A WEDDING IN RUMANIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 291, 8 December 1928, Page 16 (Supplement)

A WEDDING IN RUMANIA

PICTURESQUE SCENE The little blue-domed church, with its dear miniature gilt belfry, stood with its door invitingly open. The bells sent out their peals to the four winds of Rumania. A little crowd ■ flashed by in blue and red garments and passed inside the church. “If that’s not a wedding!” said my friend, “We had better peep inside. ’ It was rather difiicult, for the blue, rc . and white crowd had filled the little church, with its cream-painted walls, almost to overflowing. By standing on tip-toes and craning uur necks we caught a glimpse of the happy pair. JShe, very tiny under a heavy gilt crown; he, dark and very determined. The white-brocaded, white-bearded priest, who evidently thought that important things were best done in no hurry, pronounced the words syllabic by syllable. It was all over. The crowd pushed us out. Uncrowned, beflowered and smiling, the pair followed. Their friends cheered them— not with confetti, but with nuts—until the bridegroom raised his hand. In time, too, for the pelting might have spoiled the lady’s headgear. Her dress was literally sewn all over with coins. Silver, copper and even gold, they ran in rows, here, there and everywhere. Strings of them hung round her neck. Someone near us whispered that it was a very rich wedding. Undoubtedly, judging by the treasury she carried on her own person! And the caps! Boys’ and young men’s caps in darkest crimson and scarlet; girls’ caps in still brighter tints of rod. They said the bride had come to church wearing a red c p, too. At the door, her future mother-in-law had taken it off and put the veil on her head. But red was the favourite colour, for she carried a huge sheaf of red flowers in her hands, and the wedding eart. clad in its Sunday 1 ar ncss glorified by feathers r. d ribbons, was painted the brightest vermilion. Wo watched them disappear, to the accompaniment of more nuts, scarlet caps tossed into the air, and deafening shouts. V.O.S.