Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-03-20
BREAD AND BRIDES.
The PARTS VlANDS PLAY IN MAR
RAGE 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 ayerting, as she believes, a 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
| 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
! bride is still outside the door, nor can
| she enter until she has placed two
loayes of bread beneath her arms and
taken 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, at which the bride elect
in return for q long tress of hair which
she has given to the bridegroom re-
celVeS bread and salt and an almond
cake.
In Holland if a young man is in love
with girl and wishes to ask her hand
III 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
|
cepts his offer, she takes up the cake
and eats it. If she is q 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-
raptures him by eating it to the last
crumb. If, on the other hand, she
wishes to have nothing more to do
| ~ mi .1,n tC n5,I-
the table. The young man takes up
the cake and, with a "VaarvoaI byza-
men," leaves the house. The matter is
then kept Il 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 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 at a 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 a glass of wine.
Partaking of two tiny glasses of wine
is all the ceremony necessary to make
q marriage in some Chinese provinces,
provided q quantity Of fireworks are
set off. These are to wake the great
joss" from his sleep that he may wit
ness the ceremony.
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 q
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 q 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. If
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-
tive rite consists. If the youth be not
| favorably disposed, he remarks with
ali gallantry that that particular candy
is not to his taste, and the matter is
| ended. In Mandalay three weeks after
a marriage kinsmen bring the bride
| groom bowl of rice, a vessel Of wine
and a fowl, much of which collation. is
sacrificed to the spirits Of ancestors.
| a Bagoda bride-in the Philippines
| If she be good looking and the daughter
of warrior, is sold by her father for
about $50, which sum is not given in
money, but in vegetables and chickens.
| One way of estimating such things IS