WEDDING CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1479, 20 March 1880, Page 22

WEDDING CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS.

The Prince of Wales set a good example at his marriage, when he gave tho Princess Alexandra a keeper ring in which the initial letters of the six stones— Beryl, Emerald, Euby, Turquoise, Jacinth, Emerald— formed her favourito name for him —Bertie. The LANGUAGE AND PROPERTIES OF PREOIOTJS I STONES Are as varied as are those of flowers ; and, like the latter gems, have the proper seasons in which their good qualities predominate, j High priests in this kind of knowledge inform us that whoever is touched with any i atone sefc in a silver ring shall be immediately reconciled. A pale sapphire act in gold, and engraved with a figure and with the half of a fish, procures any desire. Capricorn, or cornelian, set in a silver ring find carried about, insures the wearer against harm ia purse aud person : no judge can pass unjust sentence againßt him ; he shall abound in business and honour, gain the friendship of mauy, and bd all-powerful ia battle. A favouiibe superstition is, that every month is under tha influence of some one of the precious stones. The garnet, signifying constancy and truth, is sacred to January; the amethyst (sincerity), to February ; the bloodstone (c >urage and presence of mind), to March ; the diamond (inaocence), to April ; the emerald (success in love), to May ; the agate' (health and long life), to June ; the cornelian (a contented mind), to July ; the sardonyx (conjugal felicity), to August ; the chrysote (antidote to inaaniiy), to September j the opal (hope), to October ; the topaz (fidelicy), to November; and the turquoise (prosperity), to December. In Germany the turquoise iv still the favourite betrothal ring ; ie is supposed to prevent dissensions between husband aud wife, and alio to give warning o! dangir. In addition to tho virtues already enumerated, tho diamond is said to be an antidote to Satanic temptation. The ruby makes its possessor brave. The top iz is a preservative against poison. The amethyat is a preservative against drunkenness. The turquoise acts as a charm against Ilia evil ey? and from looks foreboding misfortune. The Bardonic sardonyx brings unholy thoughts, though it promotes conjugal felicity— is, in fact, a sort of baneand-antidote affair. The opal, unleßS its influence be counteracted by having other stones set in it, brings ill luck. In choice of an engagement ring there is, therefore, ample scope for the exorciso of a delicate fancy in the selection of the stones, and in symbolising the virtues of tho adored one.

WEDDING FESTIVITIES AND CUSTOMS.

In the time of "Good Queen Bess" weddings of the aristocracy and great people were distinguished by banquets, masqueß, pageants, etc. But there are some characteristics and features of -weddings that have been preserved, with certain variations, for many generations. From time immemorial, the practice of presenting the bride with marriage gifts seems to have prevailed, During the laßt century it waß usual to celebrate a marriage with sports and an open house, to which all the inhabitants of the district were bidden. Cumberland was famous for these fetes. So was France. The custom of throwing the slipper is both "ancient mid honourable." The slipppr was a symbol of authority in the East, and in token of submission to her hunband the bride received a tap on the hend administered with her husband's shoo. la Jewish tiuoes the delivering of a atone was a sign of a formal ronunciafcioa of authority ov?r a woman. Formerly a peculiar forai of ahoe-m'-.iviage •wiz c°Jehrftt«d at TTawflrfch, in Yorkshire, the phce in which th« g'-ntla " Currer Boll" lived and died, In throwing this symbol of

good luok the left shoe shonld always be taken. The Romans were very superstitious as to tho days and seasons when marriages, should be celebrated. The Kalends, Nones, and Ides of every month were Btriotly avoided. The most fortunate time in the whole year for marrying was that which followed the Ides of June. The sum and aubsfcance of all the popular belief that governs the choosing of the " appointed hour" in the present age Is briefly contained in two rules : "who marries between the sickle and the scythe will never thrive," is one. The other, the hackneyed lines : • < Monday for wealth, ) ' , Tueechy for health,, Wednesday the D9st day of all ; Thursday for crosses, . Piitlay for losses, Saturday no luck at all. Scan the marriage notice oolumns of th« newspapers and see how closely people follow the curt advice of the stanza. The origin of the tarm "honeymoon" Js an open question. But good authorities Bay that it is said to have been derived from the Teutonic custom of drinking a decoction of honey for thirty days, or a moon's age, after a wedding feast AWila, the Hun, is said to have celebrated his nuptials in such a glorious manner iv the beverage hydnynel, iha'c he drank himself to death on the wedding day.