Handfasting, Creative Wedding Rituals

I love rituals. Handfasting has long been a Celtic Ritual. Did you ever wonder where the term "Tie the Knot" comes from? It was derived from the ancient celtic ritual in which the couple's wrists were loosely tied together during their wedding ceremony to symbolize their commitment to each other.

Whether you are Irish or not, handfasting is a beautiful ritual, and you may want to include it as part of your ceremony as a very meaningful ritual. Handfasting Ribbons are used, and their are many colors of ribbons that represent different facets of our lives and relationships. I usually ask couples to stand side by side and hold hands and the ribbons are placed around the hands and wrists of the couple.

I usually say "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 passionately love you and cherish you throughout the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, and giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Many times, ribbons of colors are used. In the traditional Celtic handfasting, the ribbons that bind the couple's wrists are made up of thirteen different colors, each with special meaning. Here is a list of each color and their own special meaning.

• Red - passion, strength, lust, fertility


• Orange - encouragement, attraction, kindness, purity


• Yellow - charm, confidence, joy, balance


• Green - finance, fertility, charity, prosperity, health


• Blue - Tranquility, patience, devotion, sincerity


• Purple - power, piety, sanctity, sentimentality


• Black - strength, wisdom, vision, success


• White - purity, concentration, meditation, peace


• Gray - neutrality, canceling,balance,


• Pink - unity, honor, truth, romance, happiness


• Brown - earth, grounding, talent, telepathy, home


• Silver - treasure, values, creativity, inspiration


• Gold energy, wealth, intelligence, longevity

There are also Christian ceremonies that use three strands of rope, the couple weaves together three strands of rope, and then tie the strands together into several knots. The three pieces of rope represent the joining of their lives together, with the third piece standing for Christ's presence in their marriage. According to the words of Ecclesiastes 4:12 which reads " A threefold cord is not quickly broken".

Ever wonder where the term "tieing the knot" really came from??? It derives from a time when couples needed a new bed. Before mattresses and box springs, beds were made from wooden frames with ropes strung across the frames, upon which were placed straw mattresses. Newlywed couples thus had to "tie the knot" of their marriage bed.

In a Christian wedding, we can think of tying the knot as it is God who binds together the bride and groom, making the two into one. It is the binding together of the perfect knot that will keep them together as they face difficult challenges of marriage.