Brúðar-gangr

Old Norse Dictionary - brúðar-gangr

Meaning of Old Norse word "brúðar-gangr" in English.

As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:

brúðar-gangr
m. the bridal procession; both the procession to and from the church (first the maids and women, then the ladies, and the bride, as the chief person, last); and again, the procession of the bride and ladies from the bride’s room (brúðarhús) into the hall, where the men were assembled with the bridegroom. After grace had been said, both in the stofa, to the men, and in the bride’s-bower, to the ladies, two dishes were served; a toast, called Heilags Anda skál or Heilags Anda minni (Holy Ghost’s toast), perhaps a continuation of the heathen Bragarfull, was then given; at this signal the marshal (siðamaðr) went up to the bride’s room and summoned the brides (ladies) to come down to the stofa and join the men; this was the second procession. The bride then sat on the bride’s chair, and every one took his lady, and the feast went on in common. This custom is obsolete, but the word remains: a slow, stately walk, with an air of importance in measured steps, is called in Icel. a ‘bride’s walk,’ like that of brides on a wedding day; [cp. Germ. brautgang.]

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛒᚱᚢᚦᛅᚱ-ᚴᛅᚾᚴᚱ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements

Abbreviations used:

cp.
compare.
Germ.
German.
Icel.
Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
l.
line.
m.
masculine.
n.
neuter.

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