The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHEN TWO PEOPLE DECIDE TO GET MARRIED IN BELGIUM, ALL
THE RELATIVES WERE ASKED AND THIS THING IS GOING TO
SURPRISE YOU, BECAUSE IN BELGIUM RELIGIION AND THE
AUTHORITIES ARE ONE. THE PRIESTS GET PAID BY THE
GOVERNMENT, AND THERE IS ONLY ONE KIND OF SCHOOL.
THE PRIEST HAS NO RIGHT TO MARRY PEOPLE. THE MAN
AND WOMAN GO TO THE CITY HALL AND DECLARE THEIR
INTENTION OF GETTING MARRIED AND FOR THREE WEEKS
THEIR NAMES APPEAR ON THE NOTICE BOARD ON THE OUTSIDE
OF THE CITY HALL. IF ANYONE HAS AN OBJECTION, THEY GO
TO THE CITY HALL TO MAKE IT; IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS
THE MARRIAGE CAN GO AHEAD. ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING
THE COUPLE WOULD WALK TO THE CITY HALL AND PERFORM
THE CIVIL CEREMONY, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH A
RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, THEY WOULD NEVER ACCEPT A MARRIAGE
LIKE THAT, THEN THEY WENT TO CHURCH AND THE PRIEST
WOULD REPEAT THE CEREMONY. AFTER THE MASS, ALL THE
ONES THAT WERE INVITED FOR DURING THE DAY, THEY ALL
GOT BEHIND THEM AND START SINGING "YOU'LL BE SORRY"
AND THIS AND THAT. THEN THEY STARTED TO GO TO THE
SALOONS CAUSE THERE WAS ALWAYS DRINKING WITH IT--
HE HAD NEVER MET WITH ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS
DIFFERENT.
THEN AT NIGHT THERE WAS THE BIG RECEPTION; BUT THERE
WAS NO HALLS.

Submitter comment: I HAVE TOLD THIS WORD FOR WORD AS MR. VALKEN TOLD ME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BELGIUM

Date learned: 10-20-1971