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.