I don't know of any of you are familiar with the term
Chivaree and where it originated. I think it must be a
country French custom and the spelling is undoubtedly
more elegant. Something more like chivaruix.

It is the custom of friends of the bride and groom to wait
until the lights are out in the bridal home and to pounce
on the bride and groom, banging on the door, banging pots
and pans, dunking the bridegroom in water and generally
making a huge nuisance of themselves which terminates in
a party that goes on until dawn.

It happened to newly weds when I was a kid and my mother
and Dad had one after their wedding. I haven't heard of
one in years and Thank God I was spared at my first wedding in l947.

I looked it up and it was called an old Appalachian custom.
However, I think it was more widespread than that. It was supposed to welcome the bridegroom to his new family.
Some welcome, huh!

However, since it apparently happened to everyone, I think it was no surprise and they were prepared with
refreshments and music for dancing. It is strange how
these old customs have faded away. I guess with the cost
of weddings escalating and becoming more elegant, the old
peasant customs have disappeared forever.