Show A Russian Marriage Ceremony The bride and bridegroom held alighted a-lighted taper in their banes in front of a email altar plated in the centre of the church Rings were placed en their fingers and tbeir hands being joined they were led by the Pope three times around ihs altar Two highlyornamented gilt crowns were placed on their heads and held over their beads by the groemsmen during part of the services They drank wine out of a cup three times and kissing one another tthe ceremony cere-mony was finished The married osuple than made a tour of the church crossing themselves at and saluting each saintly icon on their way Weddings generally take place toward evenings so that immediately after the ceremony dinner commences com-mences at the house of the brides father At a marriage feast lighted candles are placed in every position and every corner possible No other wine but champagne should be drank and the quantity of this beverage bever-age consumed is remarkable The dinner is followed by a ball and the feasting ia usually kept up for 24 hours The custom of honeymooning honeymoon-ing does not exist in Russia Tbe married couple spend the first few days of their wedded life with the brides father Shortly after the marriage mar-riage the bride and bridegroom must call upon every one of their relatives friends and acquaintances and after this ceremony is finished they sink back into their ordinary life |