil spirits
that might he lurking around Them hea'y
silver rings were then exchanged and the " VaJda
having placed his hands in token oil blessing
over the bowed heads Of the youthful pair, Chey
were considered duly married. and received the
ations of their relatives and of the mem
hers Of their tribe Shortly aftrward feast
ing and dancing began, the latter to the sound
Of that enthralling music which the Tzigans draw
from their viOins and cymbals. 1t is music
that stirs the listener to the uttermost limits OF
",
enthusiasm Its exquisite melodies seem u pene-
trate the very marrow of ones bones to send
thrill through the entire body and to raise the
soul far above earth. 1t is heard nowhere save
in Uunoorv Rumnnia and the Balkans. The
musicians let all their heart go out in the strains
of their perfect instruments. and 1t seems as III
il would break were they to cease these floods
of enthralng harmony. They play as lark
carols naturally passionately, bringing one
through all the phases OF love, of pain. of rapture
until every nerve tingles Then, suddenly, with
one deep. plaintive chord. as il the strings were
breakinging in last sweet lingering sigh they are
silent. exhausted by the plenitude OF their own
power Nothing can give an idea OF the en-
thusasm they arouse. l have seen the great
Liszt himself listen to them spellbound, with
tears falling down his sunken cheehs
have seen spoiled and blase men OF
the world entranced by the matchless melo-
dies of these artists of nature; and one
NIGHT in the Banat, when the stars were coming
out one by one in the clear violet skies, saw
Prince Louis Esterhazy and party OF his guests
rive the Tzigans who had been playing Tor them
not only all the money they had about them' ou'
their watches, chains studs, rings, etc. the women
taking the Jewels from their fingers anu bhe
Aoyers from their bosoms to fling them at the
feet Of the dark-eyed musicians The most re-
marl<ab,e thing about this is that the Zingaris
do not know q note of music. They are the
interpreters the nightngales Of natures harmonies
1,hev nlav by tradition because music is in their
souls and because they cannot help giving ut
terance thereto The Hungarian bands who style
themselves Tzigans and hire themselves out to
nlev in foreign cities have nothing in common
with the Zingaris of the Puszta. The former are
nleasinr TO hear, we'll taught and well drilled,
but they are only mechanical nightngales VINO
sing for money very different from the free.
fiery and untutored artists of the great Magyar
plains.
The dancing Of the Tzigans in no way re-
sembIes the ierky motion which we are won't TO
consider the acme Of terpischorean art IL Is
poetical. graceful and dignified, and at the same
time coduettish and exquisite where the women
are concerned. In fact, these dances, as l saw
them on that night, are mixture of the wild
Hungarian Czardas, the Hindoo Nautch, and the
stately minuet of bygone days. The men, IN thelr
tight-fttng attilas, with an embroidered dolmah
hanging from their left shoulder, clattered the
long spurs attached TO their boots, and the girls
moved with thai swift grace inherent in their
race making up d beautiful picture as they wound
their way in and out of the intricate mazes OF
this peculiar but charming dance.
NOT long allerWaTu DcCdine Une i''i"''
witness in the same forest gades, Of another
Tzigan ceremony which may be regarded as Klnu
of epilogue to the wedding festivities, for 1t
illustrates the sanctty with which the Zingarls
regard the marriage vows. One evening L RODE
to the Czikama, or camp, belonging TO the great
"Vaida," Ferenzi Janos, but found it deserted.
The faint sound of waiting voices coming from
the pine woods in the distance, however, attracted
my attention, and guiding my horse cautiously
over the tangled bracken and osmunda bushes
which covered the ground, soon came in sight
of scene which l can never forget. The moon
was shining brightly, lighting up the spot with
fairy-like splendor All around the pine woods
stretched the ruddy glow of gypsy fires, flashing
between the dark boughs and throwing Grim
son CLEAN on clearing where the trees had
been cut down. There, bound to stake like a
prisoner of the redskins, was a woman, her per-