Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-04-03
BREAD AND BRIDES.
THE PARTS VlANDS PLAY IN MAR
RAGE CEREMONIES.

Sweetheart Cakes of Il Dutch DAM
sci - Egyptian Fridegrooms Must
Work For Their Supper-Wine In
China-lIarried by Candy.
The important part which different
7iands play in marriage ceremonies
makes rather an interesting story.
For example, the Swedish bride fills
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 honbons, 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
OF 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
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.
Russian wooing eliminates in the
betrothal feast, at which the bride elect
in return for long tress of hair which
she has given to the bridegroom re-
ceiyes bread and salt and an almond
cake
In Holland if young man is in love
with a girl and wishes to ask her hand
in marriage he buys a small sweet
cake and, wrapping it up in soft paper,
proceeds to the house of his inamorata.
He is ushered into the midst of the
family circle. Without a 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 on some very ordinary subject,
keeping his eyes eagerly fixed on the
girl while he is conversing. If she ac-
cepts his offer, she takes up the cake
and eats it. If she is coquettish
damsel, she fortunes the young man by
turning it over and playing with it be-
fore she decides to taste it and then en-
crumb. If, 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 a profound secret by both
families, and the outer world never
hears Of it. In place of a wedding cake
In Holland wedding candies are given
-"bruid zukers" 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 at 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
10 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
i is all the ceremony necessary to make
a marriage in some Chinese provinces,
/ provided a quantity of fireworks are
set off. These are to wake the great
joss from his sleep that he may wit
ness the ceremony.
l At a 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 that
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 at 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. In
the act of eating alone this most prim-