Kossack Marriage Custom

The Kosacs have no other religion than that of the Greek Church, which they observe even to the minutest parts of the ritual. Their burials and marriages only differ from those of the Russians in certain practices which seem peculiar to them. The young man goes to his betrothed mounted on a horse, with little bells affixed to the harness, the noise of which gives notice to the fair one of the approach of her future spouse. These bells are afterwards carefully preserved by the relations of the wife, or by herself, in memory of the solemnity. The bride not only brings no portion to her husband, but he is even obliged to cloathe her from head to foot completely.