Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-10-31
Byqone Marriage Customs.

While the ideas of the modern w0-
man have broadened extensively on
nearly every subject, it is singular that
she still remains steadfast to the old
customs pertaining to marriage. Per
haps it Is the vein of superstition in
herent in every woman. no matter now
advanced, which renders lOath to
change anything in connection with
the most important event of her life. |
More probably she never even gives
thought to the fine old barbaric times
whose symbols she is adopting, but
imaglnes she is merely following the
modern fashion in this as in all else.
Who, for instance, remembers when
she takes a mans name that the Gus
tom originated in the-days when men
rushed out and seized their wives by
force, holding on to them in their own
names, just as they did their other
goods and chattels2 In those days the
wife may have been known as Smiths
Mary; now she becomes Mary Smith.
That is all the difference. Again, the
gold ring of to day is but the symbol
with which the pagan rover bound his
i, prey after capture, and the slipper
continues to be thrown as faint rem
iniscence of the missiles hurled after
him by indignant relatives. When the
would be groom started out on wife
, hnnt be was accompanied by trusty
r companion, hence the custom OF best
: man. Even the honeymoon is sur
! viyal of the same period, symbolizlne
. the time it was necessary for the vic
tor to keep his wife in hiding before h'
i dared seek peace with wrathful kins
d folk.
d In some parts of Wales, even now,
4 wedding among the lower classes i
q considered very tame, unless the bride
y groom captures the bride in a mocl
d skirmish. The relatives make grea
!, show of resistance, and, at the churc
70 door. snatch the bride back and az
he pursued by the bridegroom's party
&c Finally she is tossed from one party I
1.-The other, and whoever catches be
le will marry within the year-a roug
70 custom, typifed IN other countries 2
ne throwing the brides bouquet.
od The wedding cake originated In tn
II. highly spiced little wheaton cake whlc
cd we're the special feature OF the paga
festivals in honor of Hymen, and Whlc
from the earliest times, have been use
:. in some form at the wedding feast
fv every country. In Russia the CUES
NJ were first given souvenir initial box
he of cake, together with champaign
ry during the elaborate marriage rltu
as established by the Greek Church.
/. Japan and Brazil eating cake al
drinking brandy or wine together G.
still be made to constitute a legal me
riage, and the modern gypsy contlnu
to "hop the broomstick" after the 1as
al: ion of her ancestors in the days
IN Pharaoh.
&C. The veil and orange blossoms,
old though belonging to more clvlllz
ii, age, yet antedate the Christian Ell
me The blossoms symbolic large far
ith ly, and the veil exclusive possession
ore one man.
With these customs are many othe
all signifying the subsection OF t
wife to the husband, and the mode
; bride willingly accepts them all, OF
drawing the line at the word "ooe
and as it appears in undisguised simple
-. in t @ marriage service. But thus
lds' only in Denmark has it been obliter
ed. even Hollands wilful little Que
= being compelled to promise to lobe
the husband of her own independe!
choice. And yet the plain. unvarnl
ed word-no matter in what langu;
it appears-is less to be consider
\ after all, than the symbols. for it
not the letter of the law that cour
but the spirit.-Baltimore Amerlc