A History of Matrimonial Institutions, Vol. 1 of 3Howard, George Elliott
History
A History of Matrimonial Institutions, Vol. 1 of 3
Howard, George Elliott
Families; Marriage -- History
DARGUN, _op. cit._, 88, 91, says, besides the custom
just mentioned, there is but one other survival of wife-capture
among the Chinese--the forbidding of friendly intercourse between
the newly wedded husband and the mother-in-law. JAMESON,
_China Review_, X, 95, thinks that in China there is no trace
of capture; but KOHLER, in _ZVR._, VI, 405, 406, gives
an example of the alleged symbol of rape among the Chinese.
_Cf._ NEUMANN, _Asiatische Studien_, I, 112; and
WESTERMARCK, _Human Marriage_, 387.
ARAKI, _Japanisches Eheschliessungsrecht_, 9, 10, denies
the former existence in Japan of purchase or capture of wives.
[531] DARGUN, _op. cit._, 102, who refers to the
legend of Launcelot and the song of Laudine and Iwein:
GERVINUS, _Geschichte der deutschen Dichtung_, 5th ed.,
I, 447, 449. For the same practice in German songs and epics see
DARGUN, _op. cit._, 119.
[532] MCLENNAN, _op. cit._, I, 68; DARGUN, _op.
cit._, 102.
[533] LORD KAMES, _History of Man_ (Edinburgh, 1807), I,
449: MCLENNAN, _op. cit._, I, 18; LUBBOCK, _op.
cit._, 125; DARGUN, _Mutterrecht und Raubehe_, 103.
[534] DARGUN, _op. cit._, 102, 103.
[535] PIERS, _Description of Westmeath_, quoted by
LUBBOCK, 26, 27; see also DARGUN, _op. cit._,
103.
A custom, almost identical with that last mentioned, prevails in
the Punjab;[536] and in many parts of India the sham contest and
the pretended abduction appear.[537] But nowhere are the symbols of
capture found in such wonderful variety and profusion as in Germany
and Slavonic lands. The mass of illustration presented by Dargun is
almost bewildering for its richness.[538] Every form and type of
ceremonial capture is there represented. Elopement, the sham combat,
abduction by an armed band, is the regular order of the wedding day
in every country of the Slavonic race. In Germany, besides these
practices, reminiscences of capture are found in a great variety
of pranks and fantastic sports. The bride is concealed from her
lover before the wedding; or, after it takes place, she is stolen
and concealed by the young people of the village. The bridegroom is
hindered from entering the home of his intended on the wedding day;
or he finds his way barred to or from the church, and is permitted
to proceed only after paying a fine or treating the crowd.[539]
Sometimes, as in Sweden, the bride is stolen by her lover and hidden
away.[540] In upper Bavaria, on the day of the wedding, she clothes
herself in mourning, black or violet;[541] and the practice of
covering or veiling her head is as familiar in Germany as it was
in ancient Rome.[542] "To veil the woman," _quên liugan_, is the
Gothic name for marriage; in Lorraine it is called _Brautjagd_, or
"bride-hunt;" while _Brautlauf_, or "bride-race," for the entire
nuptial celebration is a common designation in German lands.[543]
The original meaning of _Brautlauf_ is probably revealed in the
existing custom of chasing the bride.
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