Celtic Wedding Traditions

Posts Tagged ‘celtic wedding traditions’

Posted on: February 23rd, 2010 by Sine Treanor No Comments

Celtic weddings traditions are rooted in symbolism, religion and nature. While some of the wedding rituals in the Celtic culture cross over into other global traditions, some are also distinctly Celtic. For example, the wearing of kilts by the groom and his party is a uniquely Celtic tradition. The tartan print of customary kilts can be recognized immediately and pays homage to countless of years of native ritual. A tuxedo shirt and jacket can be worn on top, although a simple oxford shirt with a tweed jacket is also acceptable.

For the bride, there are a number of Celtic wedding traditions that can be included before, during and after the ceremony to celebrate cultural heritage. Before the ceremony, the phrase “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a five pence in your shoe” is taken quite literally by many Celtic brides. Another pre-wedding Celtic custom is to tuck a sprig of shamrock in your Irish bridal bouquet or a branch of white heather into a Scottish bouquet for a bit of good luck. Lavender can also be used in both countries. An Irish horseshoe can also be sewn into the wedding gown or tucked into the bouquet for luck.

During the wedding, several rituals can be completed to honor the couple and their union. Casting the “Caim” during a Celtic wedding ceremony involves the couple drawing a circle around themselves as a sign of their commitment to each other and to God. “Hand-fasting” is a similar ritual in which all the wedding guests encircle the couple, binding the bride and groom’s hands with a strip of tartan – the embodiment of the term “tying the knot.”

After the wedding, a Celtic pebble toss honors ancient marriages that always took place at the water’s edge to gain favor with the Celtic gods. Wedding guests are given small stones to cast into the water while making a wish for the couple’s future success. An alternative to this tradition is called the “Irish Grushie.” In this ritual, guests are given a handful of coins to toss as the bride and groom leave the ceremony. This act is thought to bring prosperity and good luck to the couple. View our catalogue of Celtic wedding rings here.

Steven Forsyth

Celtic Wedding Rings: Traditions and Ceremonies

Posted on: November 4th, 2009 by Sine Treanor No Comments

Celtic Traditions and Ceremonies.
There are a number of traditions surrounding Celtic wedding rings. Celtic wedding ceremonies have been quite influential on many of our modern wedding traditions, so even without knowing it, your wedding might be more Celtic than you realize. Of course, by including a few ancient traditions, you can honor the beautiful Celtic heritage even more.

For instance, in Celtic ceremonies it was traditional for the bride to place her groom’s ring in his hand while speaking her wedding vows. Then he would place his ring for her in her hand, and say his vows as well. Celtic wedding rings were also worn on the ring finger of the left hand during this period, because it was believed there was a vein in this finger that flowed directly into the heart, so wearing the ring on this finger was symbolic of love.

The modern tradition of the unity candle also stems from Celtic wedding traditions. After exchanging the rings, the bride and groom each received a lit candle from their respective families. The two then used their candles to light a larger candle at the same time. This larger candle represented the joining not only of the couple (as it is typically viewed in modern unity candle rituals), but of their families or clans as well.

Another Celtic tradition was for the couple to draw a circle around themselves at the start of the ceremony. This ritual was known as Caim, and the circle surrounding the couple represented their relationship with each other and with God.

These ancient wedding traditions had a bigger impact on modern weddings than you might realize. For instance, it is traditional for the bride to stand on the groom’s left during the ceremony. This part of the ceremony came into being because in historical times, it symbolically left the groom’s right arm free to fight off the bride’s family as he took her away with him!

Even the old saying, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe,” stems from old Celtic wedding traditions. Blue was supposed to be a lucky color, and the new item — usually the bride’s handkerchief — was also supposed to bring luck to the couple. The borrowed item represented friendship, and the coin in the bride’s shoe was supposed to bring them financial success.

Celtic wedding ceremonies often started with a reference to the cyclical ebb and flow of life. The circular shape of the rings, and the unending designs found in Celtic jewelry, also symbolized this concept. Therefore by incorporating Celtic rings and customs into your modern wedding ceremony, you are celebrating the ancient roots of this beautiful practice.

Irish Wedding Traditions

Posted on: April 9th, 2008 by Sine Treanor No Comments

Irish wedding traditions are often diverse, historically rooted, and eccentric (at least to the modern western sensibility). Many beautiful and mystic rituals at first blush appear to be rooted in “silly” superstition. But upon a closer inspection, one discovers that many of these rituals are bound up with the deep and proud history of the Celtic people.

A fair share of Irish wedding traditions focus on defining the proper venue and timing of the event. A wedding in April, for example, is considered good luck (as the saying goes – “marry in April if you can, joy for maiden and for man”). A May wedding, on the other hand, is not so lucky, according to tradition. Similarly, it’s good luck if the sun shines on the bride-to-be, bad luck to tie the knot on a Saturday, good luck to celebrate nuptials during a waxing moon, and bad luck if a piece of glassware gets shattered during the day’s celebrations.

Joyful Irish wedding traditions abound. The Irish wedding song is a favorite at many modern weddings in the United States. Irish dancing is also a key component of a traditional ceremony (don’t forget your colorful Celtic garb to ensure authenticity). Tradition also spells out floral customs. Sewing wild flowers in the bride’s hair is a classic custom that dates back centuries. However, the bride can also carry wild flowers, myrtle, and other Irish native flowers (such as “Bells of Ireland”) as a bouquet.

No Irish wedding would be complete without honey wine and soulful rhythmic Celtic music. The Bunratty Meade is a centuries old drink that celebrates virility and spirit. It’s in a sense a “magic potion” designed to inspire the bride’s fertility (ideally the couple should conceive soon after drinking this concoction.) The Meade also serves a symbolic function of protecting the bridegroom and bride from being divided by “magic fairies.”

Consider a few more eccentric but fun Irish wedding traditions. One delicious tradition is the whisky cake – make sure to save your top tier to enjoy at the christening of your first boy or girl. If you’re a bride, and your husband-to-be’s mother smashes a piece of your cake over your head, don’t be offended – this is a traditional gesture in many Irish wedding ceremonies, and it’s intended to connect the bride and her mother-in-law as lifetime companions.

No Irish wedding would be complete without the addition of beautiful jewelry and classic Celtic ornamentation. To explore richly symbolic custom made Irish wedding jewelry – ranging from pendants to tie pins to the Trinity Knot and Claddagh ring, turn to celtic-weddingrings.com. Our custom produced and historically rooted designs can give your cherished day that extra something special. Please browse our site for photographs of our work as well as for ordering information. You’re guaranteed superior craftsmanship and friendly customer service – we hallmark all of our jewelry through the Dublin Assay’s office, and we’re happy to talk to you at length about the meaning of our jewelry pieces and how these pieces are traditionally integrated into Irish wedding ceremonies.

Written by Steven Forsyth of Celtic Rings Ltd

Posts Tagged ‘celtic wedding traditions’