A POMERANIAN WEDDING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6502, 17 February 1882, Page 4

A POMERANIAN WEDDING.

Since Prince Bismarck bought the beautiful country seat of Varzin, the little-known or ill-reputed province of Pomerania has been more frequently mentioned, and many travellers, English among them, have seen and related some curious stories of its loyal and good-natured though slow and stubborn inhabitants. It may, therefore, not be quite'without interest lor some'of the readers of “ The Queen ” to have an exact description of some of their customs, which date from time immemorial, and which have, been preserved up to the present date by these moat conservative of all Prussian subjects. We enter the house of the bride the evening before the wedding, the time when the festivities begin. The whole House shows in its neatness and decorations, its freshly washed curtains, its flowers and happy faces, that herein will be celebrated that high time of life, which is expressed in the German word Hoohzeit. In entering the equally decorated passage, we are received by a servant girl in her very best attire, and with a face of immense importance. She conducts us to a room on the ground floor, where we leave our out-door garments. This place is reserved for those who come as lookers-on. that is, without fancy costume. Those dressed in such are shown into another room, where the large glasses from the ceiling to the floor allow a minute inspection by the wearer as to the completeness of the costume. As most families in Pomerania live in flats like the Scotch, these extra needed rooms are generally lent for the occasion by families living on the other flats in the same house, who are mostly on very cordial terms towards each other, and for days help in the preparations. Having arranged ourselves to our satisfaction, we follow the throng and go upstairs into the reception rooms. At the end of the principal room are seated on the place of honor the bride and bridegroom, both in elegant evening dresses, father and mother near them,

The first who enters is generally the unmarried sister, in age next to the bride ; and where there is no sister, then the best friend. She brings the wreath for the following day, the Brautkranz. arranged with fresh myrtle leaves and artificial blossoms of the same plant. Fresh blossoms are considered to bring ill-luck. The little myrtle tree was planted years ago, on the day of the confirmation of the bride. At the age of fifteen to sixteen, and according to the time which elapses between the confirmation and the wedding day, has the little tree ample or insufficient foliage, and in the latter case some good friend may supply the want. Though the blossoms are not used this day, the tree, however, must have had some, else it is not considered quite canny. The sister to-day is dressed, or rather draped, in white soft stuffs, much like a priestess of the Vestals. A golden ring holds her falling hair, a golden band is round the waist, and a golden hem at the bottom ot the long and ample-folded dress. The wreath is lying on a white cushion, and she offers it with a piece of poetry composed for the occasion, ■ This act, though simple and unpretending, has, however, a solemnity and touching importance, which is felt :by everyone present ; and when the sisters, so long sharing the same pursuits and home life, embrace each 1 other, and the bride takes from the hand of her sister the sacred symbol, each knows it is for the last time that they are entirely sisters.

' Now comes the nearest relative or friend, who must be unmarried, and who brings, with a few poetical words, the pocket handkerchief which the bride has to use to-morrow during the religious ceremony, and which is richly embroidered by the hands of the giver. With these two performances generally closes the most pathetic part of the evening entertainment. Sometimes,as is the case here, the old wet-nurse of the bride appears in wonderful attire, bringing with rustic curtsies the first little shoes the bride has worn, and which she, the nurse, has the privilege to appropriate as soon as the little feet have worn the first appearance of a hole in them, and which since then she has preserved and guarded with a care half religions, half superstitious. After having presented them, the nurse receives in return a handsome present from the parents and a piece of needlework from the bride ; not seldom, also, a gift in money from the bridegroom. After a pause, during which tea and cakes are handed round, everybody is in expectation for something grand to come, judging by the bustle which is going on in the still-closed next room, and, indeed, weare not disappointed, for now enters a whole cavalcade in pretty fancy dresses., They represent the gossips, and relate with many clever allusions some incidents ot the bride’s life, either funny or lovable. With tact, and yet with freedom, her little foibles are good-humoredly exposed, her virtues praia d and encouraged, and much good advice is given by the leader of the band, dressed as a very respectable matron, who speaks from experience and abounds in all sorts of counsel

Seldom is the past life of the bridegroom touched upon ; his virtues will soon manifest themselves, and the reverse is better not known at all.

: After this somewhat long representation we need again some refreshments, and wine, lemonade, and cakes are now handed on trays by the servants. The next scene is taken from the future. The bridegroom being here an officer, some friends in military dress enter, bringing with them a tent, which they plant before the couple. It is war time, and fate has kindly promoted the captain to be a major-general; but he is wounded. It is not a dangerous wound, as the regimental doctor assures us, and, as the cornet adds, it is a wound to be proud of. His wife has, of course, come to nurse him, and is the most beloved and the best nurse in the army. A very pretty little vivandidre who follows this army now holds forth in praise of. this fpdy, how she is just the mother of the regiment, taking care of every-body—-yet, the very light of the camp. With a prophecy of reward for the noble conduct of husband and wife concludes this scene. Now follow some less important presentations, different sorts of servants offering the most ludicrous, services. Fishermen, flowergirls, dairymaid, and poulterer offer their •goods at low prices, and narrate wonders as to the future home of the couple, pretending, ot course, to come direct from thence. The little baby brother comes next, repre- : seating Amor, the god of love. He forgets his i little bit of poetry, and throwing a golden ‘shaft in form of a useful shawl needle at the ■bride, runs away, hiding his curly head in his mother’s lap. At last comes a very handsome young gipsy, who, telling the moat marvellous stories of the future, promises to reappear this day twentyfive years, and to tell them the future of the next quarter of the century. . , The rooms for these; preparations, now no more needed, are thrown’ open, giving more space and air to the ever-increasing number of friends. A very hospitably and tastefully arranged buffet is id one of the rooms, and a great,, variety ot refreshments ’invites the hungry guests. Another room contains the various presents, and this time they are as elegant as plentiful and useful. The band of the regiment to which the bridegroom belongs now strikes the first notes, and ’ the dance begins. The bride opens the ball with her affianced husband, and has afterwards to dance with nearly every gentleman present. During this time a continuous noise is beard, it is the breaking of glass, china, or crockery, which the humbler friends of the house are breaking before the door, in .the firm belief that they honestly bring luck to, the pair ; and from this noisy performance ; the evening has got the name of Folterabend. • These good people are rewarded for their goodwill with;wine and cakes, fruits or sweets. Those who have worked at the outfit receive each a useful present, as pocket handkerchiefs, comforter, &c. The dance is still ‘ going on j blit,, like most elderjy guests, we leave; the house to gather strength for the. next day in a good night’s rest. '■ The second part of the festivities, or the real wedding day, passes in comparative quiet. All possible preparations are effected long before, and the bride passes the morning quietly with the family. After breakfast comes the important moment of dressing. The bride is dressed the last in the house, and none'blit loving hands.serve her to-day.' The mother puts, the wreath, and; veil on, .with much prayer, bat silently, for no words must be uttered during this act. All are ready in good time. The bride’s dress is extremely simple. A white satin dress without lace or ornaments is nsually worn by the upper classes; many of them even wear white Indian muslins. Ornaments, as already said, are seldom worn, pearls never. It is a superstitious belief that pearls worn on a wedding day bring tears into' the future household. ) ; :

Towards one o'clock the carriages arrive to take the bridal pair and party tot church. There in the vestry room are waiting forCthcm the invited guests. Father and mother, with the elderly lady guests, and all gentlemen, now enter the church, and take their seats near and round the altar. The church, and especially the altar, are beautifully decorated with a profusion of flowers. The clergyman now comes and stands on ; tte ;: steps of the altar, awaiting the oonple he is to. make man, and wife. Two chairs are standing before the altar, • usually embroidered, and presented on the previous day. The organ begins, and

bride and bridegroom enter, followed in pairs by the yoncg unmarried guests and relatives,' and preceded by children of the family, who throw flowers in their path. The pair take their seats, and the service begins. Bride and bridegroom use the same hytnn-book, and remain seated during the whole service ; they only stand up for the chang-ng of the rings, the bride always on the right baud of her husband, and kneel in receiving the final benediction. The whole ceremony is short but hearty, and after it the pair have to go through the usual amount of congratulations more or less trying. Having done their duty in this respect, the young pair drive to the hotel, where the wedding repast takes place ; the parents go with them to receive the guests. The festivity which now takes place is so exactly like a similar one in England that it is needless to describe it further. The German wedding cake is generally of a fine paste, shaped like the trunk of a tree, often more than a yard high, but very nicely ornamented with flowers and emblems. From its form it derives its name of Baumkuchen. Another cake is seldom absent on a wedding table. It is the famous marzipan (pain de Mars), baked in different forms of hearts, crescents, flowers, &c. A wedding tour being not considered absolutely necessary, the pair remains often with the guests until late in the evening, when another dance may take place. If the new home is in the same place as the old one, the happy pair drive quietly to the new residence, which parents and friends have made ready for them. Before the bride leaves her guests, she has, however, to part with the wreath and veil, which the mother takes off and replaces by a little cap, while the younger guests form a circle round them, and sing an appropriate song during the ceremony. The dress is changed for an outdoor one. If the new home is in another town, then father and brothers bring them to the station, well provisioned from the wedding cakes, Sophie von Zanonb.