Peasant life in Jugoslavia.

Lodge,-Olive

Society-Serbs-Europe

General

1919; 1939

London: Seeley, Service and Co.

203

1941

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that he has come for the betrothal, and has brought a hen and a barrel 
of wine or rakija to help with the feast that evening.

The guests sit down to supper, and after they have drunk three glasses 
of rakija the "father-in-law" of the bride, the svekar, as he is always 
called, asks: "Where is my daughter-in-law?" She is then summoned, 
and comes in her best clothes, and kisses everybody's hands in greeting. 
Her father points out the bridegroom to her, the father-in-law-to-be, 
and all her new relatives, after which she goes round kissing their 
hands. The bridegroom's father now points out the future wife to his 
son. The bride, according to custom, says nothing, for it would be 
shameful for her to speak. Now the bridegroom gives the ring and the 
scarf into her hands, whereupon she kisses his hand. Next day she 
puts the ring on the middle finger of her right hand -- it is only 
a cheap three to four-dinar ring. She must now give the bridegroom 
boscarluk, or presents of a shirt, linen trousers, a pair of stockings, 
and a belt.

After this ceremony is over, her father-in-law sits down at the table 
with the company for supper; and they stay drinking healths and toasts, 
or singing songs, till late evening, when everyone goes home. Throughout 
the evening there is much talk of the wedding and when it is to be. 
For there must be sufficient time to allow the bride to finish weaving 
and preparing all her gifts; because she has to make presents for 
the kum and kuma (male and female wedding sponsors), the stari svat 
(chief wedding guest), and others. In some parts of Serbian Macedonia 
the bride must prepare all her wedding gifts and marriage clothes 
in a little shelter, lined inside and out with straw and cow-dung 
for warmth (kucarista). In Skopska Crna Gora, mountain villages near 
Skoplje, these huts are made each year by the girls on Mitrovdan in 
autumn, and used till Beli Pokladi just before Lent.

As this preparation of gifts takes time, at least a fortnight must 
elapse between the betrothal and the wedding. At the betrothal feast 
all the bride's womenfolk are busy cooking and bringing in the food, 
and only her father sits
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Courtship

301; 343; 431; 584

DOC:2154