Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-03-18
BREAD AND BRIDES.
THE PARTS vIANDs PLAY IN MAR
RAGE CEREMONIES.

htSS6 S6U6"S'NeSs
Sweetheart Cakes of . Dutch DAM
sell Egyptian Bridesrooms Must
Work For Their supper-Wine In
China-Married by Candy.
The important part which different
viands play in marriage ceremonies
makes rather an interesting story.
For example, the Swedish bride dis
her pocket with bread, which she dis
penses to every one she meets on her
way to church, every piece she gives
away averting. as she believes, mis-
fortune.
On the threshold Of her new home a
bride in Seryia is presented with a
plate of bonbons, one Of which she and
the bridegroom share between them.
the divided bonbon signifying that no
bitterness shall divide them. A sieve
of wheat corn is also given to the bride.
or this she takes three handfuls,
throws it over her head, emptying the
sieve upon the ground. The scattered
corn denotes that the bride brings Joy
and prosperity into her new home. The
bride is still outside the door, nor can
she enter until she has placed two
lOaves Of bread beneath her arms and
taken a bottle of wine into her hands.
With these emblems she at length
crosses the threshold Of her future
home. At the first meal Of the newly
married pair bread and wine must be
taken by both to denote that thence
forward all they have shall be equally
divided between them and that their
married life shall be passed In unity
and fidelity.
A Russian wooing eliminates in the
betrothal feast, Mt which the bride elect
in return for long tress Of hair which
she has given to the bridegroom re-
ceives bread and salt and an almond
cake.
In Holland If young man is in love
with girl and wishes to ask her hand
In marriage he buys small sweet
cake and. wrapping 1t up in soft paper,
proceeds to the house Of his inamorata.
He Is ushered into the midst Of the
family circle. Without word he
walks up to the young lady and lays
the cake on the table before her. The
rest Of the family affect not to notice
anything unusual and continue their
work or their reading. The young man
turns aside and talks to the father or
mother OH some very ordinary subject,
keeping his eyes eagerly fixed on the
girl while he Is conversing. If she &C.
cepts his offer, she takes up the cake
and eats 1t. If she is coquettish
damsel, she tortures the young man by
turning it over and playing with 1t be-
fore she decides to taste 1t and then en-
raptures him by eating it to the LIST
crumb. II. on the other hand, she
wishes to have nothing more to do
with her admirer, she puts it back on
the table. The young man takes up
the cake and, with ''Vaarvoal byza'
men," leaves the house. The matter is
then kept profound secret by both
families. and the outer world never
hears Of 1t. In place Of wedding cake
in Holland wedding candies are given
-"bruid zuikers" they are called.
They are passed around by children
and are served in flower trimmed bas-
kets.
Bride pudding is the name Of the
piece de resistance served ut Morse
peasant wedding. This Is not brought
on the table until the last day of the
festivities, three or five days being
given up to feasting and merrymaking.
The appearance Of the bride pudding
is the signal of dismissal, and at the
close Of the feast the guests say fare.
well, presenting at the same time their
gifts. which consist Of cash. This the
bride receives. the bridegroom present.
| Ing each donor with glass Of wine.
Partaking of two tiny glasses of wine
is all the ceremony necessary to make
marriage in some Chinese provinces
provided quantity Of fireworks are
set off. These are to wake the great
loss" from his sleep that he may wit
ness the ceremony.
Alta Hebrew wedding man and wife
sip from one cup of wine. symbolizing
participation In the joys and pain OF
earthly life. The emptied goblet is
placed on the floor and crushed into a
thousand pieces by the bridegroom
who thus shows that he will put his
| foot on all evils that may enter the
family circle.
At an Egyptian wedding feast meat
is not eaten because of the belief tina,
It would lead to future chickering's be-
tween them. Eggs. fruits and sweets
are served. The first meal In the new
house cannot be touched until. after
every device known to the bridegroom
the bride has been ut last induced to
speak. Once she utters word. he claps
his hands, and supper Is brought to
| them.
Married by candy is the plan in Bur
ma. OF all marriage rites this takes
the palm for conciseness and sweet
simplicity. Here the dusky lady takes
the initiative. Seeing youth who
pleases her, she offers him sweet. Ii
he accepts her proposal. he promptly
eats the token Of affection. and they
are thereby made man and wife. IL
the act of eating alone this most prlm
tive rite consists. If the youth he moi
favorably disposed. he remarks with
all gallantry that that particular candy
ia not to his taste. and the matter Is
ended. In Mandalay three weeks after
a marriage kinsmen bring the bride
groom q bowl of rice, vessel OF wine
and a fowl, much Of which collation. IL
sacrificed to the spirits Of ancestors.
A Bagoda bride-in the Philippines
II she be good looking and the daughter
| of a warrior, is sold by her father fol
about $50, which sum Is not given II
money, but In vegetables and chickens
One way of estimating such things IL
at the price of brass gong. Such
gong Is worth thirty silver dollars, anc
| II is q valuable maiden indeed who VII
| bring two brass gongs.-What to Eat