Nattefrieri 02
Nattefrieri 02 As I mentioned before, the nattefrieri or night proposal went through several stages. During the earliest stage the boys would travel in groups and visit several girls in one evening. As things developed, a boy would visit only one girl on a Saturday evening. Small gifts were exchanged. A young lady accepting a gift was an important step in the right direction. If, when he visited the next week, his gift was easily visible or being used, he could be sure that she liked him as well. The gifts were decorated, often with hearts. Quoting from the article, "Den historiske sjekkeboka," by Mona Beate Vattekar, "among these gifts, the spoon, often called the suitor's spoon, was among the first and most important attentions bestowed." So spoons weren't only given on the wedding day, or days (can you imagine dealing with 30 to 50 guests for three days??), the entire courtship from festegava to kærestegava to frierigava seemed to be littere...