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172 THE MANNER OF LIFE OF
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
* !For Five Centuries Koine Lield Britai...
W Gift ynfreda ; " Beage " , The _" The Peace Bracelet of Man ; . " " Athel An g old ifa , Saxon " The MS Noble . refers Gift to ;' a
, family of humble origin , but , in the mention of the names , presents a leasing icture of homely rectitude and content . It runs
pp thus : — " Dudda ( or ' The Family Stem' ) was a husbandman in HsBthneda , and he had three daughters . One was called Derwyn
( Dear to Win , or the Precious Joy ) , the other Deorswyth ( Very Dear ) , and the third Golde ( Golden ) . "
The marriage service itself was in many respects similar to that now in use . If the espousals had preceded the marriage , the
bridegroom transferred the ring from the right to the left hand of his betrothed : if not , the ring was placed at once upon the left
hand , as at present . Mutual vows were exchanged , accompanied hy priestly benediction . One curious observance must not be
passed over . It may be remembered that , by pre- ! Raphael painters , the Virginat her marriageis always represented with her hair
unbound , falling , over her shoulders , , and her brows encircled with a wreath of myrtle . This custom is to be traced back to Saxon
times . Before marriage , girls always wore their hair loose , for flowing locks were typical of freedom . For this reason the bride ,
on her wedding-day , allowed her hair to fall wildly dishevelled on her shoulders . " The longer it wasthe more clearly it expressed
virginity and noble birth ; and the , more loose and scattered , the better it tified freedom from _} : > revious obligation . The bride
yp was sithat also j she _> reseri entered _-ted by loriousl the priest into with that a st wreath ate which of victory is typical , as of a y
the gn triumphant union g of the Church with her Lord and Saviour . The bridal-wreath was composed of myrtle or olive leaves ,
intermixed with purple flowers , and fastened together with white silk ; or of olive-leaves wreathed together with purple and white flowers .
The white was symbolical of virgin purity , and the purple of the blood of our Lord . A widowon her marriagehad neither wreath
nor veilas neither could be , worn twice . She , was also required to have , her hands covered , while those of a single woman were to
be uncovered . _''* The wife never wore her hair loose , she bound it in plaits round her head , and these volutes were sometimes called
" crowns of honour . " It -was customary for all the relations and invited guests to make
presents to the bride . The father presented his daughter with a ift called " Fader-fiod" ( father ' s fee ) . The amount was to be in
g proportion to his means , and remained the property of the wife independent of her husband . It was also customary for the
bridegroom to bring his offering . This was sometimes very sumptuous . When the sister of Athelstan was espoused to Hugh Capet ,
Count of _Paiis , he sent her gifts as costly as they were various .
* , The Anglo-Saxon Home . By John Thrupp .
172 The Manner Of Life Of
172 THE MANNER OF LIFE OF
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), May 1, 1863, page 172, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01051863/page/28/
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