June Is The Time For A Shivaree
June is one of the most popular months for weddings. Appalachia has many interesting customs and sayings surrounding matrimony-one being a Shivaree. A Shivaree is a loud greeting given to newlyweds on their first night home. The Shivaree starts just after dark and includes loud banging, hollering, and serenading. Putting the couple in a wheel barrel and pushing them around is sometimes part of the fun as well. Over the years many of the traditions have fallen by the way.
A few other Appalachian customs or sayings concerning weddings:
*If someone sweeps under your feet you’ll never marry-I heard this one my whole life.
*The couple jumps the broom after the service to signify crossing over from single life to married life.
*In the past many marriages were conducted at the local Court House-hence the term going courtin. When I was a teenager someone was always asking me if I was “courtin” yet.
*This last one is for all you quilters. When young ladies gathered to put the finishing touches on a new quilt they would each hold a piece of the quilt and someone would throw a cat on the quilt- whoever the cat jumped off by-was the next girl headed for marriage.
Have you ever been to a Shivaree?
May 26th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Loved your little slice of life. Courtin’ or sparkin’–either one was enough to bring a blush to a young girl’s face, especially if her dad teased her, asking if she thought she was big enough to “spark.” When I was 14, my mother made me a red polka dot dress out of feed sacks for my first date. We walked up to the old grocery store and had a bottle of pop and a can of Vi-eeny sausage! (He was 20–and when he got home after four years overseas–from North Africa to Hitler’s hangout in Germany) we were married 45 years before he died of a stroke in 1991.)
June 13th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
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