Bolognese Customs.

Otago Witness, Issue 1650, 7 July 1883, Page 27

Bolognese Customs.

In the Bolognese territory some curious customs prevail, A young mau may have courted a young woman for several years, walking with her home from church, and assisting her in field labours ; but he is never allowed to enter her house till he cornea for betrothal before the priest. Even after this the girl's father is not supposed to be officially informed of the affair until, a week before the marriage iB to take place, the bridegroom's father or someone in his stead goei to ask for the hand of the bride. Her father " plays the Indian," is astonished and reluctant, but at length bestows his consent, and they all set out together to buy the marriage gifts, which consist of as much garnet jewellery as the bridegroom can afford, besides several rings. The buying of these things is a fete to all the family — the amount ot bargaining for them and the discussion afterward as to whether they could have been got better and cheaper elsewhere, is something incredible to those who have not heard it. When the bride is dressed for the marriage ceremony, wearing her maiden necklace of coral, the bridegroom is introduced with his garnets in his hand and asks her if she will exchange her coral for what he brings. Her new ornaments add the finishing stroke to her attire, which ia usually a gay-flowered dress and embroidered silk or muslin apron, tied with a broad sash, and a white veil. After the ceremony her husband takes her home, and at the door she finds a broom. Her mother-in-law has designedly left the dust thick on a table or on the floor : if the bride does not notice it, it iB a sign that she is a bad housekeeper ; but she is usually warned of this trap, and falls to sweeping with the convenient broom. It is very necessary that she should appease the presiding genius of the house, for no matter how old the sons may be when they marry, the parents still hold undisputed sway, and as they usually all live together under one roof and at one table, a daughter-in-law's position is by no means an easy one if she is disliked by the heads of the family. She is greatly separated from her own family, in a ceremonial point of view; eight days after marriage Bhe pays them a visit ; and then and henceforward Bhe is addressed by them with the formal "you" instead of the tender "thou" to which she has been accustomed. — Correspondent Springfield Republican.