THE night preceding the
marriage there was held what was popularly known as "feet
washing." The bridegroom's bachelor friends met at his house on
the pretext of washing his feet for his wedding. A great deal of
practical joking was indulged in; for example, soot, blacking
etc., were mixed with the water and rubbed on the feet and even on
the face of the expectant bridegroom. Very often he made his
escape from his friendly tormentors, and was chased by them till
he contrived to elude his pursuers, and if he was lucky in
concealing himself from them it was considered a good omen of
future prosperity. When they failed in finding him he emerged from
his concealment and the remaining part of the night was taken up
with dancing. On the Monday night after the first proclamation,
the young couple secretly paid a visit to the shoemaker for the
marriage shoes; the bridegroom paying for both pairs. It was
considered unlucky to get married in May; and Tuesdays and
Thursdays were the favourite days for tying the nuptial knot, the
other days of the week being considered unlucky. Some day in the
growth of the moon was always preferred. On the morning of the
wedding, the friends of the bridegroom met at his house and those
of the bride at. her father's. At each place they were entertained
to breakfast, which consisted of milk porridge with brown sugar
sprinkled over it, and finished with curds and cream. Then the
bridegroom with his party, all young men and bachelors, started,
headed by a piper, to the kirk or manse, or residence of the bride
to have the ceremony performed. The bride and bridegroom were not
to meet or see one another till they met before the minister—the
bride always taking the lead. The best young man was expected to
provide a bottle of whisky and a glass and to produce them when
meeting anyone on the road that he or she might drink to the
health and happiness of the bridal pair. It was held unlucky to
have the ceremony performed in the bride's father's house; so when
not in the kirk or manse it was held in the barn. It was also
unlucky to pass a church on their way to get married, but to meet
a funeral was most unlucky of all, for that foretold the death of
the bride or bridegroom within a twelve month. Green must on no
account be worn by the bride, bridegroom, or guests, as it was the
Fairies' favourite colour, and they would be highly offended if
wedding parties dared to wear it.
During the ceremony great care was taken
that no dogs passed between the bridal pair, and particular care
was taken to have the bridegroom's left shoe without either buckle
or latchet. At the church door he formed a cross with a nail or
knife upon the right hand side of the door, and every knot about
the bride and bridegroom's dress was carefully loosed. After the
ceremony was over the bridegroom and best man retired one way and
the bride and the best maid another way, to tie the knots that
were loosed and the bridegroom to fix the buckle and latchet which
were removed on his entry to the church or where the ceremony was
performed. Before returning home, if the ceremony took place in
the church, the bridal party walked round the church observing to
follow the course of the sun. On the homeward way, the bridegroom
now took the lead; the bride came up behind, while the piper
played "Leanaidh mi thu "-" I will follow thee."
The marriage feast was spread in the barn.
The first dish was generally red cabbage boiled and mashed. The
prejudice against the "fairies fatal green" extended to the feast;
hence green of all kinds was excluded. The next dish was "fowl-a-bree,"
that is, fowls cut into small pieces and made into soups with
grots, onions, and carrots; then beef and mutton, roasted and
boiled, and puddings of various kinds with an abundant supply of
whisky. The chief waiter was the bridegroom, and when all the
guests were served he was allowed to help himself. After the feast
dancing was engaged in, the ball being opened by the "shemit
reel," which was performed by his best young man and the bride and
her best man and his best maid. After the shemit reel was danced
the two young men paid the fiddler and piper, and then the
"fiddler's lawin" was collected, that is, every young man at the
wedding gave from is. to Is. 6d., thereby entitling him to the
honour of a reel with the bride. The young men had the privilege
of kissing their partners at the end of the reel.
On the bride's first entrance into her new
house she had to be careful to step over the threshold if she
would be lucky. A cake of bread and a cheese, both of which had
been previously either broken or cut into pieces, were placed on a
plate and thrown over the bride's head as she entered the door. If
the plate broke it was a good omen as to having a son as heir.
Then the links of the crook were put round her head or neck and
she was led to the meal girnel and made to take up a handful of
meal. All this was done by the mother of the bridegroom if there
was such and if not the next of kin. On the first Sabbath after
their marriage they went to be kirked, accompanied by a best man
and best maid, and they never entered the church till the first
singing was half through.
A few marriage superstitions may be
mentioned. If an unmarried man happens to be placed between a man
and his wife, that promises marriage within the year. A man never
goes courting on Friday. Whichever sleeps first on the marriage
night will be the first to die. Fire is an omen of marriage, and
when sparks flew out of the fire towards young persons, and if
they fixed on the clothes it was considered very lucky. Sparks of
fire were also a token of a relative or a stranger coming to
visit. Contracts are made on Friday.
FEAR BHA ANN.