What is a Hand Fasting?

Well, I've done it; I am officially a wife in the eyes of the Law and the Universe. As of the 24th of October this year, I am now legally married to my Husband and Hand Fast on the following 26th of that month.

It is now November, Yule and Christmas is etching closer and closer and a sense of nostalgia over comes me as I look back on the Wedding photos. But, I'm also very excited as this will be our first Christmas Celebration together as a Married Couple! So, it's all very lovely this Autumn and coming Winter...

Now, I have some little time to spare to carry on with the blog and telling you hopefully some information that's going to be helpful when it comes to Hand Fasting, now I have done it myself I feel I will be able to do this confidently; as I've gone through the motions not so long ago.

A Hand Fasting can be performed, no matter what faith you have or which religous path you have decided to take. So, you don't need to be Pagan or Humanitarian and so on. In fact, even Christians, Jews and Buddhists can incorporate this into their own religous ceremonies as this type of ritual (not just a wiccan term, also means in or to practise) is more symbolic and personal rather than a dictated type of marriage. It can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you are 'Hand Fast'.

Hand Fasting is the binding of a couples (or sometimes in polyogomy marriages) left hand using a cord or rope, to create a figure of eight, which you can see from above the clasped hands, in order to represent the symbol of Infinity.

As you can see above, the hands are bound with a golden cord, wrapped around to create an 8 figure.

This form of ceremony, originates from the Medieval times, where in British History it has been recorded that when a man or woman wished to take upon a companion, they would seek the leader of their home village or clan and so on and would take with them a witness or two if they so did wish, where they would ask to be observed exchanging simple vows with one another. And within minutes they were declared as 'Legal Companions' like those of Husband and Wife. This would act as a form of verbal contract and could last for various lengths of time; ranging from a year and a day (which, was used as a trial marraige before the real deal!) to 'from death do us part' or even for Eternity, which meant it would last even in the next life (this is the one we chose)

But, get this: A man was able to be hand fast to as many women as he pleased! The first would be classed as his wife, usually for status in that time and the rest would be his 'Mistresses' who would supposingly fill in the gaps, that a wife couldn't do because those things would be seen as inproper and damn right naughty.
However, a woman could not. How very sexist! Not that I agree with the whole having more than one partner to marry. But, that's my opinion and it's each to their own.

A good pointer, is that if you do have Guests who are uncertain about the ceremony and what it actually involves, perhaps pull them aside to explain the whole thing as you seriously don't want to use this as your 'Coming out of the Wicca Closet' method. Also this was something I had to deal with massively when it came to explaining to members of family, why we chose to do a Hand Fasting instead of a Big White Wedding. If you are a Wiccan such as myself, it might be best to keep that to
yourself depending on how open minded the guests you've invited are, when it comes to explaining the scenario, maybe say that you and your partner feel as though it's a much more personal and symbolic way of getting married than the stereotypical White Wedding. Plus, it'll be unique to you as a couple, as it should be! As no couple are the same. And this is why a Hand Fasting ceremony can be so amazing, because it's flexible you'll be able to reflect your couples imagery.

In the end, we added a little History information into our Ceremony programs to help educate those, who we were unable to get to to explain the whole thing: