Show RUSSIAN MARRIAGES generally without asking the children the parents on both sides arrange the affair between themselves to which arrangement succeeds the bridal promenade whereat if the tho young people are not already known to each other they are conducted as if into the sanie sanle same walk and anil introduced the thor father of the tuy young man then sends ends a klud kind of female confidante or go between very useful on such occasions to the father of the bride and if he declares himself willing the young couple the parents relations bridesmaids ac all meet together when the arrangements are concluded and in these the doar dowry y is I 1 never overlooked then follows the betrothal on oil which occasion the elect pair kneel down upon a fur skin mat and elchan exchange e rings during which scene the brides father holds over the head of the brile urile bridegroom booma a saints image and the mother hoida holda over the head of the bride a piece of bread bicad as a sign of abundance the bridesmaids then sing several national songs appropriate to the ceremony and the guests aro are entertained with various sorts of beverage e during durin which many a good humor ed joke circulates the remark that the wane is bitter and must be made sweet I 1 is always construed as a challenge for the betrothed couple to salute salure each other the guests then make diverse presents to the bridal pair and the bri bridegroom afterwards takes his leave whilst the companions of the bride sing a song wherein they invite him soon to return now begins for the lovers or rather for the future wedded pair a new life every evening until the nu nuptials bials the betrothed husband must asit visit his intended partner baingi bringing n 0 M h her c r 13 presents resents of sweet cakes bon bors bons ac of which the russian ladies are extremely fond on the nuptial eve the bride entertains h her er female feh foh friends and receives from the bridegroom a gift of df various articles necessary for the toilette table tabie with a certain sum of money the maiden malden then retires to the bath and on her return the bridegroom appears reappears re is received with music and has handed to him the marriage portion respecting which however these are often serious disputes on le the wedding bedding day the bride maids unbraid the ladys hair an and d she rece receives IV es her hed swain with flow ing loeks locks after the marriage mar ringe ceremony performed according to the rites of the greek church a dinner inner is given at which usually the parents are not present and at its conclusion the young couple are conducted in triumphal procession with vocal and instrumental music to their apartment the old custom of the bride on the evening of the wedding weddin day taking off her husbands boots booth in pledge of of obedience is still retained in some parts of the country as also that of the leuband depositing in one boot a sum of money and in the other a small whip if the young wife happens to hit first upon that containing the money she keeps it if not her husband gives her two or three light cuts with the whip on the da day after the wedding the parents of the tige husband give as handsome a dinner as their circumstances will permit and now the banqueting banque ti ng continues during an entire week which by any ny but a russian ansman might be considered rather too loo severe bevere a trial triai caverns caserns Ca |