Historical Perspectives on Handfasting

[Father Bill]

I have been a resident of Scotland for rather a long time!

Your answer is pretty much what I expected. But, that raises another question.

"Why do it?"

Jock, there are many ceremonies and rituals of various sorts that are sometimes appended to a more traditional marriage ceremony. If a licenced officiant is willing to sign the proper paper work, then any of them is legal since the ceremony is irrelevant to the registration.

Some people just like handfasting, sand ceremonies, unity candles and all sorts of things. No accounting for tastes or preferences. Once I sign off, they're married under the law. Religious implications are a whole different issue.

[Jock Scot]

Oh I quite understand what both of you are saying,what I have trouble with is this attachment to a ceremony that appears to be historical mumbo jumbo, dressed up as some as some sort of “must do” part of a marriage.

Please don’t misunderstand me, if that is what it takes for a couple to feel married then far be it for me to comment. Personally I got married for all sorts of good reasons, but religion was not one of them. So I do understand.

[tripleblessed]

Up until the second half of the 19th century, clergy was often scarce in parts of the rural South, especially in the mountains. I have come across references to couples doing a
handfasting and setting up household to put a public face on the relationship in case progeny arrived before clergy could be arranged. Especially if westward migration was in
the offing. When connection could be made with clergy, appropriate rites were done and often considered backdated for the benefit of the children, if any had arrived. Also
mentioned on occasion was the jumping of a broom, which served a similar purpose, i.e., a public announcement of intent to keep joint household and start a family.

[Jock Scot]

Up until the second half of the 19th century, clergy was often scarce in parts of the rural South, especially in the mountains. I have come across references to couples doing a
handfasting and setting up household to put a public face on the relationship in case progeny arrived before clergy could be arranged. Especially if westward migration was in
the offing. When connection could be made with clergy, appropriate rites were done and often considered backdated for the benefit of the children, if any had arrived. Also
mentioned on occasion was the jumping of a broom, which served a similar purpose, i.e., a public announcement of intent to keep joint household and start a family.

Aha! A historical context.
I was wondering about this “jumping the broom” thing too. So are we talking more of colonial adaptations to fit the circumstance, rather than a general Scottish procedure?

[tripleblessed]

Aha! A historical context.
I was wondering about this “jumping the broom” thing too. So are we talking more of colonial adaptations to fit the circumstance, rather than a general Scottish procedure?

Not an area of study for me, but passing mentions in what I was reading at times made reference to these practices. I have the impression that these both have roots in both Celtic
and African traditions. Exactly what those roots were and the form they had elsewhere, I am not well informed of enough to be quoted.

[Jock Scot]

Not an area of study for me, but passing mentions in what I was reading at times made reference to these practices. I have the impression that these both have roots in both Celtic
and African traditions. Exactly what those roots were and the form they had elsewhere, I am not well informed of enough to be quoted.

You may be right on these matters, but I have no idea about these things other than passing comments made by others on this website, which I cannot relate to one bit.

[OC Richard]

Some people just like handfasting, sand ceremonies, unity candles and all sorts of things.

And hiring a piper!!

Which I highly recommend