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The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 3 (of 3): Everlasting Calerdar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William

History

The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 3 (of 3): Everlasting Calerdar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac

Name: The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 3 (of 3): Everlasting Calerdar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Author: Hone, William

Hone, William

Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs

There is not probably, at the present day, a more social and
exhilarating convocation than a highland wedding among the lower orders.
The ancient hospitality and kindliness of character fills it with plenty
and good humour, and gathers from every side all who have the slightest
claim in the blood, name, and friendship of the bride or bridegroom.
That olden attachment, which formerly bound together the superiors and
their dependants, yet so far influences their character as to bring them
together at the same board upon this occasion. When a wedding is to take
place, the attendance of the chief, or laird, as well as that of the
higher tacksmen, is always solicited by the respective parties, and
there are few who would refuse this mark of consideration and good-will.
The clansmen are happy in the honour which they receive, and the
“Duinne-Uasal” is pleased with the regard and respect which renders the
countenance of his presence necessary to his people.

Upon the day of the wedding, the friends of the bridegroom and the bride
assemble at the house of their respective parents, with all the guns and
pistols which can be collected in the country. If the distance of the
two rendezvous is more than a day’s march, the bridegroom gathers his
friends as much sooner as is necessary to enable them to be with the
bride on the day and hour appointed. Both parties are exceedingly proud
of the numbers and of the rank which their influence enables them to
bring; they therefore spare no pains to render the gathering of their
friends as full and as respectable as possible. The company of each
party dines at the house of their respective parents. Every attainable
display of rustic sumptuousness and rustic gallantry is made to render
the festival worthy of an occasion which can happen but once in a life.
The labour and the care of months have been long providing the means
wherewith to furnish the feast with plenty, and the assistants with
gayety; and it is not unfrequent that the savings of a whole year are
expended to do honour to this single day.

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