CHARIVARI is a French term used to designate a wild tumult and uproar, produced by the beating of pans, kettles, and dishes, mingled with whistling, bawling, groans, and hisses, and got up for the purpose of expressing a general dislike to the person against whom it is directed. The etymology of C. is obscure; the Germans translate it by Katzenniusik,, the English of which is caterwauling. In France, during the middle ages, a C. was generally raised against persons contracting second nuptials, in which case the widow was specially assailed. On these occasions, the participators in it, who were masked, accompanied their hubbub by the singing of satirical and indecent verses, and would not cease till the wedding couple had purchased their peace by ransom. C. answers to the English concert upon " marrow-bones and cleavers," with which it was customary to attack a married couple who lived iu notorious discord. It was also got up against an unequal match, such as where there was great disparity in age between the bride and bridegroom.
. Similar customs seem to have existed under different names in all parts of Europe, and sometimes they were of such a licentious and violent character as to require mili tary iuterference to put them down. Even as early as the 14th c., the church found itself forced to threaten punishment, and even excommunication, against those who participated in them. In more recent times, the C. has taken a purely political coloring; as, for example, during the restoration in France, at which time, however, the popular voice began to seek vent by casting its satirical darts against public men through the press. The papers published for this purpose were called C., the most famous among which is the Charirari, which was established in Paris, Dec. 2, 1832, corresponding to the English publication, Punch (q.v.).