OLD NOTIONS CONCERNING BRIDESMAIDS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7065, 17 January 1885, Page 3

OLD NOTIONS CONCERNING BRIDESMAIDS.

Instead of being so many graceful ornaments at the marriage ceremony, as nowadays, the bridesmaids in olden times had various duties assigned to them. Thus one oi their principal tasks was dressing the bride on her wedding morning, when any omission in her toilet was laid to their charge. At a wedding, too, where it was arranged that the bride should be followed by a numerous train of her lady friends, it was the first bridesmaid's duty to play the part of a drill mistress ; " sizing " them, so that "no pair in the procession were followed by a taller couple." She was also expected to see that each bridesmaid was not only duly provided with a sprig of rosemary, or a floral posy pinned to the breast-folds of her dress, but had a symbolical chaplet in her hand. In many parts of Germany it ia still customary for the bridesmaids to bring the myrtle wreath, which they have subscribed together to purchase, on the nuptial eve, to the house of the bride, i and to remove it from her head at the close of the wedding day. After this has been done the bride is blindfolded, and the myrtle wreath being put into her hand she tries to place it on the head of one of the bridesmaids as they dance round her ; for, in accordance with an old belief, whoever she crowns is sure to be married within a year from that date. As may be imagined this ceremony is the source of no small excitement, each bridesmaid being naturally anxious to follow the example of the bride. Referring once more to the bridal wreath and chaplet, it is still a current notion in many parts of our own country that the bride, in removing these must take special care that her bridesmaids throw away every pin. Not only is it affirmed that misfortune will overtake the bride who retains even one pin used in her marriage toilet, but woo also to the bridesmaids if they keep any of them, as their prospects of marriage will thereby be materially lessened.