The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-05-05

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Thrust this at night in pillowbeer,
10 morning slumbers yon will seem
T. enjoy your lover in dream.
Bridesmaids have figured at weddings
since the time of the Anglo-Saxons, but at
that time their duties were somewhat
more onerous. 1t was then their esteemed
privilege to escort the groom to church, as
it was that Of the bridegroommen TO con-
duct the bride. In an old provincial poem
telling of the Golfers wedding is the
verse
| Two lusty lads, well dressed and strong,
Stepped out to lead the bride along;
Aud two young maids of equal size,
AS soon the bridegroom's hands surprise.
One of the oldest customs was that of
strewing flowers from the residences of the
bride and groom to the church, as men,
toned in the following:
All hail to Hymen and his wedding day.
Strew flowers and quickly come away.
Slrew flowers, maids, and even as you strew,
Think one day, maids, like will be done for
you!
Years ago, in England, when the bride
came from the church, it was usual for
one of her friends TO throw wheat on her
head, and when the newly married pair en-
tered their own house, for some one to
present them with pot of butter. of the
most remote origin are the nuptial gar
lands, which were as much used by the
heathens as by the Jews, while the Romans
considered no bridal costume completed
until the wreath was added
Among the Anglo-Saxons, after the
benediction was delivered, both bride and
groom were crowned. Sometimes these
chaplets were blessed, and they were fire.
quently made of myrtle.
Marriage in the Greek church is called
matrimonial coronation, and the wreaths
use in the ceremony are solemnly destroyed
eight days after the wedding.
In some countries the bride is crowned
with wreath of prickles, and so delivered
unto her husband, that he may know he
has invited himself to thorny pleasure
Rosemary, which was supposed to
strengthen the memory and confer numer-
Gus virtues, was much used at weddings
and also carried at funerals. The follow
ing on the "rosemarte branch" speaks of
its double use
Grow for two ends--it matters not at all
Bet for my bridal or burial.
The nuptial kiss is also custom of
much antiquity, and years ago kiss was,
in dancing, the established fee of part
ner. The privilege is still allowed in
country places all over the world,
In "Henry VIII are the lines
were unmannerly to take you ont
And not to kiss yon.
The practice of making wedding gifts
probably has its origin in the bidding
parties" of long ago, that were held the
day previous to the wedding, Tor the
aVowed purpose of giving the friends of
the contracting parties an opportunity of
assisting them in their new undertaking.
1t was anciently the custom among Ger
mans for the bride to remove her shoe
when she was conducted to the bridal
chamber and to throw it among her guests,
who all struggled to obtain possession of
the treasure, as it was considered a sure
sign that the lucky finder would soon be
happily married.
An old superstition that still holds good
with many is to the effect that if girl be
married before her elder sisters they must
dance without shoes at the wedding, in
order to counteract the i'll fortune this
event is supposed to bring them and secure
husbands for themselves.
From very ancient history comes
rhyme that is found in the folklore of
every nation and that still exerts some in
fuence on the choice of the wedding
day:
Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday the hest day of all;
Thursday for crosses,
Friday for losses,
Saturday, no day at all.
In June, the month of roses, the birth
month of the Roman goddess Juno, more
weddings occur than in any other month 10
the year. Its popularity is due to the
pretty fiction that Juno (meaning yoke.
maker), takes a special interest in mar
riages, and that her protecting care fol-
lows and blesses all those who are welded
in June. Perhaps the old rhyme;
Marry in Lent,
Live to repent,
has something To do with the scarcity of
weddings during that period Another
old time jingle sets forth the church calen-
dar in more detail.
Advent marriages doth deny
But Hillary gives thee liberty;
Septnagesima says thee nay;
Eight days from Easter says you may;
Rogation bids thee TO contain,
But Trinity sets thee free again.
An old Scotch writer says: "That day