The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-06-12
MARRIAGE IN RUSSIA
OCCASION OF MUCH CEREMONY
AMONG THE PEASANTA
Ancient Customs still Observed In
the Land Of the cxar@Weddlnu
Fsast Always . Time -
Great Mirth.

In ancient times . betrothed Rus
an maiden always used to send her
future husband q whip. wrought BY
herself. In token OF her submission to
him and on her wedding day he gave
her = gentle stroke upon the shout
ders to show that he was the matra.
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
the bride. among the peasants. usu-
ally chooses . byway SO A. not to
meet anyone. for . meeting would
be an evil omen. 30.
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. I'VE 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 on their caps and eat. This
done the matchmaker ask for . ANAL
answer
Pleading for time to think the mat.
ter over, the parents finally give their
consent. after which q candle Is light
ed and placed before the holy pic
tpre. 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 IL the blessing bestowed bv
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 viii be the first to die.
In the marriage ceremony Q ring Of
gold is given by the man to the wom-
an and bv the woman to the man and
afterwards exchanged by the best
man. The bridal pair are crowned
with flligree 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 allueion 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
bridegroom's 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-
mcny and happiness may be theirs
They may now enter the house and
sit down on 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 q second marriage, five years
penance for a third, while q fourth
marriage Is impossible.