The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-02
TRADITIONS OF WALES
CURIOUS CUSTOMS AND sUPERsTI-
TIoNs OF THE CAMBRIANs.
Manner OF Conducting Weddings and
Reverence for the Dead - Punish
ments for Scolds and Shrews.



was. AS in other countries. civilization has
little spoiled its charm. and though many
of the old traditions remain. the Welsh
seem gradually to be losing much OF that
individuality which makes them so inter-
esting
In nothing is the change that has taken
place within the present century more evil
dent than in the customs of society. There
was time when there was a small dis
tinction OF class; in those days 1t was a not
uncommon thing to see a wealthy landlord
and poor tenant seated at the same table.
and a man of good birth and ancestry was
assured of being welcomed by persons of
rank. howsoever poor he might be. But the
Welsh are rapidly becoming civilized and
learning to Judge of men by their individual
worth than according to those standards
which have usually been accepted by other
countries
If, however, there Is less of romance
about the Welsh than in former times. there
yet remains so much OF tradition and su-
perstition among these quaint people that
volumes might be written on the subject
without exhausting it.
In Marie Trevelyan's recently published
''Glimpses of Welsh Life and Character
many curious customs are reported as ex-
listing in certain portions Of Wales. Mar
riage by capture, for instance. a remnant
OF barbarous times, is said to be still pop
ular in Cardiganshire. That is to say, the
relatives of the bride assemble and offer a
mock resistance to the entrance of the
groom, and after a good deal of scuffiing
and horseplay dialogue Chiefly in verse;
side. After this the bridegroom is admitted
and sets about seeking the bride, who is
commonly disguised in some manner-as
an old woman, for instance, with male
infant, a symbol Of good luck and promise
of sons-upon her lap. On arriving at the
church door the bride is seized by her
groom and his party in pursuit. On being
overtaken the bride Is at once handed over,
and whoever caught her was certain to be
married within year.
Biddings to weddings have now fallen into
disuse except among the lower classes, but
IN former times they were common even In
the friends and relations of the bride and
bridegroom who were invited to contribute
sum toward purse for the young couple.
the duty of inviting the guests. Nowadays
written or printed note Is sent to the
guests, but formerly the gwahoddwr. who
the guests in person. This important per-
sonage carried in his hand a willow wand.
which, like his hat, was adorned with gatly
colored r1bands, and In his coat lapel he
wore a true-lover's knot or white favor.
On being admitted to the house of each
guest he would strike the floor with his
the wedding, would recite verses which had
been prepared for the occasion, and which
were generally Of facetious character.
REVERENCE FOR THE DEAD.
striking characteristic of the Welsh
people is their profound reverence for the
dead and dying. The desires of one who is
ailing are always gratified. even if almost
insurmountable difficulties be in the way.
for not to fulfill the wishes Of dying man
is looked upon as exceedingly unlucky. In
deed, there is a saying In Wales that, how
ever their wishes may be opposed, the dead
will have their way. In proof Of which
saying curious instances have frequently
been cited, such that of the woman who
desired that her body should not be carried
down the burying lane, as was the old Gus
tom of the village in which she lived. Her
termination, insisted that it should but
when the procession had gone part of the
way 1t was found necessary to turn back,
as broken cart INSTRUCTED the road.
The fireside customs Wales bear
close similarity to those OF England, but
there is one of local character which is
still common in certain remote parts of the
principality. This is to walk thrice around
a church on Halloween and certain other
days at midnight, and then to look through
the key hole, when the forms Of those who
will die during the year may be seen. With
In the last half century man who was en-
ployed in some capacity at a parish church
in South Glamorganshire, and who is still
living, had been indulging somewhat freely,
and returning to the church. found that he
was not In fit state TO work. His COM
panions recommended him 20 try the effect
of a little sleep, and he accordingly lay
down in one of the pews. When his fell
lows ceased working, they quite forgot their
the door. handed over the keys to the
sexton. and retired TO an inn. At about u
o'clock the good man in the church was
awakened $50 he declares) by violent up
roar Not being by any means superstitious
he was about to make his way to the read
ing desk, where he expected to find matches,
but he felt some strange force holding him
back. The uproar continued, and he heard
though he could see nothing, funeral pro-
cession proceeding up the nave A shadowy
figure. which he recognized as that OF
neighbor. appeared for a moment at the
place where the bier was always laid. and
then, for the first time, he felt an indie
his hands called on his Lord for mercy.
He now felt able to move, and still mutter-
ing his prayer he FASTENED towards the
church door, which was wide open, and
out in the cool open air.
On his way home he met party Of men
with lanterns. who explained to him that
they were on their way to the church,
where they believed him still to be. He
told them what had occurred, but they dis
believed his story and went to the church.
the doors of which they found locked. On
inquiring Of the sections wife they learned
that he had gone to bed at early hour.
Shortly afterward the man whose spirit he
had seen died. The mystery is not that ne
saw a spirit, for men have sometimes been
known to see very strange things after a
free use of stimulants, but that he escaped
from the church. No explanation has ever
been offered.
Among the customs which have gone out
only within the last half century in Wales
was the Cwnstree, a kind Of mock trial
When a shrewish wife. In quarreling with
her husband, struck him with the tongs in
stead of the poker they were both brought
before special court, or, rather, persons
representing them, for the plaintiff and de-
PENDANT never appeared In person. The
trial was conducted in the town hall or
elsewhere with all the pomp and circum-
| for the prosecution and defense. When a
verdict of guilty had been returned by a
proper jury of twelve good men and true
| the sentence of death was passed by the
Judge. An effigy of the woman was then
| conveyed to a gibbet below the town hall
| clock and, after being hung. was fired
| at until completely destroyed by the crowd.
| II is said that the custom did much toward
| preventing family quarrels.
The Purian was another ordeal through
| which inconstant women were compelled to
| pass Covered with white sheet they were
| obliged to walk up the aisle Of the parish
| church with their paramours during the
hours of divine service. This custom OBJ
| tanned in certain parts Of South Wales till
| within fifty years ago. The ducking stool.
| too for the punishment OF shrews. scolds
! and immodest women. was in use forty-fiye