A PERSIAN WEDDING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1752, 20 June 1885, Page 25

A PERSIAN WEDDING.

Strange Customs Attending a Marriage Ceremony in the Shah's Domain,

From an early hour in the morning of a Persian wedding— l speak of a wedding in tho middle ranks of life — there has been considerable bustle in the house of the bride's father. Carpets have been borrowed, and rooms at other times unused and empty are now fur nished and decorated with flowers. The poor are standing in a crowd at the outer door, sure of being plentifully regaled. Tho outer court has been got ready for the men. Vase 3of flowers are placed in rows at all the open windows and in every recess ; thirty or forty pounds of tobacco have been prepared by pounding and moistening for smoking; the courtyard is freshly watered. If it be a calm day— and spring and summer days in Persia are always free from wind — rose leaves are sprinkled on the surface of the water of the raised tank in the centre of the courtyards, so as to form the word Bismillah, the

pious welcome of tha Mussolman. Similar preparations, but on a larger scale, have been mado in tho brmdsoma courly>,rd which c>iutains the woman's quarters. From i.hi-i c mti, yard the nopfossos may be soon busily ongig"d in the kitchou prop^riag the breakfast for, porhapj, 100 gussts, -xnd she vi&it ivs will sf.op all day, only leaving t j escort tha brido to Hie home of her new hunbiind, whither sbo will cp after dark.

Large samovars, or Russian urns, which are usa in ovo^y Persian houae, aro his dntj like HrnaJl steam-engines, ready to furnish tan for 4be guests on thVir arrival ; not our idea of tea, tint a pale infusion sweetened 'to tho consistency of syrup, from tho centre of each cup of which will projuct a liltle islana of euporfluoua sugar. Oraago, sherbet, lemon, pomegranate, ffoae-water, chorry, quince, and an onrlless varfety oi these refreshing drinks willba offared to the thirsty guasba. And now come the musicians ia two bauds, the Mussulmans aud the Jows— the latter a ragged and motley crow, but more skilful than thair better clad riwls.

At last all h ready. Tho maiter ot tha houae, dressed ra hia beat, gives an anxious glance at the preparations, and ha 3an excited uieousaion with hia wife or wives. He waves his hand Co tho muaiciau? and hurrio 3 t.o a aoal aaar the door, to be ready to welcome his quests. , Tha music strike 3up a morcy tune Thoa in'a loud scream rises tbe voica of thw principal solo singer, who commences one of the sad love songs of Persia in a high faiseUo voice. Hia face reddens with hia exnybibns, which last through a doz9n versos. His eyes nearly s,tarfe from his head, the muscle? of his neck stand out like ropas, but he keeps correct time on the big tambourine, which he plays with consummate skill.

The music is the signal to tho iuvitsd guests ; they now arrive in crowds, Tha host receives them with transports of pleasure— all the extravagant compliments of E >sf;crn politeness pass betwean thmn " May your wedding bs fortunate!" "You aro indeed welcome; ihis ia a never-to be forgnttan honour to me, your slave 1" Iv tboy pour, tin m-?n io their bast ; the women, olosoiy veiled, paso on unnolicod by the men into tba brkte'n room, wbnr^ thsy unveil and appear fco the delighted hoste^saa in their finest oioobe* aud all their jawalbry ; and in most cases with their faces paiated. Ab the dre3se3 worn among the Parsiin ladies £or indoor us^ only roach to the kuea, their wearers look like opera dancers The ladies 1 feet and leg 3 are bare, as a rule, and :* gauza shirt of gay colour aud a tiny zouw-d jacket elaborately embroidered are worn. The colours of their clothes are of the brightest, aqd tho quantity of solid jewellery worn in honour of the brido is prodigious. Conversation goes on ; pipes are smoked by both men and women. Messages paaa between the two courtyards. But the pen remain iv their quarters snd the woman in theirs. The musicians and buffoon 3 .ire allowed, however, in the women's court on these occasions ; they are supposed to be mere professional persons, and on this account are tolerated. At noon a heavy breakfast ia served, after which buffoons danca and Bing songs indecent enough in themselves, but tolerated in the East on such occasions.

The bride meanwhile goes to the bath, whither she ia accompanied by maay of the ladies, tbe fiienda and near relatives of the family, who superintend her toilet and perfume her body. At twilight there is a hum of suspense. The whole place is lighted up by lamps, oandles in shades, s\ud lanterns, A noise of a distant crowd ia heard ; alms in money ia freely distributed among the crowd of begqari and poor at the door ; horses are brought for the bride and her friends. The procession of the bridegroom is approaching ; and it must be understood that another grand party haa basn going on at his father's housa. The musicians play and sing their loudest ; the roofs (tba fl *t roofs of the East) are thronged by all the women and children of the quarter. The bride appears, carefully veiled. Sb.B robs to the door and mounts a gaily caparisoned horae. A'l the male guests .join the .procession. Lighted cvosseto, full of blazing embers, are carried on high poles to lead and light the way. The lanterns of all the guest? are lighted and 'carried in thia procession, which joyfully wends itss way through a cheering crowd. At the moment the bride leaves her father's houae a shout of "Kal 10l lei " announoaa tha i'.tc . Fireworks blaze, the music is dp&faniug ; abuve all is heard tha monotonous banging ot the wedding drum. And so, the buffoons and musicians loading the way, the procession slowly moves on. As it approaches the house ot tho bridegroom several sheop are sacrificed in honour of the bride ; they are slain at hor feet as she stops over the hnibandV. threshold for the first time, accompanied by a female friend or two. Then, invoking blessings on the pair, all wend their way homo, and the festival is over.— Oorr. St. James' Gazette.