Handfasting

The symbolic ritual of handfasting, a deeply personal act, is performed at a wedding ceremony. The couple’s hands are bound together with string or ribbon, symbolizing their unwavering commitment to each other. As they wrap their hands around each other, they express their love and devotion. The ceremony is often accompanied by music, poetry, or heartfelt words, adding to the emotional depth of the moment.

This marriage custom is thought to have Celtic origins and dates back more than 2,000 years. Also referred to as a hand tying or hand binding ceremony, handfasting is regaining popularity in contemporary weddings as a lovely symbolic part of the event.  

The word handfasting comes from the Old Norse word handfesta, which means “strike a bargain by joining hands.” The dictionary defines handfasting as “to engage (someone) to be married.”

Though there isn’t much evidence to support this, handfasting is thought to have originated in pre-Christian times. It gained popularity in the Middle Ages as a symbol of a couple’s engagement or consenting common-law marriage, and it had a solid connection to the natural world. The late 18th century saw its reappearance in style.

It should come as no surprise, considering its lengthy history, that there are numerous variations of the act of tying hands as a symbol of unity. 

Jumping the broom

An ancient wedding custom known as “jumping the broom” involves the couple leaping over a broom during the ceremony. The act can represent the coming together of two families, a fresh start, the erasing of the past, or a respectful tribute to family ancestors. Jumping the broom is becoming a more and more common component of many contemporary wedding rituals for all of these reasons. 

There are a few differing theories on the beginnings of the practice, making the history of jumping the broom very complex. Some claim that because brooms were employed to ward off evil spirits.  To be more accurate, the couple would jump over a broom that was thrown on the ground and waved over their heads by family members or neighbours. This originated in West Africa. According to a well-meaning joke, the person who leaped the highest on the broomstick was declared the head of the home when making decisions.

On the other hand, other people assert that it came from Wales. Because the church in Wales did not recognise the union of Roma people, they would have “Besom Weddings,” named after a particular kind of broom. In order to get married during these ceremonies, couples would jump over the broom without touching it; to break their union, they would jump over the broom in the opposite direction after getting married. Certain versions even mention that brooms were set up as a barrier for spouses to clear separately. If the broom dropped or either partner failed to clear it, the marriage was deemed “not meant to be” and the nuptials were called off.

In the African American community, jumping the broom refers to the practice of using brooms to facilitate marriages for slaves during the American Civil War, when such unions were illegal. It’s crucial to remember that there are two explanations for this origin. Since brooms were usually available, it is commonly stated that those who were enslaved chose to jump the broom on their own.

Conversely, some contend that slave owners would compel slaves to wed in this way. Many people made the decision after slavery ended to continue jumping the broom in cases where an officiant was not easily found and to eventually have formal marriages. This was because many who had been slaves in the past felt that leaping the broom years before was sufficient justification, and they did not see the need to get married formally.

In conclusion, the non-secular meaning of this custom is that, in Christian weddings, the straw bristles stand in for the couple’s families, the broom handle represents God, and the ribbon that encircles the broom signifies the couple’s bonds. It is stated in paganism ceremonies that the bristles symbolise feminine energy and the handle of the broom symbolises the male phallus. (Many Thanks to How Stuff Works and UKSOC)

Memory Tree Planting

An eco-friendly method of honouring the memories of the departed is through memorial trees. Generally, it is seen as a lasting symbol of life. A memorial tree is planted in honour of the deceased, providing loved ones with a location to visit and feel a closeness. People frequently scatter ashes at the tree’s location.

You must obtain the owner’s consent before planting a memorial tree on any property, whether it be public or private. This could be the local council, a private owner, or an organisation. It is important to confirm that you are the rightful owner of any ashes you intend to disperse or bury with the tree.
The location of the memorial tree should also be taken into consideration. If it is planted on private property and the landowner sells it to another party, there’s no assurance that the new owner would let your visitation.
There are other regulations that apply if you plan to bury ashes in an urn together with the tree, so you should speak with the authority in your area for clarification.

Unity Sand Ceremony /Candle Ceremony

The visual representation of joining two individuals in marriage through the merging of coloured sands is what makes a sand ceremony beautiful. It could be a unique take on the custom of lighting unity candles.

Including children in sand rituals can also be a lovely way to symbolise the union of two families. Sand ceremonies allow everyone to participate, but candle unity events may have a limit or venue constraints Combining the sands is a great method to represent the union of the two families and a wonderful way to include your loved ones in your special day.