A WEDDING AMONGST THE COSSACKS OF THE DON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5217, 11 December 1877, Page 3

A WEDDING AMONGST THE COSSACKS OF THE DON.

The day before the event is always a Saturday, and on that day a bright-colored shawl or dress is sent by the bridegroom to his bride. The young girl, attired in her best, and her hair decked with flowers, goes from house to house through her village, accompanied by her young companions, inviting all to her wedding in the words, “ My father, my mother, and I also, ask you to join in our joy.” After saying this she bows profoundly to the heads of the family, and goes her way. While she is thus engaged, the married women assemble in the houses of the bride and bridegroom's parents, and with singing and laughter, they make a largo bridal loaf, ornamented with the figures of birds made of the dough of the loaf. After the loaf is baked, it is adorned with red ribb >ns, and wrapped in a fine white linen cloth, and placed on the top of a pile of black leaves in the centre of the table, just beneath the sacred images. By its side are two bottles filled with red wine, tied together by ribbons of the same color ; instead of corks tho necks of the bottles are filled by bunches of flowers, red berries, and ears of corn. Two plates and two wooden spoons are tied together also by red ribbons, and put on the table beside the bottles. The bridegroom spends the Saturday evening at the house of his bethrothed, amid much gaiety, but neither the bridal loaf nor the bottle of wine is touched. On the next day (Sunday) all attend church. Then they all separate till the evening, when the bridegroom goes to fetch his bride home. Tho bridegroom is attended by his youngest female relative, who follows him closely, carrying a largo nosegay tied to a stick. Before ho leaves his house ho kneels to his mother for her blessing, and then, accompanied by his grooms-

man, he mounts a cart drawn by gaily-decked horses. When they are on the point of starting, his mother, disguised in a large sheepskin and a hat, in which she is supposed to represent a bear, walks three times round the cart, throwing to hfir son money, nuts, and oats. When the bridegroom and his party arrive at the bride’s house, she is not there. She is gone, they are told, to the house of a friend. They go in search of her, but she escapes, and goes home by a circuitous way. On approaching her own home, she sees her kinsfolk seated upon stools at the threshold awaiting her return. She bows herself to the ground three times before them. They rise up to give her their bhssing, giving her a loaf, saying, “ We give you prosperity aud happiness.” A shawl is thrown over her head to conceal her face, and she is placed at the table to await her husband, who, on his arrival, sits down by the side of his bride. A woman who is respected by both the families takes the stick to which the nos gay is attached, and raises it aloft, making various figures and, signs above the heads of the bride and bridegroom. After this the bride uncovers her head, and a handkerchief is held up by the four corners before the face of husband and wife, the father of the bride passes a glass filled with money behind the handkerchief, which is taken by the bridegroom. Presents are distributed to the relations of both sides. Before supper commences, the bridal cake is carried to the threshold of the door by the head of the family, who, crossing himself, reverently turns to the assembly, saying, “As this bread is blessed, so may he coming amongst us be thrice blessed ; and like this same bread, which is clean and all-sustaining, may the young love we give him be pure and upright.” The cake is then cut up and distributed to all present. The newlymarried couple have not, however, any right to sup with the guests. They are conducted to another room, where the parents once more bless them both. Whilst the sacred images are held over her head, the daughter kneels at their feet and says, “ I thank you, my father and my mother, for the bread, salt, and care I have received at your bauds,” then rising, she departs along with her husband to her new home, where his parents meet her at the door with a black loaf, an emblem of welcome amongst the Russians. The young couple are placed for a few moments at the head of the table under the household images, that being the most sacred place of honor amongst the peasantry. Afterwards they are led into an adjoining room, where the bride is unrobed and unveiled by the women who have negotiated the marriage.