Cutting the Wood (Breaking Barriers)
Some barriers need to be broken for the bride to be brought out, so the spokesman tells the groom’s family that there are lots of beautiful flowers in their garden and that he hopes they can recognize the flower they came for.
Of course they say yes.
The bride’s family then starts bringing out veiled maidens that they expect the groom’s family to identify.
The groom’s family keep rejecting them till they see their bride.
Usually a family can bring out up to 3 “fake brides”; for each fake bride a barrier needs to be cleared.
The groom’s family will have to give the women “money for fuel to cut the wood out of the way at every step”…so the bride can arrive.
Amid songs and dance by spinsters, the bride is ushered in, while the groom’s family clears the barriers.
The bride always arrives with style (which of course makes it easy for her to be identified).
Then the groom stands up to unveil her.