Socialist Wedding

In their Marxist war against Christianity, East Germany's Communists try to abolish as many religious rites as possible, but they have found that even certified atheists have a hankering for ceremony. Result: an atheist liturgy in which the Communists have substituted "name-givings" for christenings, "youth dedications" for confirmations and "secular funeral orations" for religious burials. Latest addition: the "socialist wedding."

A typical socialist wedding took place in Leipzig last week. Time: 3 on Saturday afternoon. Place: Culture Room of the People's Owned Iron and Steel Works. On the stage sits the factory's string orchestra, in the audience a couple of hundred "workers' delegates" looking forward to the free drinks. At a barked command comes the sound of marching feet and in tramp flag-bearing comrades (male and female) from the parachute group of the paramilitary "Association for Sports and Technology." The orchestra strikes up a Beethoven minuet, and through the lane of parachutists come the bride and groom.

The city registrar makes a speech, ringing with fine phrases--"class struggle," "power of the party," "workers' glory and honor." The bridal couple pledge themselves to faithful service of "the workers' and peasants' might," everyone sings the East German national anthem, and children recite "socialistic poems." Fellow workers hand over their presents, bride and groom are showered with flowers, the orchestra plays the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, and it's all over.

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