The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-06
OLD COUNTRY'S RITES REMAIN
COZ01fH EUents Mark Ceremonies of Europeans
BY TRISTRAM COFFIN
Times staff Writer

PICTURESQUE and colorful
i ceremonies of the old Europe
still are observed in this city by
Hungarians, Macedonians. Rou-
manians and Greeks. Weddings
are hilarious with furious, fast
dancing, bright clothing and gay
shouting.
These beauty-loving peoples pre-
serve their individuality by keep
ing alive the traditions that have
passed from generation to gen.
Grafton.
American weddings often are
gloomy. with women relatives weep
ing and male attendants dressed
in stiff black. But with the Ru-
manians it is a joyful and pros
porous occasion.
Dressed in a white embroidered
gown, the bride enters the Greek
Orthodox church after the noon
mass on Sunday. There, with
the bridegroom, the party includes
a married couple (the NASH and
fifteen couples. During the cere-
mOny is a low, sOft-vOiced chant.
The bride and groom march
Solemnly before the altar and
sacred paintings three times.
They, together with the naSi,
hold ribbons and carry orna-
mental tapers.
The bride and groom wear
crowns, similar to those worn by
royalty, which they exchange
three times during the rites.
After the church service, there
is feasting and celebration last
ing far into the night. Merry,
generous guests contribute money
to the couple by the conventional
collection plate during the ban
quet. Even recently, a newly
welded pair have been donated as
much as $780,
At one time during the evening
men may dance with the bride,
if they pay for the privilege.
Many light-tOed maidens have
been known to lengthen this
privilege into a weary marathon
in order to fill the nuptial Golfers.
The bride wears her laced we'd
ding dress until the festivities are
ended and the last guest has de-
parted.
TINE dances Of these national
4 tiles, rich in color and move
ment, are to a 'czardas" rhythm
similar to that of the infectious
Argentine tango. Men and women
line up in separate columns
twisting their bodies to the quick
tug of the music. The dances
the bora" ''sirto' and Fam
bekiko"-are accompanied by
native band composed largely of
Stringed instruments.
Unlike the English birthday
celebration, these nationaIties OBJ
serve the name-dayS, honoring the
saints for whom they were named.
The mother will hold an open
house for visitors, serving pastries
and thick Turkish coffee while
near relatives enjoy their native
dances.
Although the gala rite has lost
much of its significance in the
great drought, each nationality
here frolics at the grape arbor
dances held during October and
November, symbolizing the Euro
pean grape harvest.
In every family is a violin and
as the families gather at night
Tor the evening meal there come
the haunting strains of a music
grown from the very nature of
races born beyond the memory of
man.
The old country is far away.
Chaotic European politics have
ceased to become a problem to the
New Americans. Even the Ian
guage will be lost when the third
generation has grown to man
hood.
The foreigners still mingIe
mostly among themselves, aliens
IN strange and often terrifying
land. They meet at the three
Greek orthodox churches in the
city and at such places as the
Yugo-Slav home in Haughville
and the settlement.
Growing out of the American
settlement have come many So
cial organizations. There are
Macedonian political organiza-
lions, the Greek Alpha Club.
Daughters of Penelope and ST.
berian sisters. The Macedonian
Tribune is published weekly in the
native tongue. Christie Nizamoff
Of that staff has contributed gen.
erouSly information for this ar
ticle.
A T the American Settlement
L N an old frame house on West
Pearl street. foreigners gather for
citizenship classes every Thursday
and Tuesday nights Under the
sympathetic direction of Miss
Mary Rigg, people of many
tongues gather for companionship
in the great bare rooms.
Miss Rigg reports that these
people. rich in folklore and
tradition. take more advantage of
their educational opportunities
than most Americans. Scattered
among the trades and laboring as
unSkilled workmen, they are am