The Origin Of A Certain Wedding-Cry

The fifth century Gallo-Roman writer Sidonius Apollinaris, in a letter to his friend Heronius, mentions hearing during his travels the congratulatory shout of “Thalassio” in the streets, theaters, and marketplaces.  An editor’s footnote to the text explains that the exclamation was a standard Roman expression of good wishes to a newlywed couple.

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