The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PROMENADE

I REMEMBER WHEN WE VISITED A SMALL TOWN ON THE SPANISH
RIVIERA, FOUR YEARS AGO, CALLED FIGUERAS, SPAIN. THEY HAD
A CURIOUS CUSTOM. CERTAINLY DATING THERE (SPAIN)
HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN TO BE STRICT, IN FIGUERAS THEY
HANDLED THE MATTER IN THIS WAY: ALL THE PARENTS AND
GIRLS WOULD SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOWN SQUARE AND
ALL THE GENTLEMEN WOULD CIRCLE AROUND THIS "PLAZA."
I SUPPOSE WHEN THE YOUNG MAN WOULD GAIN ENOUGH COURAGE
HE APPROACHED THE GIRL AND HER CHAPERONE AND REQUESTED
"AUDIENCE" WITH THEM (HER ESPECIALLY). IF GRANTED
PERMISSION, HE WOULD THEN BE ALLOWED TO WALK, PROMENADE
AROUND THIS SQUARE WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND IN FULL VIEW OF
THE ELDERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Date learned: NOT GIVEN