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"Handfasting" was the word used by the ancient Celts to describe their traditional trial-marriage ceremony, during which couples were literally bound together. The handfasting was a temporary agreement, that expired after a year and a day. However, it could be made permanent after the year was up, if both spouses agreed. In 1820, Sir Walter Scott used the term to refer to a sacred ritual that bound the couple in a form of temporary marriage for a year and a day. He wrote of it in his book "The Monastery:"
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"Handfasting" was the word used throughout the once-Celtic lands of Scotland and Northern England to refer to a commitment of betrothal or engagement. It was a ceremony in which the couple publicly declared their intention to marry one year and a day in the future. |
Handfasting was suppressed following the Synod of Whitby in 664 [CE}...when Celtic Christianity was abandoned and Catholicism followed.
Even though the historical legitimacy of handfasting as a form of trial marriage is in doubt, some Wiccans and other Neopagans today create handfasting rituals for their own use or adopt ceremonies written by other Neopagans.
During the 1995 movie, Braveheart, Mel Gibson, in the role of William Wallace, was handfasted with his girlfriend Murron. Handfasting has since grown in popularity among Cowans (non-Pagans) -- particularly those whose ancestors lived in ancient Celtic lands. 3
What is the legal status of a handfasting ritual?
They certainly can result in a legally-recognized, permanent marriage or civil union. However, certain legal standards have to be met, as specified by the applicable state and province. A common set of requirements is:
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The officiating person must hold a valid license issued by the government
to perform marriages. Obtaining such a license is a simple procedure for
clergy who are affiliated with an established denomination. Some
jurisdictions require a faith group to have been registered for an
minimum number of years before their clergy are eligible for
licensing. In many cases, the regulations assume that a traditional
church structure is in place, with a defined laity and clergy;
Wiccans, other Neopagans, Aboriginal spirituality, etc. sometimes have
difficulty adapting to these requirements. |
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A license has to be purchased in advance. Various jurisdictions
have regulations which prohibit the issuance of a license if the couple do
not meet certain gender, age, medical, and consanguine criteria. A license
typically expires after some period of time. If a spouse has been married before,
proof of divorce or annulment is normally required. |
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There may be a minimum interval of time required between the purchase of the license
and the ceremony; one day is common. |
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There must be witnesses at the ceremony, other than the officiating
person and the couple, who will sign the license. A minimum of two is
typical. |
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The couple must be aware that they are engaging in a ceremony that will be cause them to be permanently married according to state/federal law. |
You might wish to check in advance with the local office that issues licenses. Various states and provinces have their own special regulations.
Alternatively, a handfasting can be simply a declaration by a couple that they wish to form a temporary or permanent "common-law" relationship. The couple would not be married after the ritual.
Couples who wish to have their handfasting recognized as a legal marriage may have difficulty obtaining a person who is willing to officiate. Most Christian and Jewish clergy would not be willing to conduct a Pagan ritual. Some ways of finding a cooperative presider are:
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Ministers from congregations affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist
Association (UUA) will frequently perform ceremonies that are written by the
couple; some even require it. 4Since the UUA recognizes
Neopaganism as one of the sources of its religious and spiritual
traditions, many of its clergy should not object to conducting a Pagan
ritual. |
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Some Neopagan priests and priestesses have been able to obtain a license
to marry in a few states by presenting various legal documents which show that they have
been selected by their coven as their clergyperson. This process sometimes
takes persistence. |
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Some Neopagan priestesses and priests register as clergy with Universal Life Church, and are subsequently able to obtain a license in some state or provinces to officiate at marriages. 5 However, not all jurisdictions recognize the Universal Life Church as a valid religion. They have minimal requirements for ordination. |
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What happens at a Neopagan handfasting?
In some ways, a handfasting is much like a typical marriage. The couple, a presider, friends and family are present. The couple exchange vows and (usually) rings. The couple generally has some attendants to assist in the ceremony. The presider, and the handfasting party sign the wedding license. Pictures are taken. Everybody smiles and hugs.
But in some ways a handfasting is quite different from the typical marriage ceremony. Most couples designe a unique ritual which fits their needs. Some of the following components may be present, in any order with which the couple feels comfortable. A typical heterosexual Wiccan handfasting ceremony is described below; the text can easily be modified for a same-sex couple. Some of the statements and the ritual of casting and banishing the circle would be modified to match the specific Pagan tradition that the couple follows.
The following ceremony was conducted for two members of the group that maintains this web site. It seems to have worked well because they remained happily married almost three decades later. One interesting and unexpected event happened at their handfasting. A location had been chosen in a local park on a trail that ran through a forest. On the day of the handfasting the couple returned only to find that the a second trail at right angles to the original trail had been created. The two trails joined to form a crossroads very close to where the handfasting was to be held. The couple only learned later that many Pagan handfastings were conducted at crossroads.
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The date may be chosen to be near a full moon. Handfastings during
the month of May are rare
because that is the month of the union of the Goddess and God. (Most Wiccans
are duotheistic: they believe in two deities, one female and the other
male.) |
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The ceremony is often held outdoors; preferably in a wooded area; ideally at a
crossroads. A backup location is selected in the case of rain. |
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The bride will not be dressed in a traditional wedding gown. The couple
will wear attractive clothes for the ceremony. The bride often wears red. |
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A circle is formed on the ground with rocks, crystals or some other
markers. Candles will mark the four cardinal
directions. An altar is located near the center of the circle. It is large
enough to support the marriage documents; a knife; chalice; a cloth,
rope or ribbon; a small silver box and a trowel! A broomstick is laid
beside the altar. Wildflowers may be spread inside the circle. The bridal couple
stands some distance to the east of the circle. They wear circlets of flowers. Friends and family are gathered around the
circle. |
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The presider rings a bell three times to indicate the start of the
ritual, and later to demarcate divisions within the handfasting ceremony. |
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The couple approaches the circle from the east -- the direction of
sunrise; this symbolizes growth in their relationship. They walk once
around the guests and enter the circle from the east. |
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The presider explains to the guests the significance of the ritual
to be performed. |
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The circle is then cast. This usually involves a Wiccan priestess or
priest walking around the periphery of the circle four times, with
elements representing earth, air, fire and water. They will recite a
statement at each of the four directions. |
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Answering a challenge from the presider, the couple each declares
their intent to join each other so that they are one in the eyes
of the God and Goddess, and of family and friends present. |
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The presider asks the traditional question whether anyone present is
aware of any reason why the couple should not be handfasted.
Hopefully, nobody objects. (This is a legal requirement for a marriage in some jurisdictions). |
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The couple recites a statement, saying that they have come of their
own free will "in perfect love and perfect trust" to
seek the partnership of their future spouse. They exchange rings. Each
recites a prepared statement, such as: "I, [name], commit
myself to be with [name] in joy and adversity, in wholeness and
brokenness, in peace and turmoil, living with him/her faithfully all
our days. May the Gods give me the strength to keep these vows. So be
it." 10 |
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The presider challenges them to drink from the same cup. Each drinks
separately. Then each holds the
cup so that the other may drink. This symbolizes the need for a balance
between apartness and togetherness in their future life together. |
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The couple will face each other, joining both their left and right hands
together. Their arms and bodies form a figure 8 when viewed from
above The a double circle is both the mathematical infinity symbol and
an ancient religious symbol for the union of a man and woman. |
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The presider will place a cord, ribbon, or strip of cloth over
the couple's hands. It may be loosely tied; it is often red in color,
symbolizing life. This identifies that the handfasting is a
commitment, but one that is not an onerous one. One year and a day
after being handfasted, the couple may return to the presider and
repeat their vows with the cord or cloth tightly knotted. This
symbolizes the intent to have a permanent relationship. This ritual is
the source of the expression "to tie the knot." |
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The couple each reads a personally written statement to the other, expressing their
love and their hopes for their future together. Since their hands are
bound, the texts are held by their assistants. The bonds are then removed. |
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The couple uses a knife to cut off a lock of each other's hair. This
is put in a silver box. This symbolizes their future relationship, one
as intimate as the mixing of their hair. |
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The presider offers advise to the couple, perhaps saying: "Be
understanding and patient, each with the other. Be free in the giving
of affection and warmth. Be sensuous with one another. Have no fear
and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for the
Gods are with you now and always." 10The
presider asks the assembled guests whether they will support the
couple in their new relationship together. Hopefully, they answer
"I do." The presider then pronounces the couple to be
handfasted as wife and husband or as spouses. |
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The couple kiss each other -- their first gift to each other as a
handfasted couple. They then perform their first task together: they
pick up the trowel from the altar, and bury the silver box at the
center of the circle where it will remain forever. |
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The presider, married couple, and witnesses then sign any required legal marriage
documents. |
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After the legal formalities are completed, the handfasted couple join hands and
jump over a broomstick. This symbolizes the effort required to make a
committed relationship work. |
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A benediction may be recited by the presider. The author's favorite is an Apache marriage blessing:
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The priest or priestess who originally cast the circle now banishes
it. |
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The presider states the the handfasting is concluded: "The
circle is open but unbroken. May the peace of the Old Ones go in our
hearts. Blessed be." |
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The bell is rung three times. The married couple then go clockwise
around the circle, greeting friends and family. |
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A feast/celebration traditionally follows. |
References used:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
- Leigh M., "Witches Wed." See: http://www.thetask.com/ This site once consisted of over 200 pages. Unfortunately, it is no longer accessible.
- "The client page," at: http://members.aol.com/
- "Movie information: Braveheart," at: http://www.macbraveheart.freeserve.co.uk/
- Unitarian Universalist Association has a web site at: http://www.uua.org They have a search facility for congregations in your area at: http://www.uua.org/
- Universal Life Church has a web site at: http://www.ulc.net/
- Reference deleted.
- "Medieval and renaissance wedding page," at: http://www.drizzle.com/
- "Rites of Passage," at: http://www.mindspring.com/
- "PookLaRoux's Handfasting FAQ," at: http://www.geocities.com/ They have a moderated mailing list.
- Some portions were copied from a Wiccan couple's handfasting ceremony. The origin(s) of the text is unknown.
- Goddess Moon Circles has information on handfasting/marriage requirements in various states, and MUCH more. See: http://www.goddessmoon.org/
- Mary Amanda lists the texts of three Wiccan rituals, including a handfasting. See: http://www.avana.net
- The Dallas - Ft. Worth Wedding Exchange has the text of a typical Pagan handfasting at: http://www.dfwx.com/
Copyright © 2000 to 2018 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2000-MAY-31
Latest update: 2018-AUG-06
Author: B.A. Robinson
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