A DALMATIAN WEDDING.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 246, 19 July 1928, Page 2

A DALMATIAN WEDDING.

PICTURESQUE PEASANTRY. If you happen to be a Dalmatian, village and receive an invitation to a wadding, be sure to set aside two wnoie days for it! Dalmatians are no great lovers of hurry, aud a local marriage proceeds siowly. On the first day you will catch a glimpse of the bride walking to church amid great pomp and circumstance, preceded by a large banner on top of which, is a glittering go.u and: silver apple, and With a huge umbrella held over her head. The whoie village is recruited to take part in the festivities. Tlib church service lasts a long time, aivl when this is over the first feast is held at the home of the bride’s mother. Just before entering the house, the couple receive a round dish of dried fruit, and a time-honoured custom demands that the bride scatter its contents among the guests, thus symbolizing the prosperity she is pledging herself to bring to ner husband's home. Your curiosity will be roused, at tho feast itself, for you will not see the bride in the room where the guests are congregated. She has her meal separately, sometimes accompanied by her nusband’s brother, or "by the best man. And at the big guest table you will observe many quaint and apparently meaningless details. All food taken by the bridegroom passes first through the hands of the best man whose duty it is to cut it, for it is considered an ill-omen if a bridegroom handles knives on his wedding day! When eating, drinking, dancing and singing are over, the guei ts appear to be in ‘a great hurry to get home. The day’s festivities have tried their strength, they explain, and they must reserve sonic for the next day! A second- service takes place in the church on the following day, followj ed immediately by yet another feast, J held this time in the bridegroom’s i own house, which the bride now cn- ‘ ters as mistress. ; V.O.S.