Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-01-01

vail in many places, and here there
will be. special opportunity for the
Americans to learn and appreciate the
ancient ways. New ideas of courtship,
of marriage, of social etiquette will be
absorbed by the Yanks.
For example, if an American soldier
goes to call on a girl he may find her
father present, and may be offered a
cup Of coffee, while the girl waits for
the empty cup. The American soldier
must drink coffee, return the cup and
say:
"God reward you, beautiful child"
If the American receives ring the
him and that the wedding ceremony is.
to be held eight days later.
The wedding according to the Gus
tom of the people, always begins on
Friday. This means that the bride
and her friends go to the public bath
and spend the day bathing and feast.
ing. The invited guests, in their best
clothes, go to the house on Saturday
night, where they sit on the floor or
in chairs, according to their station in
life A wedding repast with rare
oriental dishes is had from low tables
and it is by custom not a dry supper.
So far apparently the bride and the
bridegroom celebrate each with their
own friends and in their own way.
The ceremony continues on into the
next day, which is featured by the
bridegroom having his head shaved
before the guests in a very SNOWY
manner and with great ceremony.
Later, in case the bridegroom is an
American soldier for example, the
| priest arrives to bless the Yank's
wearing apparel before he puts it on.
By ten o'clock all start out, priest
bridegroom and friends, for the home
of the bride. The men carry torches
and are accompanied by musicians.
| Arriving on the scene the American
soldier would be welcomed by having
rose water sprinkled over him and
would otherwise be accorded a magnif-
icent reception. He begins then to go,
the rounds, kissing the hands of all
the guests, but beginning with the
father-in-law and the mOther-1n-law.
The bride, meanwhile, appearing very
bashful, remains modeStly off in a
corner, covered from head to foot in
scarlet silk She must not respond
when the priest first calls: Bring
forth the bride" Upon the second call
she must also stand pat, but on the
third call she comes forth.
The American and his bride would
then go to the altar, where after cor
emory lasting about an hour, their
heads come in contact. The heads are
tied together with q string, and the
ceremony is finished for the time be-
ing. The actual ceremonial function
continues until the following Saturday,
when the Yank and his bride would be
called upon to go to the home Of tho
father-in-law and mother-in law and
kiss their hands again.
Shoes Stand at Door.
If Yank Is a guest he must not
forget to take off his boots before en-.
tering the parlor. He will see shoes
arranged In pairs at the door, serving
as who's Who" for guests preceding
him. In some cases slippers put over
the boots for the special occasion will
serve the same purpose as taking off
the shoes, the idea being that the
guest must not enter with the shoes
carrying the dirt of the streets.
1t will be essential in some respects,
in case the mandatory plan goes
through, for the American troops not
to shave either their mustaches or
their boards. To do so would signify
punishment, for the people there never
shave their boards excepting when
forced to, just as Americans seldom
shave their heads unless they are re-
spending to prison regulations.
Some of the gestures will be per-
picking to the American at first, but
he would have little trouble in learn
ing them. For example, he must not
shake his head to say mo" but must
throw his head backward. If he means
"Come here" he must wave his hands
away from him.
A novelty for the Yank will be in
finding that women wait on the men
and believe they were made to do so.
Wives are willing to be slaves in many
cases, and one custom is for the wife
always to remain standing in the pres
ence of the husband and to sit down
only by command Of her mother-in.
law.