With St. Patrick's day looming, tomorrow, I wanted to talk about Irish wedding traditions in today's blog. Even Mississippi bride with Irish heritage want to include that in their wedding planning and their wedding day.

HANDFASTING - TYING THE KNOT

Handfasting is an ancient Celtic tradition that involved tying the hands of the betrothed together well in advance of their actual wedding day. It is similar to an engagement, a time when both parties decide if they really wish to commit. In Modern times the tradition occurs on the actual wedding day although in centuries past the ceremony acted as a kind of temporary marriage.

A Pagan Wedding Ceremony Handfasting was actually a legitimate way for people to be married during the Middle Ages and only declined when laws were enforced making the act of marriage much more formal. Ireland was ruled by 'Brehon law' and handfasting was duly recognized as a proper form of marriage.

It is very common for a traditional Claddagh Ring to be used at an Irish wedding, most often by the Groom. The ring is faced outwards prior to the wedding and reversed to face inwards on the hand after the wedding, indicating that the bearer is taken forever! The Claddagh Ring is one of the most widespread symbols of Ireland and is very much associated with marriage and romance.

This tradition is well recorded in Ireland and especially at Teltown in County Meath. The Irish historian John O'Donovan (1806-1861) wrote of the 'Teltown Marriages':

IRISH DANCERS

The sensation that became 'Riverdance' saw a new interest in Irish traditional music sweep the world. The tradition of having Irish dancers attend at a wedding is a relatively recent one though. It has to be remembered that until Catholic emancipation in the nineteenth century and the revival of the Gaelic consciousness at the turn of the twentieth century, expressions of the Catholic religion were severely restricted. Musically, there are a myriad of Irish songs that are associated with Irish weddings including the poignant 'She Moved Through the Fair'.

Infant of Prague

Placing a statue of 'the Infant of Prague' in the garden of the Bride prior to the wedding is supposed to ensure that her big day is blessed by nice weather. Some Brides bury the statue in their garden!

What traditions stem from your heritage? I would love to hear more. Email me at [email protected]