The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-06-03
MARRIAGE m RUSSIA
OCCASION OF MUCH CEREMONY
AMONG THE PEAsANTs.
Ancient Customs SIN Observed In
the Land Of the czar-Wedding
Feast Always Time Of
Great Mirth.

In ancient times a betrothed Rus
ian 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 g gentle stroke upon the shcul-
ders to sho=. that he vas the matri-
monial master. Among the mobiles
the wedding is usually an evening
function. the bridal pair fasting dur
ing the day which precedes 1t. 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. 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 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 win be the frst to die.
In the marriage ceremony a ring OF
gold Is given by tie man to the wom-
an and by the woman to the man and
afterwards exchanged by the best
man. The bridal pair are crowned
with filigree of silver or garIands
and the last act Is the dissolution OF
the crowns. which In oiden 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 wafer II
given in allueion to the marriage ai
Cana.
When the priest. followed by the
bridal pair. walk around the "maloyn
upon which the cross and gospels are
placed. an address on their duties II
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.
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 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. hve years
penance for a third. while n fourth