What to say during handfasting?

Our union forever blessed be." These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

Subsequently, one may also ask, what do the colors of handfasting cords mean?

Handfasting Cords For a three-cord handfasting colored cords are often braided: White for purity, blue for fidelity, and red for passion, for instance. You may choose to use other colors; for example, green for fertility and growth, purple for spiritual strength, and gold for wisdom.

Also Know, what is a Wiccan handfasting? Pagan/Wiccan Handfasting It is considered a legal marriage or a commitment made to one another for as long as your love lasts. A handfasting is performed by a priest or priestess. He or she would call upon the energies of the four elements.

Just so, how do you do a handfasting?

Ask the couple to hold one of each other's hands – the hands farthest away from the officiant as they face each other. The arms closest to the officiant can relax by their sides. Drape the ribbon or cord over their clasped hands. Say a few words (see the sample below).

What do I wear to a handfasting wedding?

What to Wear. Ideally, your invitation will give you a hint, but odds are your Pagan wedding won't involve traditional suits and cocktail dresses for the guests. An outdoor wedding is a good bet. When in doubt, opt for natural fibers and earth tones with a splash of color.

25 Related Question Answers Found

What does Handfasted mean?

Definition of handfasting. 1 archaic : betrothal. 2 : an irregular or probationary marriage contracted by joining hands and agreeing to live together as man and wife also : the living together under such an agreement.

Who can perform a handfasting?

You're just having a non-legal ceremony, and it can be performed by anyone you like. A high priest or priestess, or even a friend who's a respected member of the Pagan community can do it for you, with little to no fuss.

Is handfasting legal in the US?

For a variety of reasons, Pagan couples may want a handfasting without a legal marriage. A handfasting is a ritual in which vows are made and Gods are invited to witness and bless a romantic, usually sexual, and spiritual union. It is not in itself legally binding, but it is spiritually binding.

How many cords are in a handfasting ceremony?

The Handfasting cords themselves can either be several colors twisted into one cord and then used for a single cord ceremony or each color can be draped individually as in the six cord handfasting. Couple may choose four to six colors that represent what they feel are the most important to them in their marriage.

What is a Celtic handfasting?

The Celtic Tradition of Handfasting. Put very simply, Handfasting is the practice of couples committing to each other by having their hands tied together with braid, or something similar, and exchanging rings and vows in a traditional non-religious ceremony.

What happens at a handfasting ceremony?

Handfastings are commonly used in Wiccan and Pagan ceremonies. Today the handfasting is more literal: a couple will bind their hands together during the wedding ceremony (before, during, or after reciting their vows), often to symbolize their connection and devotion to one another.

What is a Wiccan wedding?

A Wiccan wedding is known as a Handfasting Ceremony. Handfasting is the ancient Scottish custom of tying a betrothed couple's hands together and keeping them that way for a year. Wiccan Weddings are usually presided over by a priest and a priestess, whose job is to implement the rituals.

What do the 13 coins in a wedding mean?

Arras Coins- A Hispanic Wedding Tradition. Arras Coins- A Hispanic wedding tradition of 13 coins. Arras in Spanish means pledge. Some say the thirteen coins represent thirteen words; Love, peace, commitment, trust, respect, joy, happiness, nurturing, caring, harmony, wholeness, harmony, and cooperation.

Is handfasting pagan?

What is a handfasting, exactly? If you're curious if handfasting is a pagan ceremony, the answer is yes. A handfasting is a wedding or betrothal ceremony, and to be handfasted is equivalent to being married or betrothed.

How much does a handfasting cost?

The cost for a handfasting at Gretna Green is just $97.00 for our 'Unbreakable Thread' - Silver Handfasting Package and $128.00 for our 'Forever Locked in Love' - Gold Handfasting Package. The ceremony will take place in one of our marriage rooms in The Famous Blacksmiths Shop or Gretna Hall Historic Marriage House.

Is handfasting Irish?

Handfasting is an ancient Irish wedding tradition that has come to be interpreted literally, as the symbolic act of “tying the knot.”

Is handfasting legal in the UK?

Handfasting is completely legal to carry out, however the ceremony itself is not be recognised as a legal wedding in the UK. The easiest way to enjoy a handfasting ritual and a legally recognised marriage is to have a small civil ceremony.

What's a pagan wedding?

A Pagan wedding ceremony is called a 'handfasting', and is a vow to love, honour and respect your partner. Many couples choose to handfast for the traditional 'year-and-a-day', renewing their vows every year, others vow to handfast until their love ends, and others for eternity.

Where did jumping the broom come from?

“Jumping The Broom,” a short history. "Jumping the Broom," is celebrated on this date. This is an African American phrase and custom for marriage. The significance of the broom to African American heritage and history originates in the West African country of Ghana.

What is a Celtic wedding?

Handfasting is another Celtic wedding tradition. The term actually comes from Old Norse: Hand-festa, which means to strike a bargain by joining hands. In the context of commitment and marriage, handfasting is a mutually agreed upon act. A cloth or ribbon is bound around the bride and grooms hands.

How long should handfasting ribbons be?

Your cord should be long enough to loop over both wrists as well as being able to make the knots. We've read that if you are using a single cord, that a generic rule of length is ideally no less than 6 feet.

Why is it called handfasting?

Origin of the term. Handfasting is a history term for "betrothal" or "wedding". The term is derived from the verb to handfast, used in Middle to Early Modern English for the making of a contract.