86 SEX-LORE 



mere living together of the couple continuously for 

 a whole year, without any formality whatsoever, was 

 considered to constitute marriage. This kind of 

 marriage the mere living together though in com- 

 plete contrast to the customary ceremonial or legal 

 marriage, found recognition throughout the Middle 

 Ages, and is said, according to law, to be valid even 

 now ! Such marriages are, however, the outstand- 

 ing exceptions. There is generally at least a mini- 

 mum of ceremony a simple oral declaration, which 

 is characteristic of Scotch law. 



With the growing power of the Christian Church, 

 secular marriage was gradually replaced by the re- 

 ligious ceremony or sacrament. At first only the 

 presence of the priest was considered necessary ; but 

 ultimately no marriage was valid unless consecrated 

 by the Church. We need not go into details about 

 the actual religious ceremonial and its inner meaning, 

 but would only point out certain customs which are 

 survivals from earlier times. The ring, for instance, 

 is said to be a symbol of purchase of the bride. 

 It is put on the third finger of her left hand, because 

 it was believed that there was a vein leading from 

 that finger right to the heart. The bride generally 

 appears at the wedding in white, with a veil over her 

 face and a wreath of orange-blossom or myrtle on 

 her head. The bride's white dress was already in 

 vogue in ancient Greece and Rome; it is supposed 

 to signify holiness, as white was worn by the priest 

 during the ritual sacrifices. Various explanations of 

 the wearing of the veil have been given. In Korea 

 and many other places in the East, the bride's eye- 

 lids are glued together so that she may not see the 



