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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IAPALOAL] Charivari...
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 17:50:00 -0500


I had never heard the term charivari (pronounced shivaree) until I saw this
article. I had to do a little research on the term- usually when a couple
was newly married a bunch of "friends" would gather outside the newlywed's
house late in the evening and make all kinds of racket, banging pots, firing
guns, etc. until they were invited in for some refreshments. Supposedly, one
story has it the honeymoon was "invented" as a way to get away and escape
the rowdy charivari bunch.

I asked my uncle and dad about the charivari as they grew up in the same
area as Tom Brennan below..they kind of laughed..but also told me the
charivari was practiced well into their teens and beyond which would take us
up to possibly 1940s or beyond. And they told me a couple of stories of
their own charivari experiences. So evidently my family and others of Palo
Alto county continued to indulge in such "coarse amusments" for quite a long
time!!

Anyone else know of the "charivari" or stories? I don't think it was an
exclusive custom of the Irish- the term is of French origin...


Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, 7 Dec 1910

Was Shot at Charivari

Tom Brennan attended a charivari and was accidentally shot in the leg.
Served him right. He should have remained at home and not have tried to
annoy a newly wedded pair. The charivari is out of date. People of brains
and decency no longer indulge in such coarse amusement.




Cathy Joynt Labath
The Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/


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