Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-10-15
The rRoLIc N.GAT.
Features of the Wedding Eestivilie'
rrHcticed in GermpnN

Features of the Wedding tcsiNhlcs
Trtcticed In Germpny,
In Germany the principal festivities con-
nOeled With a wedding take place on tic
evening preceding hc marriage ceremony
There u great deal OF sense IN THIS ar
rangcment for generally the flavor always
seems to 30 out OF the merry making as
soon IA the bridal couple depart On the
wedding day
The "Polter-abend," or Frollc Night. us
die nuptial eve IL called Is time for great
fun und Unaffected enjoyment Al tho
friends Of tho bride and a great many
friends OF the bridegroom. are Invited.
They come e.nly. as they always do TO
evening parties In Germany, and there Is
vast deal OF happy laughter joking pass
ing Of compliments and congratulations.
The brldo-olect, arrayed IN white, but with
a touch Of color tc mark that she does not
wear the wedding gown, stands smiling 10
receive the company, many OF whom are
the boy and girl friends Of her childhood.
Some OF them bring little gltts-onerihEs
too trlling to send beforehand but which
VIII, no doubt, be cherished more tendoriy
than some cOstller presents,
After a while they all 80 In to an early
supper, with It's queeriy compounded meat
dishes, and It's delicate cakes that aeem
light and dainty enough 10 set before
fairies, The VINE drinking ". OF course,
the cnlef feature OF tho feast
The bride must blink glasses With each
one Ia turn. and all who are special friends
or nelghb1rs at table must also touch
glasses. The meal over. the evenings
Amusement begins. Some Of the girls have
got up a play, ard while the stage Ia being
prepared and the actors are dressing, there
10 music aud singing. or some game can be
played that all can ioin IN,
When the play Is begun y ID found to be
appropriate to the occasion, The Be-
trothed." or "Gretohens Choice" or come
Httah shnTna and tyuElf0l "A "a "a
farce by bright witted moniber Of the
family. II is sure TO be full Of Innocent
llttlt Jokes, and contains, OF course, hits
at the real Gretchen and Hans; bui the fun
Is so good naturod. and the Laughter 1t ex-
cites So genial. chat the brld, and BRIDE
Of the company.
The little comedy ended. dancing begins
There are q plano and violin by way Of
band, and the waltzing Is perfection. In
the dlnlng-room there are simple refresh-
ments ready for the dancers, the most
popular beverage, even among the ladies'
being beerl
After the dancing has lasted some time
there IL q luil. during which another small
comedy Is played. This 10 After the We'd
ding and may, perhaps have for tie
subject the maiden aunts critlclzlng the
household Of Hans and Gretcheni and here.
Of course, there is plcnt7 Of scope for
poklng fun at the young couple. All Hans
little idosyncrasioB are made matter for
sport, and Gretchen may, II she VIII, re-
celye sly suggestions as 10 what Is expected
Of her IN the future. and profit from the
friendly hints These little touches are,
needless TO say, not 80 strong as 70 wound
the susoeptibilties Of the young couple.
The play IL very short More dancing
follows. moro drinking Of healths. more
congratulations. more good-naturel banter,
The evening begins to draw to close. for
In German family llfs carly TO bed and
early 10 rise IS the rule, and even on festive
occasions this rule Is observed. The least
Intimate friends 90 hrati then Hans takes
leave Of his bride until tomorrow; and
Gretchen is left with one or two OF her
girl friends TO have the last conhdentia
talk OF her Eirlhood eiih them A little
sadness falls upon tho party, a few tears
are shed. then Gretchen IL left quite alone
with her family, and she and her sisters
load helping hands iE getting the rooms
put straight against tomorrow.
This viii be happy evening for the young
BRIDE to look back upon al her life. Far
better this bright g0odby 70 home than
he busy. feverlsh excitement OF doing
"lAIt things" up 70 midnight. or than spend
Ing ii in prosaic fashion, as II II were ono
of The ordinary evenings OF home life, Moot
hopsekeepars would no doubt. thnk that
the wedding day gives them enough 10 do
without adding 'nupral eve colobf aflone
10 the lanors involved by their daughters
wedding, But In Germany an ID done with
10 Hale fuss. aud 40 much alfnplicty that
the trouble does not really seem great and,
Of course, the festivities OF the Potter
abend" are not repeated on the wedding
day
There Ia feast for the wedding guaxts
and reception for the wedding couple; but
these are not IN any way 80 cersmohlouH or
pretentiouz A. they would DO IN this c0pn-
Try aud WHOM ihs bride goes away the tad
houaokeeper welcomes the qulc; that again
sot;ila On ihs house and ailo.s her time
70 think OF her Loaf Ofetchen.