80 Hattie Plum Williams 
Every people has its “time to marry,” and June roses bloom 
for the Russian German youth in the heart of the winter.”? In 
the colonies in Russia the weddings usually begin after the 
“Kerb,” which is the fall holiday celebrating the close of work in 
the fields and the beginning of the leisure season.” It is observed 
on different dates in the various colonies, during the months of 
September and October; and is a veritable mating season for the 
young people. The weddings usually begin the first Tuesday in 
November and continue until the Advent Season, which opens the 
fourth Sunday before Christmas. 
The favorite time, however, is from the week immediately fol- 
lowing Christmas until the beginning of Lent, six weeks before 
Easter. Economic convenience and ecclesiastical sanction have so 
crystallized sentiment concerning this marriage season among 
the German colonists that any breaking away from it is considered 
a sign of apostasy."? In expressing her disapproval of American 
marriages in general, a pious Russian German woman said “ The 
Americans are like the Russians; they get married just any 
timer 
This marriage season has been observed by the Russian Ger- 
were 21 years of age. These young men did not marry until they were 26 
or 28 years of age, or until they had worked long enough for themselves 
to gather sufficient property to marry. 
70 For the marriage season among the Slavs in Pennsylvania, see Roberts, 
‘Anthracite Coal Communities, 65-66. 
“1 This is a survival of an old German custom which was at one time 
universal and which is still retained in many rural sections of the Empire. 
Mogk, Deutsche Sitten und Braeuche, 11, says: “ Wie in alter Zeit finden 
auch heute noch in vielen laendlichen Gegenden Deutschlands die Hoch- 
zeiten im Spaetherbst oder. Winter staat. Das ist die Zeit, wo die Jahres- 
arbeit zu ruhen pflegt und die Ernte, die Fruechte der sauern Arbeit, 
hereingebracht ist.” 
72 A wedding in the summer is an unusual occurrence and happens only 
when the parties are contracting a second marriage or when the ceremony 
is necessitated by some circumstance, legal or illegal. 
73 As a matter of fact the Russian is more limited than the American in 
choosing his wedding day, for the festivities may not occur during fast. 
That eliminates Wednesday and Friday of each week, the Lenten season 
of seven weeks before Easter, the five weeks following Pentecost, and the 
three weeks following October 21. 
206 
