handfasting
Hands tied together
Handfasting is a ceremony in which two people's hands are bound together, symbolizing their union or betrothal.
The practice has roots in Celtic and medieval European traditions, where it sometimes served as a binding marriage contract or a trial marriage lasting a year and a day.
Modern pagans and Wiccans have revived handfasting as a wedding ritual, though it now appears in secular and mainstream ceremonies as well.
They chose a handfasting ceremony in the woods rather than a church wedding.
Solemn binding promises
- bondBinding tie or connection
- promiseCommitment to act
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
fidelity · partnership · trust · covenant · dedication · pledge · faithfulness · troth
Practices of Celtic priests
- neopaganModern practitioner of pre-Christian spirituality
- covenAssembly of witches
- solsticeDay of maximum tilt
- equinoxSun crosses celestial midline
pentacle · goddess · circle · elements · sacred · priestess · high priest · chalice
Solemn binding promises
- officiantCeremony presider
- altarSacred ritual table
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
exchange · readings · processional · recessional · nuptials · solemnization · bride · groom
Formal marriage agreement
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- chivalryKnightly code of honor
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- nobilityTitled ruling class
feudal · knight · herald · mead · tapestries · renaissance · courtly · lord
Thin flexible strands
braiding · wrists · intertwined · wrapping · fastening · silk · linen · colors
vows
Solemn binding promises
loyalty · fidelity · partnership · trust · covenant · dedication · pledge · faithfulness · troth · consent
druidry
Practices of Celtic priests
- neopaganModern practitioner of pre-Christian spirituality
- covenAssembly of witches
- solsticeDay of maximum tilt
equinox · pentacle · goddess · circle · elements · sacred · priestess · high priest · chalice · quarters
vows
Solemn binding promises
blessing · exchange · readings · processional · recessional · nuptials · solemnization · bride · groom · witnesses
betrothal
Formal marriage agreement
nobility · feudal · knight · herald · mead · tapestries · renaissance · courtly · lord · lady
cords
Thin flexible strands
tying · braiding · wrists · intertwined · wrapping · fastening · silk · linen · colors · weaving
scottish
Of northern Britain
knotwork · tartan · thistle · shamrock · clan · highlands · standing stones · ancient · ancestral · folklore
trial
Judicial examination of claims
seasonal · lunar · cycle · term · period · span · dissolution · renewal · anniversary · rededication
- weddingwedding, wedding ring, marry, wedding ceremony, wedding rings
- weddingswedding, wedding dress, wedding cake, wedding ceremony, bride
- marriagebride, groom, wedding, husband, wife
- medieval lifechivalry, royal courts, jousting, knighthood, falconry
- Scottish culturebagpipes, kilts, tartan, haggis, Highland Games
- witchcraftwitch, spell, spellwork, witches, spells
handfastingchurch wedding
Marriage ceremony in religious building
holy matrimony · church ceremony · civil marriage · legal marriage
handfastingdivorce
Legal end of matrimony
annulment · separation · dissolution · unbinding · parting