San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-28
Our MQniQge Customs

Written for the Light by Lady Cook,
nee Tennessee c. Clafiin.l
When a custom once becomes gener-
al it does not easily disappear. The
public indecencies attending marriage
which were common not very long ago,
have been considerably modified.
rage modesty, and to invest the cere-
mony with evil influences. A union
which should be sacred, unobtrusive,
and unobserved, is made as public as
may be. and surrounded with all posi-
BILE means of notoriety. Bells are
rung, a semi-pagan Christian service
is attended by a crowd Of friends
and strangers, gossips crowd the
church entrance, huge bouquets
and wedding favors are Haunted
even by the attendant coach
man and footmen, and the whole is
wound up by champagne festivity, as
though Bacchus and Venus were the
presiding deities of the hour. Mean
while, the young bride, who is presum-
ably pure in mind and body, must sit
and listen to all sorts Of speeches,
whether eulogistic, sympathetic, or
suggestive. And her lady friends. still
younger 1t may be, have TO go through
the same ordeal. 1t would be sheer
hyprocisy to say that all this may be
done innocently. On such an occasion
the crowd of onlookers usually take the
opportunity to indulge in flippant re-
marks. That which ought to be pure
and dignifed is thus turned into a show
for the sensual.
Formerly the bride was led to church
by two bachelors, called bride knights,
and taken back by two married men,
while third preceded her with cost
ly bride-cup, containing "a goodly
branch Of Rosemary" and hung about
with many colored ribbons. 1t was al
so part of their Office to undress the
bridegroom and put him to her bed.
Rushes and flowers were strewn along
the brides path. Braithwaite sang:
"Strew rushes, maides; and ever as you
strew,
Think one day. maides, like will be done
you"
When Chausers GTisild was married.
"A couronne on hire he'd they had
dress"
Sometimes the nuptial crowns were
made of myrtle, flowers, or corn ears.
These and many other customs like the
wedding ring and bridal cake, We're ves-
tiges of Phallic worship. Even before
the altar, the young men, used imme-
ately after the ceremony, to struggle
as to who should first pluck off the
brides garters, and these, generally
ribbons for the occasion, were worn as
trophies in their hats. Butler, in whose
time this custom was prevalent, makes
Hudibras allude to it, when he says OF
the "Protestation."
(which all the saints, and some. since
martyrs,
Wore in their hats like wedding gar
ters.'
The nuptial kiss in the church was
| enjoined by the York Missal and the
| Sarum Manual, and it was customary
| for the young men present to salute the
bride by turns after the ceremony.
Sports and boisterous music We're al
| ways expected. In one of Ben JON
sons plays it is said, Your wedding
diner is starved without music"
In the christian State of Matri-
mony," published in the reign of Henry
VIII, complaint was made of the "su-
perfluous eating and drinking" or AL
| together" They come with a great
noise OF Harps, Lutes, Basens, Kites
and Drums, wherewith they trouble
the whole church and hinder them in
matters pertaining to God. And even
as they come to the church, so they
go from the church again, light, nice. in
shameful pomp and wantoness.
After the banquet and feast there be-
| sinneth vaine, mad, and unmannerly
' fashion, for the bride must be brought