The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-06
Observation-Disclosures RITES.
Curious Ceremonies That Took Place In
the y russ an Court Marriages.
From the London Ddiiu n,

Although the ceremonies at Court weddin rs
are much alike all over Europe, still certain
special customs and peculiarities have been
preserved for centuries at the Prussian Court
Each Princess bride. before starting in the
bridal procession to the Court chapel. for
example. Is adorned with a so-csled Princess
or bridal crown which is specially des gn ed
for this purpose 1t Is to be presumed that
the Empress will in this case place the crown
on the fair head OF the financed bride of her
eldest son. the Duchess Ceciie OF Mecklen-
burg. The present young Duchess is not the
first Prin cess Of Mecklen burg who has worn
the Prin cess's crown. Once. and only once.
In the annals OF the Prussian Court did II
Princess wear an Imperial crown. and that
was also a Princess OF Mecklenburg. Sophie
I.uise. who was married to Frederick |. OF
Prussia as His third consort in l7os. This
Formally took place Just before the marriage
ceremony. and signited rot only bridal
adornment but a coronation.
Another special ceremony belon ging to
the pIussian Court, and based on an old ira
ditional saying is the so-called Spiel Cour.
This takes place at all marriage ceremonies
at the Berlin Court. but is omitted IL the we'd
ding is held at either Of the residential castles
OF rotsdam or Charlottenburg. This Spiel
Cour Is n Formally in which their Royal
Aajesties assemble. together with the newly
hurried couple. ut card table which is
placed under 4 throne canopy IN the Meissen
vided in rows TO the right and left, for the
suite aud wedding guests; who form groups
Of three and f9Hr Snd drtle in order past the
tial bow, or 'cour. and tn an pass on to their
tables In olden times games Of cards were
du1 ,s,s s onlv the MANN. and ' ths
card tables have rmained
A custom more original, and certainly Of
dance) II would be di nicult task to say at
what period in history this grotesUue cere-
mony as first introduced at Court marriages.
when the Princess Sophie Dorothea was
united BY proxy to the pryssi ian, Grown Prince
b1a.ss r aR3bT rd tss
role OF the absent bridegroom, and the
Hanoyerian Ministers, Generals and Lords
on this occasion. Whether this dance was
performed at that time according to tradi
ton. or only as an item IN the Court pro,
the former is generally accepted. That this
"torchlleht dance" was not regular dance
in the ha %er ae w9ra The need a1 BE
evs T"F e. Ss
S %mSn USws s ' ssa "a snd
to begin the dance. The latter, at the head
in in " Column two abreast, the Youngest to the
front. accompanied by the Court pages hold
ING the torches WAX Canulesl, began the
different turns round, namely, first. the
then the brldeeroom with the Kaiserin and
up en- suite and formed a procession. which
was accompanied by the Ministers and the
torchliHht bearers out Of the hall, In the Same
order as they had entered II, the procession
breaking up on reaching the adjoining apart
ments. The torchlight bearers then pre-
coded the royal bridal couple to the door
Of their private apartments. Nowadays the
naise," OF the Ministers; takes place in the
Bismarck declared the ceremony beneath
the dignity of Ministers and refused to take
The last act Of the Prussian Court cere-
mony Is that OF presenting the guests Of the
royal wedding with a small souvenir Of the
event, which consists Of "das strumpfband"
THE qarterl a small strip Of silk ribbon or
the monogram Of the bride and brides groom,
and the date Of the roval marriage. This
Ia, says the we'll known writer Or. Won Wilkc,
a remnant Of an old custom which has gradu.
ally declined into the above Formally. Asa
pa rtinR Gift the young bride presented her
father with her garter or divided II into pieces
and presented u TO her male relatives who,
attaching u to their swords, returned 10 the
festival hall, where It was taken as a sign
complete collection Of such carriers. belonging
to all the Prussan Prlncesses " hose marriases
have taken place In Berlin. is In the possession
OF the Privv Council.
And so these old customs and manners Of
their Prussian forefathers will be again re-.
vived at the coming wedding OF the Crown
Prince Of Prussia.