Free Public Witch Ritual
on Samhain (Halloween)

Handfasting:

Some say the word derives from Old Norse, "hand-festa," a bargain struck by joining hands; others, that it's a medieval Scottish term denoting a betrothal, or preliminary ceremony wherein families promised a dowry or land or livestock grant prior to a formal marriage service. Or, that the word was mentioned in the old Scottish book Pennant's Tour, but popularized by Sir Walter Scott's novel The Monastery.

Truth is, history shows a long line of hedge-marriages — secret or clandestine marriages performed by a Hedge Priest. Supposedly performed by a poor, illiterate priest, the phenomenon is detailed further in the Wicca Words in the traditional Gardnerian Book of Shadows: Many corrupt or disenchanted clerics defied their uncompromising superiors and performed covert marriages outdoors for a fee. The couple scurried away and sealed the deal by jumping a hedge — in one leap letting Nature bless their union and crossing a boundary into a new life together, while also scorning the Church's sanctimonious pomp that oft, for arbitrary reason, had made them feel like outsiders unworthy of love.

Considering that for centuries, couples faced many marriage restrictions, a hedge marriage or handfasting was a practical recourse. For examples, many were forbidden to wed without royal or familial approval. It was also frowned upon to marry outside one's "station," caste, or faith. And it was just not done to mate with a foreigner, etc. Also, Witches during the Burning Times were forbidden legal sanction. And as depicted in the movie Braveheart, even your birthplace might put marriage beyond arm's length: Some lovers risked an occupying lord taking the bride to bed unless the couple spurned a public ceremony and made other more? crafty arrangements.

No mere handshake, in many countries a handfasting was a trial marriage: If the woman conceived before a year-and-a-day had passed, the union was deemed auspicious, goodly; but if not, or if the pair didn't get along, no harm no foul — both could try again with others in due course.

Many polytheistic Pagans and Wiccans don't want their union sanctified by a monotheist, and are too romantically inclined to settle for a brisk court wedding officiated by a secular judge. They like to "tie the knot" the olde way — with a commemorative ribbon around their wrist, and to "jump the broom" and wish for fertility or abundance in their marriage.

Thus, a handfasting has become a sought-after "adventure wedding" that is personal, exotic, and spiritually endearing.

Some states like North Carolina allow Third degree Witch clergy to officiate legal weddings even if the ritual is completely Pagan in décor, word, and tone.

Lady Passion and *Diuvei legally marry folks, but still prefer to handfast folks for the traditional year-and-a-day time period. E-mail them about their rates at: oldenwilde@oldenwilde.org