MATRIMONY IN RUSSIA.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2841, 23 March 1878, Page 4

MATRIMONY IN RUSSIA.

(PALI HAIX OiZETTf?.)

Russian marriages are generally arranged through priests. A well - bred bridegroom must present a gift to a monastery and another to his parish church ; the bride, through her friends, is expected to clothe some statue of a virgin with a gown of silver brocade, enriched with more or less jewels, according to the piety of the donor; and in some parts of southern Russia she adds a gift of two white doves to the Pope, which -looks rather like a relic of the worship of Venus. The consent of parents is necessary for a marriage until the age of 36 in the case of men, 25 in that of women; but young people are at liberty to appeal to the civil authorities if consent be arbitrarily withheld. In this event the parents are called upon to show reason for their refusal. The reason must not be mercenary, unless one of the young people be heir to a landed estate; then the question is referred to the marshal of the nobility in the district, whose decisions are based upon expediency rather than upon fixed principles. These appeals are rare, because the Russians are a marrying people, and dispose of their children early. In the middle and lower classes men marry at 20, when not drafted by the conscription. In the higher aristocracy a young man goes tho " grand tour " before settling down, but he is often betrothed before starting^ to a young lady not yet out of the schoolroom. There is no country that has so few old maids as Russia. When a girl has reached the age of 25 without finding a mate, she generally sets out on what she calls a pilgrimage, if poor—on a round of travels, if rich, and in either case she turn up some years later as a widow. Widows are as plentiful as old spinsters are scarce, and widows whose husbands -were never seen are more numerous than the rest. Etiquette forbids any allusion to a lady's dead husband in her presence, and this is sometimes convenient. When a couple aro engaged, a betrothal feast is held, and the bride-elect, has a lock of her hair cut off in the presence of witnesses and given to the bridegroom, who in return presents a silver ring set with a turquoise, an almond cake, and a gift of bread and salt. From this moment the two are plighted ; nor can the relatives break the match except with the consent of the parties themselves, which is signified by a return of the ring and lock of hair.. So much importance is attached to the ring that among poor people who cannot afford silver and a turquoise, tin and a bit of blue stone are substituted. These betrothal rings are kept as heirlooms, but must not be made to serve twice—-a son cannot give his bride the ring which his mother received, for instance, though why this should be so is a mystery which the clergy, who sell the ring, could best explain. On the wedding day the bride comes to Church dressed in white ; but it is only among the highest classes that the bridal costume is entirely white, and that a wreathe of orange-flower blossoms is used.