Compliments Courier Mail
Connect with Me
Celebrant, Vlady Peters, Redcliffe, Qld.
Monday, July 22, 2019
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Wedding Traditions
Handfasting Wedding
Almost every continent, it seems, is claiming the origin
of the Handfasting Ritual. In literature, we hear of it from Sir Walter Scott,
in his novel "The Monastry".
More recently, I saw that apart from Africa, America,
British Isles and Scandinavia, countries of East Europe are also claiming to
have practiced this ritual in the past.
Handfasting, in East Europe, like others, started off as
a visual engagement, a betrothal to show the world that in due course the
couple would be wed.
The Hadfasting day started at the bride's house where,
after all the grooming was finished by the ladies, the groom and his merry men
and their families would come to fetch the bride. Before leaving the house, the
bride and groom were given their' parents blessing, and in their turn thanked
them for their lifetime care.
As they walked hand in hand to their wedding venue, if it
so happened that one of the partner's parent or parents were dead, they would
make a detour to the cemetery where the parents were buried. Ever aware of the
debt of gratitude they owed to their parents, the couple would invite them to
join in spirit, if not in body, their forthcoming festivities.
Seeing the bridal party going past, neighbours would come
outside and shower the happy couple with oats and hops and whatever else
happened to be growing in the garden.
The Handfasting itself took place in some sort of a
grove, since nature is at the center of this tradition. The ceremony was
conducted not by any official but by people in some way responsible for
bringing the two together. The material used for the tying of the hands was a
white piece of cloth, possibly something belonging to the mother, like a shawl.
At the end of the ceremony, everyone present would be
asked to come up, place their hands over the tied hands of the couple, and give
a silent blessing for their future together. The last two to give their
blessing were the two celebrants, who then untied the hands.
Connect with Me
Monday, July 1, 2019
Book Sale
Book Sale from Smashwords
July 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019.
It’s
that time of year again for readers looking for useful reads
or
book lovers wanting to fill up their electronic readers.
Here are my 7 books, all half price. Click here.
Connect with Me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)