Handfasting is a Neopagan (especially Wiccan) term for a wedding. In some cases, it symbolizes the beginning of trial marriage, typically lasting a year and a day; if the proper measures are taken, it can be a legal marriage ceremony. Handfastings can be performed for heterosexual or homosexual couples (see also Same-sex marriage), as well as for larger groups in the case of polyamorous relationships. Handfasting is related to an old Celtic ceremony, in which the couple's hands are ritualistically tied together, hence th ...

Including:

• Handfasting - Rings and Handfastings
• Handfasting - Tying the Knot
• Handfasting - History

Read more here: » Handfasting: Encyclopedia - Handfasting

HANDFASTING - Wiccan/Pagan marriage ceremony. (TRASB)

(See also: HANDFASTING, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Handfasting

The Wiccan equivalent of a wedding ceremony. It is only legal if performed by a registered clergyman. Handfasting vows are meant to be renewed annually, and thus are a "safer" commitment than marriage unless made legal.

(See also: Handfasting, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Celtic Marriage

This article is not just for those interested in the traditions of Celtic Marriage, it is also a look into the complex body of law that governed the ancient Celts.

For the ancient Celts, marriage was a very different thing than what we conceive of as "marriage" today. For them, marriage or handfasting as some know it was a form of contract that had several purposes. These included the protection of property rights, the care of progeny (children), and the rights of the individuals involved in the relationships themselves.

Read more here: » Ancient Celts: Celtic Marriage

A Celebration of MAY DAY

There are four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year and the modern Witch's calendar as well. The two greatest of these are Halloween (the beginning of winter) and May Day (the beginning of summer). Being opposite each other on the wheel of the year, they separate the year into halves. Halloween (also called Samhain) is the Celtic New Year and is generally considered the more important of the two, though May Day runs a close second. Indeed, in some areas -- notably Wales -- it is considered the great holiday.

Read more here: » May Day: A Celebration of MAY DAY

Beltane is celebrated on May 1st and is one of the original Celtic festivals. Beltane or May Day is also known as the Lover's holiday. Beltane is one of the four Celtic Fire festivals, and is probably the second most important festival next to Samhain. Beltane is primarily a sun festival and was performed during the day. The most important part of Beltane was the kindling of the fires. The Irish Celts would extinguish their fires the night before and would eat a cold meal to insure that all fires were out. Then they would attend the ceremony, returning with an ember to once more start their fires.

Read more here: » Beltane: Beltane - May 1 or May Day

Marriage is a relationship between individuals which has formed the foundation of the family for most societies. Marriage can include legal, social, and religious elements. In western societies, marriage has traditionally been understood as social contract between a man (husband) and a woman (wife), while in other parts of the world polygamy has been the most common form of marriage, usually in the form of polygyny (a man taking several wives) but occasionally in the form of polyandry (a woman taking several husbands). In some western ...

Including:

• Marriage - Definitions
• Marriage - Types of marriages
• Marriage - Western world
• Marriage - Eastern world
• Marriage - Polygamy monogamy and polyandry
• Marriage - Traditional cultures
• Marriage - Marriage today in Belgium The Netherlands Canada Spain
• Marriage - Unique Practices
• Marriage - Recognition
• Marriage - Rights and obligations
• Marriage - Marriage restrictions
• Marriage - Termination
• Marriage - Weddings
• Marriage - Marriage and religion
• Marriage - Marriage and economics
• Marriage - Criticisms of marriage
• Marriage - Pragmatic marriage
• Marriage - Romantic Marriage Vs. Pragmatic Marriage

Read more here: » Marriage: Encyclopedia - Marriage

A wedding is a civil or religious ceremony at which the beginning of a marriage is celebrated. Wedding - Customs. In most societies, a number of wedding traditions or customs have emerged around the wedding ceremony, many of which have lost their original symbolic meaning in the modern world. Other wedding traditions are relatively recent. Some elements of the Western wedding ceremony symbolize the bride's departure from her father's control and entry into a new family with her husband. In mod ...

Including:

• Wedding - Customs
• Wedding - Music
• Wedding - Variants
• Wedding - Events related to weddings
• Wedding - Types of weddings
• Wedding - Wedding traditions
• Wedding - Clothing
• Wedding - Food
• Wedding - Participants
• Wedding - Related travel
• Wedding - Other

Read more here: » Wedding: Encyclopedia - Wedding

Besom brooms are the broom traditionally associated with witches and are traditionally made of twigs tied to a larger pole. As a result, the besom is rounded instead of flat. The bristles can be made of many materials including, but not limited to straw, herbs, or twigs. Supposedly, an upward pointed besom (bristles up), especially over or near a doorway, will help protect the house from evil spirits or negative energies. A besom is one of the tools used in Wicca. A traditional Wiccan besom is an ash stave handle with br ...

Read more here: » Besom broom: Encyclopedia - Besom broom

Alex Sanders (June 6, 1926 - April 30, 1988), born Orrell Alexander Carter, was the founder of the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. Sanders' first contact with Gardenerian Wicca was in the early 1960s, through correspondence and meetings with with Patricia Crowther. In September 1962, he succeeded in convincing the Manchester Evening News to run a front-page article on Wicca. This publicity had several unfortunate side-effects for Sanders, including the loss of his job (due to evidence provided in the article that ...

Read more here: » Alex Sanders Wiccan: Encyclopedia - Alex Sanders Wiccan

In virtually all religions, marriage is a long-term union between two people and is established with ceremonies and rituals. The two people are most commonly a man and a woman, though many societies have permitted polygamous marriages, and same-sex marriage is now acknowledged in some places. Many religions have extensive teachings regarding marriage. Most Christian churches give some form of blessing to a marriage; the wedding ceremony typically includes some sort of pledge by the community to support the couple's relationship. In th ...

Including:

• Religious aspects of marriage - Detailed viewpoints of various religions

Read more here: » Religious aspects of marriage: Encyclopedia - Religious aspects of marriage

Janet Farrar (born Janet Owen on June 24, 1950) is a British teacher and author of books on Wicca and Neopaganism. Along with her two husbands, Stewart Farrar and Gavin Bone, Farrar has published "some of the most influential books on modern Witchcraft to date"[1]. According to George Knowles, "some seventy five percent of Wiccans both in the Republic and North of Ireland can trace their roots back to the Farrar's [sic]"Including:

• Janet Farrar - Life
• Janet Farrar - Bibliography
• Janet Farrar - With Stewart Farrar
• Janet Farrar - With Stewart Farrar and Gavin Bone
• Janet Farrar - With Virginia Russell
• Janet Farrar - With Gavin Bone
• Janet Farrar - Notes and references

Read more here: » Janet Farrar: Encyclopedia - Janet Farrar

Stewart Farrar (June 28, 1916 - February 7, 2000) was a British author of books on Alexandrian Wicca. Along with his wife, Janet Farrar, he was an influential Neopagan author and teacher. According to George Knowles, "some seventy five percent of Wiccans both in the Republic and North of Ireland can trace their roots back to the Farrar's [sic]"[1]. A journalist, scriptwriter, and World War II veteran, Farrar also published a number o ...

Including:

• Stewart Farrar - Early life and career
• Stewart Farrar - Involvement in Wicca
• Stewart Farrar - Bibliography
• Stewart Farrar - With Janet Farrar
• Stewart Farrar - With Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
• Stewart Farrar - Notes and references

Read more here: » Stewart Farrar: Encyclopedia - Stewart Farrar

Wicca is a Neopagan religious movement found in many different countries, though most commonly in English-speaking cultures. Wicca was first publicised in 1954 by a British civil servant named Gerald Gardner after the British Witchcraft Act was repealed. He claimed that the religion, of which he was an initiate, was a modern survival of an old witch cult, which had existed in secret for hundreds of years, originating in the pre-Christian Paganism of Europe. Wicca is thus sometimes referred to as the Old Religion. The veracity o ...

Including:

• Wicca - Definition
• Wicca - History of Wicca
• Wicca - Origins
• Wicca - Later developments
• Wicca - Beliefs and practices
• Wicca - Morality
• Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans
• Wicca - United States
• Wicca - Wiccan traditions
• Wicca - Notes

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia - Wicca

HANDFASTING - Wiccan equivalent of a wedding. It can be made legal if the Priestess and/nor Priest are registered as clergy with the local authorities, or it may only be considered binding within the coven.

(See also: HANDFASTING, Wiccan, Wicca, Witchery, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

HANDFASTING:

1) the Wiccan, Pagan, & Gypsy wedding.

2) can also refer to a solemn betrothal. In some traditions, it is a permanent joining while in others it is only for as long as both partners agree to be joined.

3) This is the Rite of Pagan marriage, traditionally contracted for a specific period of time depending on ones tradition. It is renewed only if both parties agree. In Old Irish the word for handfasting is lanamnas.

4) Within the Druidic traditions this was usually an eternal vow taken with a soul mate.

5) There are 3 basic marriage handfasting: For a year & a day; For a lifetime; and For time & eternity. Unlike a marriage until 'death do you part', a handfasting will stop, if the love stops (usually).

(See also: HANDFASTING, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Handfasting

The Wiccan equivalent of a wedding ceremony. It is only legal if performed by a registered clergyman. Handfasting vows are meant to be renewed annually, and thus are a "safer" commitment than marriage unless made legal.

(See also: Handfasting, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

HANDFASTING: Wiccan equivalent of a wedding. It can be made legal if the Priestess and/or Priest are registered as clergy with the local authorities, or it may only be considered binding within the coven.

(See also: HANDFASTING, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

Handfasting - The joining of two humans in a bond of love before the goddess and god. Yes, they can be made to be a legal marriage, there is no requirement that a marriage be Christian to be legal in the U.S. (separation of church and state).

(See also: Handfasting, Pagan, Wicca Pagan Dictionary)

A Wiccan or Pagan marriage ceremony

(See also: handfasting, Magic, Shamanism, Pagan Dictionary)