[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.")
Sin,—In a large fishing community in the north-east of Scotland, where I exercise my ministry, a custom prevails which seems to corroborate Mr. M'Lennan's theory about the symbol of capture in marriage ceremonies. The mode of marriage is as follows :- Bride and bridegroom, followed by a large procession of friends and neighbours, march out of the village to a farm-house at some
distance, where they are married. Thereafter, bride and bride- groom separate, and followed by their friends, proceed to their respective homes. From the moment of their marriage they are strictly kept apart, the bride entertaining her friends, and the- bridegroom his. At a certain hour, a party of young men from the bridegroom's house proceed to the bride's house, and bring- her home to her husband. They seem to " go through the form of feigning to steal the bride, or carry her of from her relations
by superior force."—I am, Sir, &c., J. H.
Previous page
