WHERE THE BRIDEGROOM ALONE IS KISSED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 175, 28 August 1909, Page 4

WHERE THE BRIDEGROOM ALONE IS KISSED.

jmUUALi CUSTOMS OF MANY LANDS, j The Hungarians are a practical people, I but poetry [riavs uu iniportaut part in u j their weeding ceremonies. Ail The best man. appears at the bride's u 1 home to notify her that the bridegroom 11. is waiting, lie makes the announcement 11' in rhyme, telling of the impatience of | the waiting lover and predicting that I* pio*>piril.y will result from the u.iiun. 11; Jlni-h bride and bndegi'oojn have us u;ief 1* escort 10 the church a mamml man ami 1- woman, who are aUj.yosird to couiucj 3,1 them 011 IHe way. " i Following the ceremony the dinner is '» served by the ushers. The huml usher 11 1 on entering the duiijg-rooni .villi tiic 0,1 hist dish repeats a vor*e appropriate to ~ j ine occasion, tile authorship of which U j'auppn-.ed to be his own. *! -lno dinner is elaborate, served in six, r j >even, or eight courses, with toa»'ts be- ' | uveen courses, always in rhyme. 1L is j not unusual for two and three du\s' ' Oil.icing to follow. \.\AISS A \EIL I'-VllL MIDNIGHT. .1 u!iaicver Ik»ui .u.irried, the I'olisli , "i.ue iii.;M> not IiKC oil her veil until , mi..niglu. At that i-mie the two bridesmaids re,..ove ihe veil and replace it u .a a si.K cup deeoi'-.iLevi with ribbon.-. u i» ?v.doin thai liie house of an a •.■raj.' i'ol.mi , i:uu\ ia iarge enough 10 , i<i»*.! tUe gucrt.a, so. alter the, .ociuiiuu a. ihi! chinch, tue entire party - liidjouni.% lo a b.g public iwl-i. i J lore each nuui .dances once around ' me hall with itie bride, ending at a labie, where tluiy is a plate or basket. ; At the conclusion it is expected of the man thus honored to drop money into ' ihe basket. j In some parte of Russia announcing I Ihe engagement is as important as the j wedding. On the day of the announce- j inent lh\ men irienus oi the bridegroom j drive to the home of the bride, carrying K>me thirst-quencher. The evening is spent in eating nnd drinking, and closes with a drive through the streets. At the church, on the day of the wedding, the guests walk round the altar, and on the icturn to the bride's' home, feast on meats and pastry. ' There is much speech-making at the 1 table, and about il o'clock the dancing : begins. A collection is taken for the j bride, who hon«vs the present-givers "oy j dancing with them. At midnight a comuiittec of women do up the -bride's" lm'r' \ in the .fashion considered proper fo': 1 married women. J In Syria the bride is escorted by her * bridesmaids' and her brother to the | altar, where the bridegroom awaits her. After the service the bridegroom its s kissed, but the bride receives only good ( ' wishes; sweet perfumes arc sprayed on guests and bridal party alike, while' sweetmeats are' &'howered upon tliem 171- r stead of rice. During the first reception I the bride may speak to no man save her husband.

Rivalling these customs in quaintaess is tire procession to the Joss' house ill China, where the little Chinese bride kneels, not to the priest, but to the stolid youiig Chinaman, who accepts her with great condescension as his mate.

•TEWS ABSTAIN" FROM FOOD. The Jewish day ends at sunset. At sunset, thru, on the day before the wedding. the bridal couple begin to fast, and thev must not eat until the conclusion of the ceremony, twenty-four hours, later.

This abstinence from food is to prepare their minds for serious meditation concerning the step they are about to lake. They are not allowed to s'ee each iiih 'r until immediately before the cereinpir.

Th.: fvicnls and relatives of the bride•rrnoiii gather at his home and escort him to the home of the bride, who. dn.'wiMl a - ,id veiled in white and decked with flowers, greets him with the briefest of nods, and the combined parties form and march to the synagogue. Each guest carries a candle to light the way. Thev reach, near the synagogue, the "chuna," or ranopv of canvas, Where the rabbi is waiting. The music begins. After prayers 'have been said and vows taken the bridegroom slips a ring on the bride's finger, envi;:;r: "Thou arc devoted to inc. in accrdance with the law of Moses and Israel."

The rabbi fills a cup with wine, of whicli the hride tastes, then the bridegroom. Tills concludes the ceremony.