Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/151

Rh as to the dress of the Greek bride is not very clear; it was probably coloured, and much importance was laid on the veil and hair-net which she wore. The Roman bride wore what was called the Tunica recta or Regilla, and it is significant that this was specially woven in one piece in the old-fashioned way by an upright loom. This probably means that in early times it was made at home, and by the bride herself, or assisted by her friends.

We are thus led to the obligation imposed on the bride to provide her own wedding dress, or part of it. This is said to be the explanation of the term "spinster," applied even in the present day to unmarried girls. Pennant tells us that fair spinsters in South Scotland give much of their leisure to the spinning of blankets for their wedding portion. On the same principle, in many places at the present time the bride is understood to provide a certain quantity of house linen. This is a general rule in Norway. In Scotland, according to Mr. Gregor, "in the interval between the final contract of marriage and its celebration, the young woman was busy getting in order all her providan for her future home. One or more days were given to the thiggin of wool from her friends and neighbours. If she had been thrifty, her feather-bed, bolster, blankets, sheets, &c., had been for some time ready in anticipation of the coming event. Besides the providan the young woman brought a chest of drawers, or, if that was too costly, a kist. All the providan was sent to the future home a few days before the marriage."

The same rule prevails in India. The rough cloth out of which the wedding robe is prepared is usually provided by the friends of the bridegroom, who also presents the bride's