UNKNOWN

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 211, 16 July 1887, Page 8 (Supplement)

UNKNOWN

[ THE custom of the htrifla'weisrihg'a veil oru ,t&e occasion of her itfodding: is, without f doubt, of Eastern origin. Am&ftg AngloSaxons it was held ovk? the heads of thej Bi»fef e and bridegroom f6i>Hide'tl»e blushes ■of* bfo® happy lady from tiv9-con>p«fry. This jlitfcle compliment was nob paid te a widow jon her remarriage, as I«jf- blushes were , supported to have been exhausted.- This cus- ' t'orii< was gradually superseded by the Extern and more graceful practice of warring long, sweeping, gau%y v vbilB. How the orange blossoms fi'veMcttme to be used' ab marriages is veiled in obscurity. In i^Jtwieo this custom is a mafcteV of much pridfef'and importance, inasmu^W'aeit is a testimonial of purity not only of «tbe bride hersdij- bub ot integrity and morality in the chai^acter of her relatives. In Hifa province of Eranche €omte, to wear d'& orange blossom is coi wrlfcred a sacred yj^lifc, obtained by undoub'ifevl-char-acter, u r id as such proudly ma-wt^ined. .Should Ar*y act of imj;rudence in early- life, implying oven a suspicion of taint irsoitf the honour of (3\e maiden, be known, thtvuse of the orange 'blossom is sternly forbiddeni* In almos.??- every village or small to\Y& in France the bride entitled to wear the crown of orange blossom has this beautiful a*ttilicution of her purity either framed oi* placed under a glass shade, and it is religiously preserved, if jiossible, even throit^h generations, as an indisputable testimonial of undoubted cliaracter. In Gcimany the duties of the bridesmaids have just a tinge of superstition about them: Ifc is one of their duties the morning of the marriage-day to carry to the bride a myrtle wieabh, for which they have subscribed the previous evening. This they place on her head, and at night remove it, when it is placed in the bride's hand, she being at the ' time blindfolded. The biidemaids then . dance around her, while she endeavours to place the wreath on one of their heads. Whoever is fortunate enough to be thus - decorated will, it is believed, be herself a wife before another year has passed away. In removing the bridal wreath and veil the bridesmaids arc careful to throw away every pin, or the bride will bo overtaken by mi&fortune.