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A Remembrance of the Past; Building for the Future." ~ Eve Eckert Koehler



Remembering Our Danube Swabian Ancestors
     
 

At Weddings

by Peter Lang
Translation by Brad Schwebler

          The weddings were the greatest family parties.  According to their wealth, more or less guests were invited.  The weddings as a rule were held in the village of the bride.  Food, drinks, and cakes were donated by the invited, so that even the poorer could organize a large party.  The bride was picked up by the groom, the wedding party, and all the guests and led to the church.

          After the wedding vows everyone went either to the wedding house or the guesthouse (inn).  The brides dance presented the bride to the groom and after some turns the bride was offered to dance by the best man and the groom danced with the maid of honor.  Each change lasted about a half minute, until all of the guests had a turn with the bride and groom.

          With mixed religion couples the vows were done in the church of the bride, and the children were raised in the religion of the man (boys and girls alike).  In this way the religion remained connected to the name bearer, that is, all the same name bearers had the same religion, whether they lived in Beschka or elsewhere.

[Published at DVHH.org by Jody McKim Pharr, 2005]