into serious trouble if caught, is causing the practice to fall into disuse.[1]
It occasionally has happened that bands arrive from different districts, having been organised unknown to one another. A fight is the result, as might be expected.
The dance at the end of the wedding day is called "dawsa bonsha" (wedding dance). This is begun by the bride and groom. After a few turns the groom sits down, and the groomsman dances with the bride. Then the bride gives way to one of the bridesmaids, and so on until all those present are dancing. The bride and groom then endeavour to steal away unobserved, their retreat being covered by the married women of the party; should, however, their going out be seen, the bride takes off her right stocking and throws it at the company, and he on whom it alights will be the next to marry.
The bride seldom goes to her new home on the night of the wedding; but that is reserved until a day some weeks off, called the "dragging home", when the groom comes for her. Any furniture she may have to bring with her is then set out, and in old times a small chair, called the Bride's Chair, was made specially to be brought along therewith. This was a small, three-legged stool, one leg of straight wood, the second of crooked wood, and the third crossing the other two. It was known as Crisa-Crossa, and was kept by the bride in her sleeping-room, but it was not intended for use.[2]
On arriving at the groom's house the groomsman used to throw a bottle of whiskey in the air, which was supposed to give three turns in descending, and if it broke at the third turn on reaching the ground it was a lucky sign.
Under the heading of 31st October (Hallowe'en) will be
- ↑ Dr. Hyde informs me that the practice extends all over Connaught.
- ↑ Gregor, in Folk-lore of North-East of Scotland, p. 100, states that a stool always forms part of the bride's goods.
