The Ocala banner., 1922-08-04

In the valleys of Upper Carniola,
remote province Of Austria, life moves
very slowly. And thus it is that many
ancient customs survive among the
reasantry. some OF which may be
traced IN their entirety to a pre-Chris-
fian influence. Among the most in
tsresting OF these are the wedding
customs of the more weil-to-do peas
ants.
OF the bride AMI bridegroom, moth
lng need be said. and the two witness
- which the law requires may also
b. passed over without comment.
They occupy a distinguished place in
the Official ceremony. but are, in other
respects. lay figures The person who
gives the bride away, and who is, for
the day. called her father. is the more
important parsonage. He used to be
stecked out in a costume which must
have been striking rather than becom-
ing. he wore two waistcoats, the low
er one OF which was closely buttoned.
while the other was loosely laced
above a. In winter. the usual fur
cap was surmounted by hat; in sum-
mer. a pointed silk edifice was sub
stituted for the former and on it the
hat was placed. In either case, the
heedgear was quite foot and a half
in height. and the effect when placed
upon a short man was remarkable.
on the afternoon before the we'd
ding. the bridegroom's friends fetch
the brides dowry from her fathers
house. and. when doing so, take
everything they can lay their hands
upon. TO make 1t larger. At times,
even cattle have been driven away
for this purpose: but the whole mat
Ter is generally considered and treat
ed as a joke.
ON the following morning, after
they have enjoyed a good lunch, they
proceed in a body to the house of the
bride. Here. as soon as the young men
approach. the doors are closed against
them, and an old woman appears at
one Of the windows and asks what
they want. The bridegroom demands
his bride. The old lady pretends not
70 know her. and he has TO describe
her In a somewhat unconplimentary
way. Other women and girls are
sent out. till at last, his exactness
compels the garrison to surrender the
right one. The whole party then walks
or drives in procession to the church.
TIN very lately, custom compelled
the bridegroom to don a long, loose
overcoat, even in summer. for the
general belief is. that, if the bride can
manage TO kneel on any part of it
during the ceremony, she will rule in
her new home.
Many other superstitions are con
nected with the service. Thus-if the
bride weeps. it is considered good
omen; il the candles on the altar
flicker, IL BODIES ill the harmony of
the marriage.
During the whole afternoon after
the ceremony. the great object of the
unmarried young men of the village
Is TO capture the bride. If she can
be lured out of the bridegroom's sight
on any pretense whatever, she is at
once surrounded and carried OF to
some neighboring house. Whe she
has been fairly taken, she must yield
quietly and give no sign of her where
abouts. The bridegroom and the
brides father now start in search of
her. When the two pursurers have at
last tracked her to her hiding-place,
they have to ransom her by paying
Tor all the wine that has been drunk
In the meantimei
Except on such an occasion, each
guest pays his own score both on the
way from church and at the marriage
feast. when it is given, as it usually
is. in an inn. At the latter merry
making. the chief interest centers in
the brides father. who is expected to
make a speech. in which he draws
as unfattering a picture as possible
OF the life and character of the bride
groom. who must reply to the raillery
as best he can. AS both speakers make
as many jocose illusions as occur
10 them. to the rest of the company,
this contest of wit is considered the
great event Of the day.
After time. the bride Is solemly
brought to her future home. but there
she has to pass through scene SINH
lar to the one already described. On
the threshold. she Is met by the bride
groom's mother or some other elderly
female relation of his, who asks who
she is and what she wants. This is the
commencement of . humorous cate
chism. which becomes rather broad.
and is always greeted with shouts
OF laughfar from f1n Audfence At