| Show t tI r 7 M Marriage Customs C I II I I in in Many Countries I BY MADIS MADISON C. C PETERS C Cop nl tty by TU Tb Pren C Co TURKISH IN TURKISH IN BULGARIA the thc people In ill th the towns lowns of oC free reo AS A Bulgaria come more In contact with w western tern civilization the an ancient ancient an- an dent customs are dying out But Bait the they are still observed ed In tho the country dis dis- Is- Is Th The upp r classes follow the marriage marriage mar mar- Greek neighbors neigh neigh- customs t of their hors bors the first advance ad being made b by bythe bythe the girls girl's parents who en ag a a. professional pro pro- matchmaker to find a suitable suitable suit suit- able hUAb husband n The old aId cu customs must be looked for unions the peasants A young peasant cannot carnot marry until hl his parents parent can an give him hini enough lJ mon money to bu buy a wH wife The Th price which varies according to th the ocia position of ot tho the parents from 30 GO to 1500 Is settled b by the proxies as well as another ll smaller r sum called the head money moner which is paid to the mother The betrothal which consists of or the thc exchange of or documents certifying to the amount paid by b the th bridegroom room and the quantity and quality of the trousseau trous trous- seau promised by the tIme brides bride's parents parent then takes place Wednesday e or Thursday Thurs Thurs- day da v evIng being considered the most I auspicious time Kings TUng which have ha been blessed by bytho bytho bytho tho priest who nets acts as nl notary are also exchanged short A-short short blessing follows D Dancing anal Singing I Th young oung p people afterward danco dance and sing outside the house Then the bridegroom produces uces his presents which con consist st of or various articles of or feminine apparel e several pairs o of nathe native na na- na- na the tive shoes shots a headdress ss and necklace o of gold Jold and silver coin silver belt ear ear- fines s bracelets and other oIlier ornaments The Tho girls girl's father tre freely h discusses these pre presents present ent and usually a bargain follows the bridegroom adding coins to the necklace L or headdress until the r IS ts uno ino l no nc next day oay too maiden puts on all nil this this' finery ner and proudly parades herself In the village a t Meanwhile the bridegroom must build and furni furnish h a house buy a pair pall of oxen on or buffalo for Cor the farm work a cow co and somo chickens When hen all an is t tread read ready h ho sends his parents to the girls girl's father tather to say a that he wI wishes he the wedding wed wed- ding to tn take tak place In a few v weeks During the week before the mar mar- nags A the parents paTents of the couple finish furnishing the new hom home An And nd the brides bride's mother gives elves hes her and anet everything everything every every- thing in It a n thorough h scrubbing and cleaning cle Carpets and rugs are arc brought forth from the chests chest and spread on the mattress sofas and amid floors Lastly she ho makes the cakes which are sent lent around to th the friends as invitations for tor time the wed wedding day da- Sunday and to view the trousseau which IK is hung on a acord rord cord stretched across tho tIme room on FrId Friday Friday FrI FrI- Fri Fri- d- d day for Cor the Inspection of tho women omen who criticise the tho quality of the various garments garmen te Two girls who act net as bridesmaids come time tho next Ill day to help the tho bride with her toilet Guests Arrive Early l LaMy L'aMy the next day a the wedding ed guests C arrive The bride is 18 seated In Ira Instate state her ocr face dotted with spangles spangle usually concealed by a n scarlet veil 1 The part of her elaborate I upper elaborately emI em- em IH ma almost almUst equally hidden by b the quantity of ornaments and coins o of allo alloyed ed silver which hang bang hangover over O it It The religious ceremony ma may ina take place place- either In church or the house of the tho bridegrooms bridegroom's father but the party part returns to the home of or the brides bride's s 's par par- Corn the emblem of plenty plent is showered over o the happy pair and when the guests u ts arc are seated d the bride kl kisses the hand of oC all the and receives a dried fig fIB from each Tho wedding feast Is then held and th the younger members of th thin th company dance e and amid sin sing Ing until It Js Jam J time to es escort escort es- es cort the bride to her now new home Arrived at tho the bridegrooms bridegroom's house houle tho tIme flag bearer enters followed by the bride who stops stopa her horse horae In front ot ol the tho A song Is 18 sung and the th brIde bows bow three times to the th company and andIn andis In is II assisted ted to dismount b by her father tather In She k s es h her r horse on th forehead and then taking hold bold of f II corner of or x it handkerchief extended by i b her lieI rath father in r Is ts led Into tho time lower torr lot the bo house which l is usually a granary ranar and storeroom In the center of this room there is a a. wine barrel I crowned with the thc wedding cake on which stands a n. glass of or wine vine The Time Priests in their gorgeous robes robet and tall black hats hatH and holding crosses surround this bacchanalian altar over which the time Christian marriage Is per per- formed ACt After r tasting the wino tho the bride and room groom walk around the tho barrel barrel bar bar- rd rel three times while the they are showered showered show show- ered with cal cakes es fruits and comfits e. |
