The Esthonians celebrate, by various ceremonies, the three great eras of human life, the beginning, the end, and the zenith ; birth, death, and marriage. Their customs at the birth and christening of a child differ little from those of other nations, probably because the Christian ceremony of ba)ti3m has extirpated those of the old barbarians. One peculiar custom remains, that of hanging round the neck of a new-boni child, a piece of asnfoetida^ which is looked on as a charm, and is believed to bring about many beneficial effects.
At burials, their customs resemble those of many other northern nations. They make long speeches to the dead, asking, " Why hast thou not remained longer with us ? Was not thy puddro (gruel) to thy taste ? Wilt thou never revisit our bathing-rooms? &c.' Food is put into the graves of the dead, and feasts are prepared for them on certain days, as among the Lettes. The Esthonians never wear any particular costume by way of mourning ; but Avidows, after the death of their husbands, for some time wear their preesen turned inside out. At every burial a nail is driven hito the threshold of the house-door.
A custom, which dates back no further than the Reformation, is that of the Martin's and Catherine's beggars, as they are called. On the 9th of November, the young lads trick themselves out in fantastic disguises and go from house to house, collecting presents and gifts ; on the 24th of November, the young girls do the same. It Is supposed that this custom was instituted in honour of Martin Luther and Catherine von Bora. The young Germans in Reval and Dorpat celebrate these evenings in the same way. On Christmas-eve, the Esthonian girls assemble together and choose a queen, around whom they seat themselves on the straw-covered ground. After various songs have been sung, the queen demands all the ornaments, garlands, &e. of her attendants, and hangs them about her own person. Forfeits are given and redeemed : and by way of a close to the game, each of the girls smgs a verse or two as an entreaty for the restitution of her property, which she then receives back.
The wedding customs of the Esthonians are curious and peculiar. The young girls begin their preparations for man-iage while yet mere children. They often weave and spin for ten years to supply themselves with a sufficient number of gloves, handkerchiefs, stockings, &c., for a wedding dowry. Offers of marriage are made, not by the lover himself, but by some friend of his, or by his parents, who enter the house of the bride, bearing mead and brandy. On their entrance, the bashful maiden whose hand is sought hides herself, as among the Lettes. The lover's proxy opens his proposals, by inviting the inhabitants of the house to drink, and by relating a fabulous story of a lost lamb or foal, which he is seeking. If they refuse the invitation, and declare their ignorance of the lost cattle, it is a sign that they reject the offer. If they mean to accept it, they drink with the suitor, and give him leave to look about for his lost lamb. When found, the bride also drinks, and after a few days the bridegroom visits her for the first time, bringing her various presents.
On the wedding-day both processions go separately to church, and afterwards proceed together to the house of the bride. Some of the women, friends of the bride, pour a can of beer over the head of the bridegroom's horse, and scatter a handful of rye over the heads of the bridal couple.
The marriage feast is then eaten, and masking, mumming, and other sports occupy the day. The next morning the bride, completely muffled up in sheets and quilts, perhaps the better to hide her tears, is taken home to her husbands house. Her brother acts as her coachman. On arriving at her husband's house, she seats herself in her brother's lap, and her mother, in due form, invests her with the hood and costume of a matron. The bridegroom's hat is then placed over her hood, which she three successive times throws off her head, and receives again, in token that she protests against the supremacy of man, but is wilhng not the less to tolerate it, A slight box on the ear is then given her, in token of the authority of her husband. Afterwards the bride deals out her presents to her guests, and receives from them promises of future presents ; of sheep, horses, beeliives, &c. In the evening she dances once with every guest, and receives a small present in money in return. The day after the wedding-night, the young wife, attended by all the guests, makes a tour of the house, and sweeps up the hearth by way of initiation into her future duties.