The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-07-25
MARRIAGE IN RUSSIA
CURIOUS CUSTOMS THAT DATE
FROM REMOTE ANTIQUITY.

A Country where Men Hi,e Woman to
Do Their CourtinE-In Some Places tho
Probable Bride Undcrgoos . Severe and
Rigid Examination.
The choice of bride IN some parts OF
Russia is still accompanied with many
difficulties. The customs which are OBJ
served vigorously by the families of the
lower classes would certainly embarrass
an American swain or indirectly create
large number of young "Lochinvars
of the west"
In almost all Russia marriages are
brought about by means of q woman
mediator known as the "Svakha." As
soon as the choice is made the Svakha
puts on her best bib and tucker" and
proceeds to the home of the future bride.
She makes her entrance in as dignifed q
fashion as possible, salutes the ikons and
begins to speak of various things which
seemingly have little relation to mar.
rage. She says, for instance, "Where
there is no snow 1t lie difficult to follow
tracks, but today snow has fallen and il
is easy to find the way TO d manageable
maiden" Or she may say, "a white
swan has escaped from the house; is il
possible that 1t fed to you?"
1t depends upon the answers of the
parents of the young girl whether the
mediator becomes more specific and
speaks to the point or withdraws from
the place. If the negotiations end de
sirably the sutton takes courage to visit
the young girl, to become better &C
quainted with her and her surroundings
In some provinces--fot instance, il
the government Of Volagda-this visit
of examination on the part Of the suitol
becomes an elaborate ceremony. The
family Of the bridegroom, under thu
leadership OF the mediator, proceed Il
the house Of the bride. The mediator
without much ado, commands the brid,
to spin. If the visitors are satisfied witt
the talent of the girl for weaving the,
ask her to walk about the room to Sc,
whether she limps. The prospective, o.
rather possible, bride and groom ar,
then placed side by side to see whether
they are mated as to height. If one o
the young persons happens to fall shor
of the proper length of body there is al
ways great hilarity among the member
of the two families.
In almost all the SO called "Grea
Russia" the surrender of the bride as
sumes, In way, the character of sale
The money and objects Of various kind
which the groom intends to present Il
the parents of the girl are the subjec
of long discussion.
1--WE can consider the affair closed?
asks, for instance, the father Of tn
sutton. "....-..
81 am agreed" comes the answer.
"How much will you give me in CASH
| Fifteen rubles."
"That is no money at all. l receive,
twenty rnbles when my Oldest daughter
was married, and then times were hard.
81 shall add a fur MANTLE" comes tn
reply. .-
keep your mantle. My daughte
has one"
Thus the conversation proceeds unit
the marriage terms are settled. But tn
customs OF the marriage are equal,
queer. A few days before the weddin,
the bride is taken to battle by her friend
and companions. The soap used at til,
time is a present from the bridegroom
The bathing sponge, through which
ribbons are passed, is carried on lont
pole in front of the bride. The yount
woman sings as theprocession advances
The platform of the bathing house i
sprinkled with beer. 1t depends upol
the odor from the beer whether tn
groom is to be henpecked husband O
not. AS soon as the bridal processio,
enters the church on the day of the wed
ding the bride and bridegroom star
down the aisle in mad race. There i
a tradition that whichever one place
the foot first on the cloth in front of tn,
altar is to be master in the house.
| In some parts of the country it is still
the custom to invite sorcerer to tn
wedding ceremonies for the purpose o
driving away all evil spirits. The sor
ccrer is treated with the greatest re
spect. AT table he is served first Dur
ing trial for the murder of such
sorcerer in Lamara, in 1880, the villag
priest gave the following account of til
authority possessed by the sorcerer
There was a marriage in my house,
he said. II was told that sorcerer ha,
entered the room, had made variou
threats and demanded the place of honor
When l approached him he insulted m
and Knocked me. When led him to tn
door there was the greatest excitement
People cried that my actions woul
bring about disastrous results
Among other things, there are quee
customs at the wedding dinner. Whe
the wine is passed around each CUES
tastes the beverage and cries out that
is bitter. That is the signal for til
newly married couple to embrace on
another. In some governments tn
young wife is obliged to pull of he
husbands boots in the presence OF tn
guests US proof that he is master. .
whip placed there purposely fall
from the boot and the husband strike
the wife with it three times. After thi
greeting he kisses her. The Russia
: peasant values his wife for her econou