Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1915-05-22
MARRIAGE IN RUSSIA
OCCASION OF MUCH CEREMONY
AMONG THE PEASANTS.
Ancient Customs Still Observed in
the Land of the Czar-Wedding
Feast Always a Time of
Great Mirth.

In ancient times a betrothed Rus
sian maiden always used to send her
future husband a whip, wrought by
herself in token of her submission to
him and on her wedding day he gave
her a gentle stroke upon the Shout
ders to show that he was the matri-
monial master. Among the mobiles
the wedding is usually an evening
function, the bridal pair fasting dur
ing the day which precedes it. The
ceremonies are numerous; many as
sistants and masters of ceremonies
have to be invited-ladies of honor
and bridesmen. The party seeking
the bride, among the peasants, usu-
ally chooses a byway so as not to
meet anyone, for meeting would
be an evil omen.
Having arrived at the house of the
brides father they knock at the win
dow and ask for admission. They re-
fuse to sit down, saying, 1--WE have
not come to sit down nor to feast, but
to ask in marriage. We have brave
youth, you have fair maiden. Might
not the two be brought together?"
The brides parents, thanking the visi-
tors for the compliment, the latter
now take off their caps and eat. This
done the matchmakers ask for a final
answer
Pleading for time to think the mat
ter over, the parents finally give their
consent, after which a candle is light
ed and placed before the holy pic
ture. The contracting parties cross
themselves, pray, strike hands on the
bargain and the matter is settled The
wedding clothes are blessed by the
priest.
Solemn is the blessing bestowed by
the respective parents of the bride
and bridegroom before leaving their
homes, sacred pictures, which precede
them into the church, are waved
three times over their heads, two wax
tapers are given to the pair and the
bearer of the taper which goes out
first will be the first to die
In the marriage ceremony a ring OF
gold is given by the man to the won.
an and by the woman to the man and
afterwards exchanged by the best
man. The bridal pair are crowned
with f1ligree of silver or garlands,
and the last act is the dissolution of
the crowns, which in olden times took
place upon the eighth day, when the
bride was conducted to the bride.
groom's house. During this last cere-
mony wine mingled with water is
given in allusion to the marriage at
Cana.
When the priest, followed by the
bridal pair, walk around the "maloy"
upon which the CROSS and gospels are
placed, an address on their duties Is
delivered; they kiss each other, the
benediction is pronounced and the
newly welded pair is now led to the
bridegrooms house. His parents
meet the young couple at the en-.
trance to the house and bless them
with bread and salt, while the rela.
tives pour barley down over them,
which expresses the hope that har.
mony and happiness may be theirs
They may now enter the house and
sit down on a bench, while the bride
hides her face with a handkerchief,
which is taken away by her mother
in-law or an aunt, after which she re.
ceives the married woman's head.
dress The wedding feast follows,
which, among the Russian peasants,
is an occasion Of great mirth.
The marriage age fixed by the
church is eighteen for boys and six.
teen for girls. Men must not marry
after eighty or women after sixty.
Two years penance-exclusion from
the holy communion-is the penalty
for a second marriage, five years.
penance for third, while a fourth
marriage Is impossible.