Lachesis Lapponica; Or, A Tour in Lapland, Volume 2Linné, Carl von
History
Lachesis Lapponica; Or, A Tour in Lapland, Volume 2
Linné, Carl von
Lapland -- Description and travel; Natural history -- Lapland
When such pecuniary matters are finally arranged, the father and mother
of the bridegroom present him and his bride with a cup of brandy, of
which they partake together, and then all the company shake hands. They
afterwards take off their caps, and one of the company makes an
oration, praying for God's blessing upon the new-married couple, and
returning thanks to him who "gives every man his own wife, and every
woman her own husband."
The parents of the bridegroom next partake of some brandy, and the whole
stock of that liquor which they had brought with them is fetched for the
company.
All the relations of the bridegroom then come forward with their
provisions, which generally consist of several cheeses, and a piece of
meat dried and salted. The latter is roasted before the fire, while the
company is, in the mean while, regaled with some of the solid
preparations of milk, the bride and bridegroom eating by themselves,
apart from the rest.
Two stewards are next chosen, one of them from the bride's party, the
other from that of the bridegroom. The last-mentioned party are then
required to furnish a quantity of raw meat, amounting to about a pound
and half to each person. This the stewards immediately set about
boiling, and their duty moreover is to serve it round to all present.
This meat is dressed in several separate pots, two only in each hut, if
there be any neighbours whose huts can serve to accommodate the party on
this occasion; for each Laplander has never more than one hut of his
own. The fat part of the broth is first served up in basons. Afterwards
various petticoats or blankets, of walmal cloth, are spread on the
floor, by way of a table-cloth, on which the boiled meat is placed. The
chief persons of the company then, as many as can find room, take their
places in the hut of the bride's family, sitting down round the
provision, while the children and inferiors are accommodated in the
neighbouring huts. Grace is then said. The bride and bridegroom are
placed near together, for the most part close to the door, or place of
entrance. They are always helped to the best of the provision. The
company then serve themselves, taking their meat on the points of their
knives, and dipping each morsel into some of the fat broth, in which
the whole has been boiled, before they put it into their mouths. Numbers
of people assemble from the neighbourhood, to look in upon the company
through the door; and as they expect to share in the feast, the stewards
give them two or three bits of meat, according as they respect them more
or less. What remains after every body is satisfied, is put together,
and wrapped up in the blankets or cloths, that part of it which is left
by the new-married couple being kept separate from the rest, as no other
person is allowed to partake of their share. The dinner being over, the
whole company shake hands and return thanks for their entertainment.
They always shake hands with the bride and bridegroom in the first
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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