The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-19
MARRIAGE IN RUSSIA.
Customs and Ceremonies In High and Low
Life.


The Russians generally marry quite
young in the upper classes, and amongst
country people even at an earlier age;
and to the honor of this society be 1t
said. love marriages are the rule, and
marriages for money are very rare ex-
captions. Dowry-hunting and marriages
of interest have not yet made their APP
pearancc in Russian manners. Girls of
high social position readily marry young
officers Of the guard, who furnish the
largest contingent of dancers to the
balls Of Petersburg. During the carni-
val fctes the two armies, the army in
pctticoats and the army that wears
epaulettes, learn to know each
other thoroughly. Friendships spring
up. the young man pays court, and one
day. without having consulted any body,
two fiances come to ask of the parents
q blessing, which is never refused. The
church does not marry during Lent, SO
they have to wait until Easter week.
Fashion demands for the celebration of
the ceremony the chapel Of some pri-
vatc house, if the couple have not suf-
fcicntly lofty relations to secure the
chapel Of the palace. A family that re-
spccts itself ought to have at its we'd
ding as honorary father and honorary
mother, If not the Emperor and
the Empress, at least Grand Duke
and y Grand Duchess. The hon.
orary father gives the holy image.
which some little child related to
the families carries in front of the
fiances. They enter the church, fol-
lowed by all their friends in gala uni
form. The ceremony begins: it is very
long. and complicated with many sym
bolic rites: small table-a sort of
movable affairs placed in the middle
of the oratory: the couple are separated
from it by band of rose-colorcd satin;
| when the priest calls, they must ad-
vance. and the first who sets foot on the
band, whether husband or wife, will be
tn. one who will impose his or her will
in the household, This is an article Of
faith Tor all the matrons, who watch
them at that moment. On the table is
placed the liturgical formulary, the
candles which they must hold. the
cross which they will kiss, the rings
which they will exchange, the cup Of
wine in which they will moisten their
.ip, and which is called in the Slavonic
ritual 1.-The cup Of bitterness" Pares
relieve each other to carry with out
stretched arms two heavy crowns,
which must DC held above the heads Of
fiances while the ceremony continues
At the decisive moment, when the
priest is pronouncing the words tina,
bind them together, the couple walk
three times around the altar, followed by
the hearers; until the third turn
Is completed there is time to turI
back; after that the die is cast, tn,
couple are united for life. Thereupol
the singers Strike up in their most stri
dent voices the joyous hymn, Let Isaial
,ejoicc." The bride and groom thcl
70 and PROSTATE themselves before tn
Virgin of the Iconostase, and kiss he
filigree robe, after which they pass int
the neighboring salon, where they gail,
clink glasses of champagne, while tn
invited guests receive boxes of sweet
meats marked with the monogram O
the young coupl" In the villages tn
marriage ceremony is celebrated in
simpler and more expeditions manne,
especially when Il e mujiks have only
few roubles to give to the priest.
simple gesture, few words, and fe,
minutes suffice to bow beneath tn
yoke her who is about to begi
her hard apprenticeship of wit
and mother in the humble peasant
! hosas. In Il Q evening the young res