The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-19
WEDDING in NORWAY
AN HONORED GUEST TELLS OF Ir9
AMUSING FEATURES.
The Spirit of Reveiry Runs High, and the
Festivities Last Until Everybody Is Tired
Welded Pair.

I
Welded Pair.
A country wedding in Norway is an
interesting sight to behold, and besides
being amusing, should think, is quite
unique in its way. 1t is not 80 much
the actual church ceremony, although
that is strange enough in its simplicity,
as the after proceedings which find such
charms for the stranger.
When l was travelling in the neigh
borhood Of the great Justedal glacier, l |
was invited TO join in some wedding |
festivities, and the privilege Of being |
the honored guest is one 1 shall not soon |
forge.
was rather behind my time, and
when / reached the village the good
people We're returning from the church.
The first thing 1 caught sight Of was a
troop of gayly dressed men and women
| collected III the street and marching
along TO the tunes of an antique fiddle.
Some were dancing, some were singing,
and the older inhabitants, who had
reached the age when such frivolities
no longer charm, were putting away at
their curious, long, wooden pipes, the old
women enjoying the fumes Of smoke, If
anything, more than the men.
The younger girls were most gorgeous
ly arrayed in snow white caps and mass
i've ornaments OF gold. Their dresses
were gay with every color of the rain
bow. All the musical accompaniment
was supplied by one old fiddler, but
those simple folk enjoyed the cratic
squealling every bit as much as If 1t had
been the finest orchestra in the world
J under the charge of some celebrated con-
ductor.
The new made wife, covered with
bushes, looked sweetly picturesque in
l her bright red skirt and snow white
bodice, and her jewelry tinkled ike
, fairy cymbals as she walked or rather
e gently swayed along.
q Ter most conspicuous ornament was
J., the bridal crown, which it is the ambl-
G ton of every village girl to wear. 1t IS
the property of the whole parish and IS
!, generally under the charge OF the priest,
u who hands it over just before the cere-
T mony. High above the maiden's head
it stood, looking most imposing, as the
d sun glistened on the many jewels which
d were set around it.
If I Joined the merry throng, the men
d raising their caps and the women cour
II tesying low when they caught sight o.
me- Then followed the party up some
* narrow steps to the first floor OF blt
re matched barn belonging to the father
a. of the bride. An old oak chair wa
40 dragged forward to receive my portl.
ae person. and l sat me there and wonder
at ed greatly what ON earth was coming
next
lis The villagers ranged themselves roun'
g, the long, low room. on one SIDE Tn
Id girls, opposite them the young men, tn
matrons at the top and the elders
the bottom. Then the bride retired, c
course accompanied by her HUSBAND
ire and changed her ceremonious garment
10. for lighter attire. ! thought her WIS
Ost when | saw what followed.
we When the pair returned-and dunn
ep their absence there was silence III u
i'll barn-a huge bowl was offered to II
filled with the national beverage.
an. looked at it aghast. Was l to drink
on all? They intimated was to wish u, 1ne
ng health. / touched itwith my lips Inc
les the bride bent her pretty head and to(
ar. a sip. That one taste was enough L
in me- But there was more to come
md They signed that l was to go
drinking. shut my eyes and dld
by Between every two drafts the bri
ro- bowed her head and courtesied befo
I'm, me. At last it seemed 1 might leave o
Iiss But. no; l had to go through IL
md again with the bridegroom until I
ow howl was empty. And when that TIL
came I was heartily glad, for the dri
de- was strong, and liking for IL is mt
ing surely one that could only 10 acquii
,ur by long acquaintance
uch And now the husband led his Or
.me into the middle Of the room and u
ack ned one Of those graceful pas deux pee
lon- lar to the country.
At last. hot and flushed, they stopI
Nc. and stood before me. A tiny silver
Da's Was held out, and was asked to dr.
TWO their health again, this time In cogn
did 80 without daring to think OF
sau- morrow.
and This was the signal for the dane
had IN commence III CV0hCSo. OAy 49, =
n to ple-two men and two women-were
the lowed to dance at one time, but as 81
vent as they stopped, exhausted, others sup
tely in and took their places, and the
man fiddler scraped away until thought
arm must break.
Presently there was lull. Twow'
en-. dressed in gauzy, wavy dresses 81
, big ped into the middle They were the
ard. lace dancers. Then followed mar
fort ous exhibition of high kicking. 1t
him. yeritable triumph in the terpsi'
And rean art, for every few steps they to!
big ed the ceiling with their shoes, and
airs. louder the click of their shoes the Il
" on er came the applause. And 80 the N
mn" hours slipped away UNDECIDED Dance
the lowed dance and song followed 81
,ame until at last they could keep awak
made longer, and, with kiss TO the Q
and the bridegroom. one and all der
rI..&fo~d Tiynos