Show I 1 KISS FOR an annual roum Kon anian manian fair where lation rel reigns helwagen Hel magen a doumanian Rou manian country town of 1200 inhabitants holds its 16 annual fair on the feast of st theodore on this thi s occasion the place swarms with newly married brides from 60 or SO villages ages in the district widows who have tal taken L 11 fresh husbands remain at home the young women in festive attire and generally attended by their moth ers in law carry jugs of wine en e wreathed with flowers in their hands they kiss every one they meet and afthim afterward rd present the jug to his lips for a nip the individual thus regaled bestows bestons a small gift on the fair cybele not to partake of the proffered wine is regarded as an insult to the young wife and her family she is therefore reserved toward strangers and only kisses those whom she thinks likely to taste of her wine the kissing is carried on everywhere in the streets in the taverns and in private houses the origin of this custom is veiled in obscurity some say that it dates back to the time when the turks made ade frequent raids into transylvania an and carried away all ah the young women they could lay their hands on such of them as contrived to escape from captivity happening to return to helwagen Hel magen at the time of the fairs fair kissed their friends and relatives and even si strangers rangers who congratulated them on their wonderful deliverance s |