The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-08
STRANGE MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
Date From Bible Times and Attended
with Great Ceremony.

Marriage and courtship In the
Orient are still conducted with the
same odd ceremonies and forms that
were in vogue in Biblical times. At
an Arabian wedding the bridegroom
and bride consider 1t beneath theif
dignity to show any especial interest
In the proceedings.
The entire party, men and wo-
men, form In procession, with wax
tapers, fambeaux and torches. the
lights SO perfumed as to fill the
streets with their fragrance, with a
band of music and company OF
clowns, who cut up all manner Of
didos on the way, and the pageant
marches to the home of the bride.
They find the house barricaded aud
they are refused admittance. A
fierce but harmless sham battle Is
fought, always ending in the assault
ing party taking the house by storm.
This custom, Of course, is surviv-
al of the time when the battles were
in deadly earnest, and when actual
force was used in capturing women
from real enemies. After the make
| believe struggle the women of the
victorious party rush into an inner
apartment where the bride is found
sitting alone. They throw veil OF
silk and gold over her head and bear
her away, the walls of herself and
her friends being drowned by the
music, the noise of the buffoons and
| the shouts of triumph from the
bridegrooms's party. The appar-
! entity unwilling bride hangs back,
! and as she must be forced along at
every step a whole hour may be con-
sumed in dragging her for the first
! hundred yards. The more trouble
she gives the greater will be her
! reputation for maidenly modesty.
Finally she is lifted over the blood of
a slain sheep to the back of camel.
says the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Having arrived at the BRIDE
groom's home the bride is placed
upon a divan, where she is expected
to show the most abject melancholy
amid the general leyity. AS the wo-
men pass before her she kisses their
hands. The whole night is spent by
the guests in rejoicing, eating and
| drinking
The prevailing color of the brides
trousseau is sky blue and each gar
ment is very heavily embroidered.
Her apparel consists in part of very
| full trousers, over which she wears a
| flowing skirt. Above these two gar
ments is vest with ample sleeves,
and over this is a large merino jack
ct. open in front to the waist, but her
| bosom concealed by a profusion OF
snowy lace. cashmere shawl Is
! loosely thrown over all. Gold guards
surround her neck and watch dam
| giles from her waist, while festoons
of pearls are looped over her dress.
| On her head she wears a red velvet
| cap over the edge of which hangs
loose fold of blue merino, the whole
headdress being bespangled with pre-
cious stones. Her hands and wrists
are stained with henna. Slippers OF
blue and gold complete her elaborate
attire
From the moment that the officiat-
ing priest enters the house next day
all levity ceases. Crowns are placed
upon the heads of the contracting
parties, rings are placed upon their
fingers and their hands are Joined.
As soon as they are blessed with
prayer and benediction and the
priest has departed the mirth is re-
newed and doesn't cease until mid
night. In the morning the giving Of
presents is in order. The wedding
festivities are kept. up for ten days,
q different crowd being present each
day, with wild dancing and bolster
Gus song. Sometimes the fun is va
ried by the brides relatives setting
upon the bridegroom and giving
him a sound thrashing. Through all
the revelry the bride sits by herself.
never smiling nor speaking.