meadows, where the girls are tending the cattle. The youth (giavàn) starts from home after supper, without a light, to join his sweetheart, who feeds him with cream and butter. In the end the youth seeks the girl's father, and says somewhat as follows,—"I am sorry, but I am taking something away from you. Your daughter suits me, and I want her." The father professes surprise, asks his daughter about the matter, and, when she has assented, replies,—"When is the marriage to be?" The two lovers then go to the bridegroom's parents, and a similar scene occurs.
Marriages never take place on a Tuesday or on a Friday:—
"Nè di Venere, nè di Marte,
Non si sposa e non si parte"
(i.e. "Neither on Friday, nor on Tuesday, does one marry or leave home").
Generally they are held on a Sunday, and, if for some reason they take place on any other day, the bride and bridegroom each return afterwards to their old home, as if not yet married. On the following Sunday morning, the bridegroom's father goes to the bride's home, and says to her relations,—"I have come to take my property away." He then gives his arm to the bride, and all go to the bridegroom's house, where a wedding feast is held. On the wedding day, the bride at Antrona is expected to pass the early morning in dressing and weeping, and must not appear at the breakfast to the wedding guests. After the meal she takes the father's arm to go out, but at the door two of her friends will stop her by holding two silk ribbons across the opening. The bridegroom must bribe the holders of the ribbons with a five-lira piece to allow the bride's passage. When he is outside, the way to the church is still obstructed, as all the roads will have been barred by friends of the couple with sciufa or poles secured by wires to the side walls. The bridegroom and his relatives take off their jackets and clear the way with hatchets, the bride and her friends looking on. Some of the bridegroom's friends must meanwhile keep a sharp look-out to prevent the stealing of the bride. Sometimes the bride is carried off, and hours lost in recovering her. Finally, after the way has been cleared and the bride found or successfully preserved from being stolen, the party reaches the
