Across the River
WEDDING CUSTOMS: I watched an old movie over the Thanksgiving break and was reminded of the past custom of tying cans to the newlyweds’ car as they left for their honeymoon. The noise was to announce the wedding and to celebrate their departure as they assumed their new life together. This originated from the earlier “charivari,” given when a single person wed one who had been previously married. People went to the homes of the newlyweds in the cover of darkness banging pots and pans in their windows and knocking on their doors. This noise was to ward off evil spirits. There also was the custom of writing “Just Married” or other slogans on the car windows with shoe polish. I liked the custom of blowing the horns of the cars once the wedding ceremony was over and attendees were on their way to the reception. That was a fun and easy way to announce to the community that the wedding ceremony was over and the reception would soon to begin. Weddings held in church also had the church bells to toll the end of the wedding ceremony. I don’t think that these are done much anymore if at all.
