Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-30
RUSSIANS HOLD
WEIRD WEDDING
QUEEN OF LOCAL COLONY
CHANGES HER NAME
PROFESSIONS MARCH THROUGH
CITY STREETS
Priests and Chanters Busy at Second
Ceremony of Its Kind Ever
Held in Los An
geles

Bedecked with gaudy and varicol-
ored costumes, the entire population of
Little Russia" turned out yesterday
to pay respect to Annie Tomasoff, the
Queen of Little Russia" who yester-
day became the bride of Jacob Men
dren, one of the youngest and most
prosperous of the Russian colony.
The event was of twofold i'm
portance, for not only did the Queen"
get married. but for the second time
in the history of Los Angeles a real,
old-fashioned Russian wedding, such
as is held in the fatherland, was cele-
brated in this city.
Preparations for the wedding had
been under way for more than a week.
week of sorrow and lamentation, to
be followed by week of rejoicing and
festivity, which began yesterday.
Hundredsl of siehtseers
The quaint wedding customs Of the
Russian couple were unknown to many
In Los Angeles, and hundreds of per-
sons f1ocked to the streets to witness
the proceedings A real Russian we'd
ding is unlike the American wedding
for during the time that is used in
joining man and wife, according to
the Russian custom, an American
couple could have been married and
divorced.
Two weeks ago it was announced
among the Russian colonists that An
ME and Jacob were to be married ac-
cording to the old-fashioned Russian
ritual. At once preparations for the
ceremony began, the first of which was
the asking of the permission of the
parents of the twain. This having been
granted a period of weeping and
lamentation began, the parents of the
bride weeping because their only
daughter was to leave the household
and the parents of the bridegroom
because their son was to establish a
home of his own and leave his parents.
Wept After Feasting
The methods of lamentation were
unusual. For over a week the parents
of the bride and bridegroom held
feasts to which their various friends
We're invited and the troubles told.
Following the feasts were periods of
sorrow and weeping.
Saturday night the real celebration
began, when the bride-to-be visited the
home of her prospective husband and
great feast was held. Sixteen
steaming samovars were used to pour
out the Russian tea, and vodka was
freely dispensed.
After the feast the guests, lying
prone on the ground, began series
of cries and wailings which lasted until
long after midnight. The bride-to-be
was then escorted to her home, to
prepare for the eventful proceedings of
the following day.
Early yesterday morning Little
Russia" was alive, to prepare for the
wedding of the Queen" At the home
of the bride and at the home of the
bridegroom celebrations were in order,
and at o'clock the line of march was
formed and the bridegroom, marching
at the head between his mother and
father. went to the home of the bride.
Strange Procession Formed
The line of march was from 1872 Utah
street, the home of the groom, to
729 Turner street, the brides domicile,
for. according to Russian custom, the
bridegroom must come and ask his
bride from her parents. Hundreds
gathered along the line of march as
the Russian elders in the rear of the
procession sang and chanted songs. un-
ineligible to those not of the Russian
race.
Along East First street, where is
located a Japanese colony, the parade
marched, singly. boldly, while the Jap
anese replied with taunting remarks.
Upon arrival at the home of the
bride, 729 Turner street, the procession
was met by the parents of the bride,
the usual formalities dispensed with.
and all entered the house. where the
high priest performed the marital
rites.
The blushing bride stood aside and
the Russians, fling in, bowed before
her, then kissed her and passed out
In the meantime the Russian choir was
chanting its weird lays.
Furniture Is Removed
The ceremony at the house of the
bride being over, all her personal be-
longings and the furniture of her bed
chamber were removed and carted to
the home of the bridegroom, 1872 Utah
street.
- The procession back to the bride
groom's home was marked by the con
stant chanting of the male choir, and,
as the procession neared the home, 1t
seemed as though every person In
little Russia" was about.
AS the procession neared the home
the high priest came forward, and an
attendant bearing a huge loaf of un-
leavened bread made a few symbolistic
signs and the party entered the house.
The final chapter in the marriage
ritual was performed in the rear OF
the home under canopy, and then the
festivities began.
Vodka was passed to all, the
musicians began their weird strains,
and dancing was in order, and all
Little Russia rejoiced in the we'd
ding of the queen.
The contracting parties were reticent
about giving their names, as yester-
days ceremonies were but of the Rus
sian order and do not constitute
civil marriage. 1t was explained that
the wedding celebration would last for
a week and then the civil service would
he performed. Later new queen
for .J little Russia" will be announced.