In Adrianople and the neighboring cities, the women have public baths,
which are a part of their religion and of their amusement, and a bride,
the first time she appears there, after her marriage, is received in a
particular manner. The matrons and widows being seated round the room,
the virgins immediately put themselves into the original state of Eve.
The bride comes to the door richly dressed and adorned with jewels; two
of the virgins meet her, and soon put her into the same condition with
themselves; then filling some silver pots with perfume, they make a
procession round the rooms, singing an epithalamium, in which all the
virgins join in chorus; the procession ended, the bride is led up to
every matron, who bestows on her some trifling presents, and to each she
returns thanks, till she has been led round the whole. We could add many
more ceremonies arising from marriage, but as they are for the most part
such as make a part of the marriage ceremony itself, we shall have
occasion to mention them with more propriety under another head.