by Emilee Dehmer

This painting, titled “Weddings in the Big Smokies, Tennessee,” was painted in 1886 by John Stokes.

This painting shows an old mountain custom called a “shivaree.” This tradition probably got started way back in the medieval times in Europe! After two people got married, the guests of the wedding would chase after the newlyweds. They would make a lot of noise while doing it. They would bang pots and pans, ring bells, shout, and fire guns. You can see a horn, guns, shouting, and clapping in this painting.

The newlyweds would be chased until they gave the people food and drinks. While this tradition might seem a little odd, it was all in good fun. The shivaree might also be called serenading or belling. Some accounts of a shivaree included women being carted around in wheelbarrows and sticks of dynamite being set off!

Now, take a closer look at these paintings. You’ll notice there are some differences in them. See if you can spot all 6! If you get stuck, don’t worry- the answers are at the bottom of the page.

"Weddings in the Big Smokies, Tennessee" Tennessee State Museum collection 83.75

Six Differences:

1. The dog is missing from the bottom left corner.

2. There is an extra dog in the bottom right corner.

3. The man in the front middle of the horses is no longer holding his hat.

4. The man near the back of the horses has a different hat on. It’s Napoleon Bonaparte’s hat!

5. The last horse in the pack is missing.

6. There is a cloud in the sky.

Emilee Dehmer is an educator at the Tennessee State Museum.