Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1900-03-09
TIE TRAVArA
interesting wedding Custom in the ,Is.
land Of Corsica.

land Of Corsica.
Many Of the old-time customs Of
this charming island have fallen into
disuse except in mountain districts
and in villages remote from the sea.
One Of the most interesting among
them is the Trayata, a kind Of barrier
which stops the brides procession as
she is being conducted to her hus-
bands village. The whole Of her at
PENDANTS must succeed in passing this
barrier without touching it, or she
must pay tribute,
Early in the morning Of the we'd
ding day a crowd Of relatives and
friends assemble in the market-place
Of the brides village; the youths
armed, their guns loaded, pistols
charged, and belts well furnished
with ammunition. They arrive by
all the mountain paths, most Of them
on horseback, and all dressed in their
Sunday best. The bridegroom is led
forward by his father, he enters the
village, receives his bride, and leads
her Off; but at the end Of the village
there is a triumphal arch, and under
it the passage is INSTRUCTED by a belt
of ribbons stretched from one side
to Che other When the ridereaches
the arch one of the elders Of the VIII
lage stands on the other side Of the
ribbon barrier and delivers a speech.
"Why do you leave us?" he says to
The bride. "Were you not happy with
us? Had you not your father to pro-
tcct you. your mother to love you,
your brothers to defend YOU. fertile
fields in which to feed your focks,
as well as a healthy habitation in the
winter season, and a holy church for
the feast days? Again, young wom-
an, why will you leave u.s.
The bride, leaning on the barrier,
insists, and gives her reasons; then
places a small purse in the orators
hand. This contains an offering for
The church and for the necessities of
the village
The ribbon is then detached, the
bride passes, and at the same time all
the young people of the wedding
party start of, squirting on their
horses in the effort to be the first to
reac! tbc bridesroom's village, in
which viii be the residence Of the
bridal pair The first TO arrive has
the rghtto take the keys of the house,
present them to the bride, and do
the honors Of the wedding feast.
During this time the procession
slowly advances. At the entrance to
tbevillageis another arch and another
barrier Another orator also appears.
lie first Of all addresses the armed
youths, asks who they are and whence
they came, whether as friends or en-
emies. and demands the usual trib-
rte One Of them answers hat they
coMc us friends, and as proof of their
friend hip escort a bride, whose beau
ty viii delight the village, and whose
affection will gladden. the heart and
home Of one of the bravest among
them. The orator then turns to the
bride, and demands what she brings
to the village in whose interests she
intends to partakc, and what is the
family whose tenderness she expects
to share.
The bride responds, not without
emotion; speaks Of her affection, of
her duties, Of the friends she has, and
Of those she hopes to have, and joins
the orator in the wish that her coming
may be blessing to herself and to
the community A second time the
purse is given, a second time The bar
rier is lowered. The procession en-
tiers the village, and proceeds to the
house, where the winner Of the keys
is waiting to present them; the bride
is at home, and the festivities COM