Celtic Wedding Rituals -- Tying the knot
One of the most elegant rituals you can choose for a wedding is the traditional Celtic hand fasting. After the vows, the bride and groom's wrists are bound together with five colored ribbons, each symbolizing an aspect of marriage and their shared commitment. It is a long standing Celtic tradition that is still quite popular, and happens to be the origin of the expression "tying the knot" which has grown to mean getting married. Though this tradition is a lovely and meaningful tradition, many other Celtic wedding traditions have not aged as gracefully.
All marriages start with a proposal. Proposals such as "Live in my heart and pay no rent" or "Would you like to hang your washing next to mine" might have been uttered to a would be fiancé.
As beautiful as the ceremony was, after the ceremony wasn't so sweet. The bride and groom might eat three handfuls of salt and oatmeal as protection against evil spirits, which probably wasn't as tasty as cake and champagne.
If the wife wanted good relations with her new mother-in-law, she'd have hoped that the groom's mother would break a cake over her head as she entered the marriage home. If she was so lucky, superstition said the two would remain friends for life, though she quite a mess to clean up after.
If the mother-in-law breaking cake wasn't bad enough, try all the guests. Unmarried youths would wait anxiously for wedding guests to break short bread over the heads of the bride and groom, at which time they would scramble to collect a bit of it from the ground to eat, thereby insuring a good match when it was their time to marry.
Celtic wedding nights were not free of traditions either. On the wedding night the bride's girlfriends would dress her for her special night and put her in bed, then leave her waiting for her groom. But before the groom was allowed to enter, all the male guests would drop by to kiss her goodnight while she blushed in her night clothes.
Once the groom was with his bride for the night the couple could expect no peace either. By custom, the guests were expected to drink and harass the newlyweds until dawn. It could be as simple as peeking in the windows or as bold as kidnapping the bride or groom. Perhaps this is why honeymoons became popular, getting far away was the only way to find peace on the couple's first night as man and wife.
The groom had another strange tradition as well. When the couple was ready to seal their union, the groom might crouch on the floor and leap into bed imitating a salmon. This "salmon leap" was symbolic of a salmon swimming up stream to spawn. Hopefully the new couple had a strong enough bed for this strange play.
Cultural theme weddings are a popular trend for modern couples, bringing charm and uniqueness to an already special occasion. But, in regards to the Celtic theme wedding, time has proven itself an able filter of tradition, leaving some of the more humorous and messy traditions in the past where they belong.
Copyright Andrea Britt, 2005
Andrea Britt is owner of CharmingWeddings.com where you can find elegant, unique wedding favors and bridal shower favors for your wedding reception and bridal shower.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:51:03 GMT On the trail to the White House - Fort Worth Star Telegram
Fort Worth Star Telegram - Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic presidential nominee, at a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday. AP/ALEX BRANDON Today’s headlines Report stings Palin over troopergate flap; Raw anger showing up in McCain crowds, candidate taking steps to minimize it; ... McCain Asks Supporters to Show Obama Respect Obama Thanks McCain for Urging Supporters to be Respectful Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:17:46 GMT Van driver's work in Mass. aided Nobel winners - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—When two American scientists won a Nobel Prize this week in chemistry, the driver of a car dealership's courtesy van had reason to take special interest. Video: Nobel Chemistry Prize Goes for Jellyfish Protein  Comment by Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., Director National Institute of General Medical SciencesPubl.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:14:18 GMT Theatrical Review of Body of Lies - DVDTOWN.com DVDTOWN.com - By Jason P. Vargo "Body of Lies" is a certain type of movie designed for a certain type of moviegoer. I think the tagline describes the movie perfectly, actually. Body of Lies 'Body of Lies': Desert Norm, By Kurt Loder Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:19:39 GMT McCain supporters face uphill climb in blue Jersey - Newsday
Newsday - By WAYNE PARRY | AP Writer WOODBRIDGE, NJ - Walter Zjawin is trying to help John McCain do what no Republican has done in 20 years: win a presidential general election in New Jersey. Maine now on McCain radar McCain inches closer in Saturday's Gallup Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:04:37 GMT Singer Lisa Marie Presley gives birth to twins - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lisa Marie Presley is a mom again. A publicist says the 40-year-old singer gave birth Tuesday to twin girls, whose names were not released. Lisa Marie Presley delivers twins: report Today's News: Our Take - Lisa Marie Presley Gives Birth to Twin Girls Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:11:28 GMT Five killed in New York fire; 300 acres burn in Napa Valley - Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman - NEW YORK - A family of five, including three children, died in a blaze that filled an apartment with thick smoke and kept the victims from escaping through the front door, fire officials said. Napa County wildfire forces evacuations of over 100 homes Fire Threatens Napa Valley Homes and Wineries Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:27:05 GMT Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors - BusinessWeek BusinessWeek - By JENNIFER LOVEN and MARTIN CRUTSINGER President Bush and financial leaders from nations rich and poor pledged Saturday to intensify their efforts to unblock a frozen financial system before it does more damage to an increasingly shaky global economy. Bush Says US Must Take Lead in Solving Crisis (Update3) Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:30:21 GMT Increased Website Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Cruising down the river was always deemed by couples the... Read More Despite all the fashionable theories of marriage, the narratives and... Read More According to the Encarta Dictionary, love is an intense feeling... Read More Let's talk about writing love letters.Not candy coated pap. Not... Read More Computer printed labels are a time-saver, but they make the... Read More Your wedding vows are the words that will forever remain... Read More In times gone by it wasn't uncommon for young couples... Read More If you're like most people, you probably entered into marriage... Read More Marriage counseling is an investment of money, time, and energy... Read More There are two major events that you have to plan... Read More Everybody who has decided to marry wants their day to... Read More As mens wedding rings become more and more popular mens... Read More Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many... Read More The invitation is the first impression of the type of... Read More Monograms are a huge trend in weddings, to the point... Read More One of the most joyous occasions in life is a... Read More The elegant beauty of a strand of pearls... Read More Why does Co-dependence arise? Well because two or more individuals... Read More In the last article, we concluded by saying that keeping... Read More Have you ever wondered why your marriage isn't happier? If... Read More With so many ways to ask your closest friends and... Read More If you've been around long enough, you're aware of the... Read More If you are planning to have a full wedding that... Read More Weddings are momentous occasions to all people involved; especially the... Read More You hear them at champagne-flowing parties. You hear them in... Read More
Adsense
websites
Honeymooning on the Waves
Family Cycle (I) - Euphoric and Dysphoric Cycles in Marriage
Love
How to Write a Love Letter
Wedding Invitation Labels and Envelopes
Writing Your Own Wedding Vows
A Wedding For All Seasons
Marriage Advice: Seven Marriage Myths You Can?t Afford to Ignore
Marriage Counseling: How to Get the Most Value for Your Time and Money
Chicago Wedding Receptions
Wedding Centerpiece Ideas
Mens Moissanite Wedding Rings, or Is Moissanite a Mans Best Friend?
5 Tips To Select The Best Wedding Reception Location
Proper Etiquette for the Wedding Invitation
The Monogram Theme Wedding
Top 5 Reasons for Hiring a Wedding Planner
How to Choose a Pearl Necklace for Your Wedding Day
Ending Co-Dependence
Business Partners & Marital Partners Will The Marriage Survive - Part II
Ten Beliefs That Can Contribute to an Unhappy Marriage
Send Flowers and Liberate Your Bridal Party From the Shackles Of Monogram Hell
Subtle Danger Signals on the Domestic Front
Getting Great Deals on the Wedding Clothes
Saving Money on Photography for Your Wedding
?ello? ?ello? ?ello? Is that the Wedding, then?
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Top 10 Wedding Decoration Budget Tips
When it comes to choosing your wedding decorations, you must... Read More
Meaningful Wedding Gift Ideas
A wedding is one of the most special days planned... Read More
Minor But Important Duties For Your Wedding Party, Bridesmaids, and Groomsmen
Your wedding party is a major factor in the success... Read More
How To Tell An Extraordinary Wedding Disc Jockey From Someone Who Could Ruin Your Reception
You have your band (around your finger), now it's time... Read More
Men?s Wedding Rings - Should a Man Wear One or Not?
Strange as it may seem the use of a wedding... Read More
A Call for International Marriage Laws
I recently watched a CNN programme which centred on "kidnapped... Read More
How to Have a Dream Wedding on a Budget
No one wants to pay more than they have to... Read More
Marriage Counseling Tips: What to Do When Your Spouse Wont Talk
How to get a spouse's attention so that he or... Read More
Keeping A Marriage Romantic
My belief is that most relationship problems should be given... Read More
Chocolate Wedding Favors
Providing chocolate as a wedding favor has been a time... Read More
Women and Marital Issues According to Internet
Following is a list of question that, I believe, can... Read More
The Pros & Cons of Beach Weddings
Beach weddings are popular but they do present "special issues".Failing... Read More
Writing Wedding Vows ? Ideas That Will Help You Express What You Truly Feel
More and more, couples are choosing to write their own... Read More
Help is Here for Your Wedding Ceremony
When it comes to your wedding services, nobody wants to... Read More
Diamond Wedding Rings ? The Things to Look For
There is a huge array of diamond wedding rings available... Read More
The Bridezilla Syndrome: Do You Have It? Ten Ways to Avoid All the BS!
In a fast-paced world of wedding planning, stress levels are... Read More
How to Find the Right Bridesmaid Dresses for Your Wedding
The kind of bridesmaid dresses your bridal attendants should should... Read More
Love Connections - How Wonderful They Are
I've been noticing a few things lately that a few... Read More
Weddings - Who Pays For What?
Of course, times have changed and there are occasions where... Read More
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
When people think about great love stories, more often than... Read More
Top Wedding Fitness Questions (and their answers)
As a Personal Trainer for brides-to-be, I often get asked... Read More
Mexico Honeymoon Vacations
Mexico, a country rich in arts and ancient cultures and... Read More
Let Them Eat Cake -- Just Not at Your Wedding
It's a fact, however odd it seems, that some brides... Read More
Balance - Wedding Budget Blues
Let's think about what goes into your wedding budget. Your... Read More
Wedding Favors
Your Wedding Favors are a little bit of your wedding... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |