No,not the kind you have to go through upon entering a country. As customs go the USA seems to be lacking in the colorful department,or maybe they just don't seem unusual to me because I am used to them. Today I would like to present a few courting customs from different parts of the world,and other times.
Eligible Austrian girls in the 19th century would keep an apple slice under their armpits at dances. When the evening ended,the girl would hand the slice to a gentleman who caught her eye. If the feeling was mutual,he would eat it (yuck!). This next one from what I understand is still practiced. Gypsy girls aren't allowed to date. If a boy wants to catch a girl's attention,he's supposed to grab her and forcibly kiss her. The ever thrifty Puritans would give their fiance a thimble for sewing. When it came time for the wedding she would cut the bottom off the thimble and wear it as a ring. As recently as the 1800s when a Finnish girl was of marrying age she would wear an empty sheath. If a man fancied her,he'd place his knife in the sheath. If she wasn't interested she would return it,if she kept it that meant she agreed to marry him. In 18th century New England (I guess the US did make the list!) couples were allowed no privacy,so someone came up with the courting stick. The 6 foot long hollow tube allowed couples to speak privately at a safe distance while family members remained in the room. I wonder if this is where "speak softly and carry a big stick" originated? I think it was Teddy Roosevelt that made the saying popular.
Eligible Austrian girls in the 19th century would keep an apple slice under their armpits at dances. When the evening ended,the girl would hand the slice to a gentleman who caught her eye. If the feeling was mutual,he would eat it (yuck!). This next one from what I understand is still practiced. Gypsy girls aren't allowed to date. If a boy wants to catch a girl's attention,he's supposed to grab her and forcibly kiss her. The ever thrifty Puritans would give their fiance a thimble for sewing. When it came time for the wedding she would cut the bottom off the thimble and wear it as a ring. As recently as the 1800s when a Finnish girl was of marrying age she would wear an empty sheath. If a man fancied her,he'd place his knife in the sheath. If she wasn't interested she would return it,if she kept it that meant she agreed to marry him. In 18th century New England (I guess the US did make the list!) couples were allowed no privacy,so someone came up with the courting stick. The 6 foot long hollow tube allowed couples to speak privately at a safe distance while family members remained in the room. I wonder if this is where "speak softly and carry a big stick" originated? I think it was Teddy Roosevelt that made the saying popular.
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