The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-07-09
ODD CUSTOMS in COAL REGIONS.
There Are for Greeks and
Among Roman Catholics. Strange Marriage Rites
Much Holiday Merrymaking.

New Years day the Kolenda, as it Is
called. sees all sorts of fun and polity.
During this time, instead Of sending
presents to each other, friends distrib-
ute 'piroge." little cakes containing
plums, apples, onions, cabbages, ETC.,
all told some seventeen different veg
etables and fruits, and there Is also
mixed in each household an enormous
pie usually about thirty inches in d.
ameter and several inches in thickness.
which contains all the seventeen diner
ent things selected and of which each
member of the family must eat. Barley
mixed with honey is dainty for THIS
period. When first made, the house
holder throws a spoonful of 1t against
the ceiling. If it sticks, 1T is a sign or
prosperity and happiness throughout
the wear and the festivities continue.
If it fails, it means bad luck, and all
the funmaking in that house ends.
On New Years it is the custom for
his fellow countrymen to troop into the
home of the wealthiest of their class in
the village and throw handfuls OF
wheat, corn or rye upon him, the sig
nificance being that they wish it to
grow on good ground and continued
prosperity to the lucky recipient OF the
favor. He must lose money at first,
however, for he is expected to give
them some or furnish drinks and cakes.
They consider it one of the luckiest OF
happenings If a Hebrew is the first to
cross their threshold on New Years
day.
The marriage customs are singular.
Among the Russians there are certain
DAYS of the week when the girls are
privileged to approach group or
Young men and shout at them until
the shouting is supposed to become I'M
bearable. Then the young men start
in pursuit, and each one tries to catch
a girl. If he does, he may make love
to her for the rest of the evening.
The girls keep their hair down until
after they are married, and then, on
the second day after the service, 1t is
put up with great deal Of ceremony.
The bride is seated in the middle OF
circle of married women, who dance
and sing for hours while each takes
turns at putting up the brides hair IN
til the task is ended.
After the wedding ceremony the bride
is put in a room with lot OF other
girls, each with sheet over her head,
and the groom is expected to go III ana
discover at first choice which is his
hnr Of
it is believed, will lead a happy life.
Usually she is clever enough to make
some sign to attract his attention and
so take no chance with tickle fortune.
On the day of wedding the orches-
ira at the house is supposed to play as
long as the bride and bridegroom are
within hearing This invariably re-
suits in the musicians being bribed to
stop or getting filled so full OF ''polin-
ky" that they cannot proceed.
Among the very poor classes bride
gets pair of boots on her wedding
day, ard they delight in those with red
tops, They do not wear these after
the wedding. fearing to wear them out,
but often to church or to festivals
woman may be seen carrying her boots
on her shoulder as an American girl
might wear a bit of jewelry in which
she takes special pride-to show that
she had q pair. Many of the women
save these boots to be buried in.
A Polish girl cuts off bits of her veil
and throws them to her girl friends,
who sleep upon them to dream of the
man they are to marry as an Amerl-
can girl desires a bit Of wedding cake.
The Italians, when desiring to be es-
pecially generous, empty flour bags
full of candy over the heads Of the
bridal party so all the spectators may
scramble for it.