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Handfasting
is a Neopagan term for a wedding. Handfasting is related to an old Celtic
ceremony, in which the couple's hands were ritualistically tied together,
hence the phrase "tying the knot".
The ceremony traditionally either symbolised the beginning of a trial
marriage - typically lasting a year and a day, or, with proper legal
measures, a legal marriage ceremony. There is no universal procedure
for the ceremony and the elements included are generally up to the couple
being handfasted. One unique tale of a handfasting tradition was the
Telltown marriages. These took place once per year, on the Sabbat Lughnasadh,
and all unmarried people would get together and be married, usually
with no knowledge of to whom they were marrying until that day. The
marriage would last until the next Lughnasadh. At that time, they were
free to leave the union if they desired.
Today, handfasting has become a popular element of modern civil marriage
ceremonies, commitment ceremonies and renewal of vows. During the ceremony
the couples hands are tied together with (usually) a red ribbon (red
symbolises the desire, passion and vitality of the love the couple have
for each other). The celebrant recites a blessing whilst the ribbon
is still tied. The ribbon is then removed from the wrists of the couple.
It is often kept, still tied in a knot, by the couple as a reminder
of their vows.
A
second version of the handfasting ceremony uses six ribbons instead
of one. Each ribbon is a different colour and each colour has a different
and distinct meaning.
I
have conducted many handfasting ceremonies and would be happy to incorporate
this into your wedding ceremony. Alternatively, if you are interested
in purchasing your own beautiful handfasting kit(either one or six ribbon),
please visit the Irish
Design Shop's website.
The
unity candle ceremony symbolises the unification of the bride and groom,
as well as their families.
Prior to the wedding ceremony, a large single
'unity candle' and two slimmer tapers are placed in holders and arranged
in the area where the wedding ceremony will be performed. During the wedding
ceremony, after the vows and exchanging of rings, the bride and groom
move to the area where the candles have been readied. Two honoured participants,
one representing each side of the family, come forward and light the individual
tapers for the bride and groom.
The bride takes her lighted taper; the groom takes his lighted taper.
Simultaneously, the bride and groom use their individual tapers to light
the unity candle between them. The bride and groom extinguish their tapers
and return them to their holders.
The lighting of the single candle symbolically represents two individuals
joining as one, and the extinguishing of the individual tapers shows the
bride's and groom's intent to sublimate their individual needs to the
greater needs of their union. At the time of lighting the single large
Unity Candle, the couple often repeat a vow or blessing.
This
is a ceremony where the bride and groom sip sacramental wine from an ornamental
chalice during the exchange of vows. The drinking from the same cup not
only celebrates the bride and groom's first drink together as a married
couple, but also signifies their coming together as one.
Here is a simple version of this ceremony.
Celebrant (after the celebrant has handed
the couple the chalice)
And now please drink to the love you've shared in the past.
(The Bride and Groom sip from the cup)
Celebrant
Drink to your love in the present, on this your wedding day.
(The Bride and Groom sip from the cup)
Celebrant
And drink to your love in the future and forever more.
(The Bride and Groom sip from the cup)
The
custom of the groom presenting his bride with a coin is said to date back
to the time when the groom paid luck money to the family of the bride,
in order to bring happiness and blessings upon them. After the exchange
of wedding rings, the coin would be presented to the bride as a symbol
of worldly goods. There is a contemporary custom where the bride and groom
exchange coins, and it is said that, if the coins clink as they are exchanged,
the couple will be blessed with children. After the wedding, the gift
is often preserved as a family heirloom, and is passed from mother to
eldest son on his wedding day. You can purchase one of these unique coins
from the Irish
Design Shop.
There
are many different Irish and Celtic readings and poems that you can use
to add special meaning to your ceremony. Here are a couple of examples.
Traditional
Irish Blessing (Short)
May
the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your home,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And the light of friendship guide your paths together,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
He
Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven
Had
I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
W.B Yeats, Irish Poet (1865 - 1939)
Wedding
vows are a very personal part of any wedding ceremony. Under Australian
law, wedding vows must clearly express your intent to take eachother to
be husband and wife. That does not mean, however, that your vows can't
be creative and include aspects of Irish and/or Celtic traditions. You
may also consider writing your own. Below are two examples of vows that
could be used to design your own, perfect wedding vows.
Old
Celtic Vow
Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone.
I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One.
I give ye my Spirit, 'til our Life shall be Done.
Wedding
Vow in Irish Gaelic*
Groom A (Bride), an toil leatsa bheith i do bhean chéile
agamsa?
(English Translation: (Bride), Do you consent to be my wife?)
Bride Is toil. A (Groom), an toil leatsa bheith i d'fhear
céile agamsa?
(English Translation: I do. Do you, (Groom), consent to be my husband?)
Groom Is toil. Glacaim leat mar bhean chéile agus bronnaim
mé féin ort mar fhear céile.
(English Translation: I do. I take you as my wife and I give myself
to you as your husband.)
Bride Glacaim leat mar fhear céile agus bronnaim mé féin
ort mar bhean chéile.
(English Translation: I take you as my husband and I give myself to
you as your wife.)
*These
vows would need to be said in English as well, as the celebrant must witness
you stating that you take eachother as husband and wife.
The
Irish and Celts are famous for their intricate artwork and jewellery.
In recent years Celtic knot work and the unique Claddagh symbol have become
increasingly popular as designs for wedding rings. If you have chosen
to have one of these beautiful rings as your wedding rings you might also
want to consider having a ring ceremony that takes into account the symbolism
and meaning of these special and unique rings. Together we can design
a ring ceremony that reflects the two of you, as well as the symbolism
of the rings that you have chosen.
Are
you interested in purchasing stunning Celtic or Claddagh wedding rings?
Please see the Irish
Design Centre's website. With their new shopping cart facility, you
can purchase their products easily online.
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copyright © Niamh Kinchin 2006
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