Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/138

 130 back part of her head, but without the ribbons that hang down on the back and breast.)—(P. 280.)

Sometimes a young man in Feroe endeavours to gain the affection of a young woman without communicating his intentions to any of his friends; but as soon as he obtains the young woman's consent he no longer thinks concealment necessary. If he proves unfortunate in his suit, has no means of access to the object of his love, or is unacquainted with her parents, he employs the intervention of some respectable person, who makes the proposal in his name. This confidential friend waits upon the young woman and her parents, acquaints them with the young man's intention, and receives their answer. If the offer be rejected nothing more is to be done, and the suitor must direct his views to some other quarter; but if no objections are made by any of the parties, the lover repairs a week after to the house of the young-woman with his high hat on his head, and his wooing-staff in his hand, as a signal of his errand. Persons of higher rank celebrate their weddings at any period of the year they think proper; but the common people marry only in the autumn, which is their slaughtering-time. The bridegroom has two men, who are generally selected from the most respectable of his friends, and whose duty is to accompany him to and from church, and to dress and undress him. The bride has also two bride-maidens, who dress her, and who, during the ceremony, stand behind her and the bridegroom; she has also two young men called loyasvoynar, that is, leaders, who, each laying hold of an arm, accompany her to the church, hand her into her pew, and when the service is over attend her in the same manner back to the house where the wedding is celebrated. The bridegroom first repairs to the church, with all his male attendants walking in pairs; and then the bride, who, however, is preceded by a company of bride-girls (stoylar), all neatly dressed and ornamented, who arrange themselves in a row in the passage before the pew appropriated for her, where they remain standing till she and her maids have passed them. During the ceremony a great many candles are placed on the altar; and when it is ended, which is generally in the afternoon, the company return. After the new-married pair have received a congratulatory kiss from each of the guests, they all sit down to a dinner, which consists of