Symbolism

The most symbolic part of the ritual itself is the tying of the hands. This fastening of hands is steeped in tradition and magical meaning. In some rituals the hands are tied just for the duration of the ritual, in others they are left tied until the marriage is consummated physically. One traditional way of tying the hands is to have the couple face each other, right hands together and left together to create the symbol for infinity while the cord is tied around their joined hands and knotted. This ancient sign in the form of a figure 8 symbolises the male and female conjunction, the two circles entwined one representing the Sun and the other the Moon. In times past this form of two handed Handfasting was the form that was seen as a legal contract between the couple throughout Europe whether the blessing of the Church was sought or not. However it was still recommended that the bride and groom attended Church as soon as possible after the Handfasting to sign the Register. Some people opted for right hands only being joined, with the cord knotted around the wrist, but for those who had their left hands joined without the tying of a knot it usually meant that the woman was being taken as the Mistress and therefore would not be able to make a claim on the man's fortune when he died - this was left to the real wife, but for the duration of their joining the Mistress would be under the man's protection. The offspring of this union, however, would be recognised as legal heirs second to any children he may have with his legal wife. All other forms of Handfasting (accept the left hand ritual) were seen as legally binding contracts either for engagement or marriage purposes.

Handfastings today still contains much ancient symbolism such as the tying of the hands with cords. The colours of the cords can also be important to each individual couple, as colour has always been linked with symbolism and magic. Below is a list of just a few of the colours and their meanings all of which may be taken into account when a couple is planning their Handfasting:

Red - Signifies: will, passion, strength, fertility, courage, health, vigour, lust, danger, Holiday: Yule, Planet: Mars, Day: Tuesday Astrological: Scorpio
Orange - Signifies: encouragement, adaptability, stimulation, attraction, plenty, kindness. Holiday: Candlemas, Deities: Brigit, Planets: Sun, Mars, Mercury Days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Yellow - Signifies: attraction, charm, confidence, balance, harmony, knowledge, learning, concentration, persuasion, jealousy, joy, comfort, Planet: Mercury, Day: Wednesday, Astrological: Gemini, Leo
Green - Signifies: finances, fertility, luck, success energy, charity, growth, rejuvenation, prosperity, nurturing, beauty, health, ambition, counteract greed and jealousy, plants kingdom including herbal healing, Planets: Venus, Mercury, Days: Friday, Wednesday Holidays: Spring Equinox, Beltane, Astrological: Taurus Deities: Persephone, Hestia
Blue - Signifies: tranquillity, understanding, patience, health, truth, devotion, sincerity, honour, loyalty, peace, wisdom, protection during sleep, astral projection Light Blue: tranquillity, understanding, patience, health Dark Blue: for a safe journey, longevity, strength Planets: Moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter Days: Monday, Friday, Saturday, Thursday Astrological: Libra, Sagittarius
Purple - Signifies: power, piety, sanctity, sentimentality, tension, sadness amplification of other energies. wisdom, high ideals, spiritual protection and healing, psychic ability, protective energy, strength, progress Planet: Jupiter, Day: Thursday Astrological: Sagittarius
Pink - Signifies: unity, honour, truth, romance, happiness, healing, familial or emotional love (rather than sexual), friendship, affections, unselfish emotions, spiritual healing, banishing hatred Gem: rose quartz Planet: Venus, Day: Friday

Another symbol of the joining of the man to the woman is the jumping of the Besom Broom. The broom is symbolic of the sexual union between man and woman - the handle or shaft of the broom represents the phallus whilst the brush is the vagina. In many traditional hand crafted besom brooms it is common to carve an image of a penis in the end that attaches to the brush. Witches and Pagans keep broomsticks as a reminder of mans joining to woman, and of the sacred union of the Goddess and God. The besom broom is used during a Handfasting ritual at the end when the vows have been taken. This is the time when the couple "jump the Broom" and seal their union symbolically. Not only is the besom broom representative of the sexual union but it also symbolises a threshold that the couple are about to cross - one that leads to a new beginning as husband and wife. They jump the besom together, hand in hand to show that they are two parts of a whole, working together towards a bright new future and all it holds. This jumping of the besom becomes a leap of faith so to speak that they take together. Faith in each other to face what life has ahead for them both good and bad. The besom broom is taken home by the couple and hung over the bed or over the front door - bringing fertility and blessings to the relationship and their home.

The besom broom has been associated with weddings for many centuries. It first became popular with the African American population during the time of slavery. Slaves had no rights to marry as the Slaveholders considered them purely as property, so they had no rights under the American law. Marriage rituals were important to the Africans as they had marriage customs from their own cultures, so to be denied this custom was anathema to them and they soon developed new rituals within their "slave" communities using what they had to hand. Taking vows in front of witnesses, much as our Celtic ancestors did, and then jumping over the besom broom for many of the reason we still do today, became a recognised union within their own community. The jumping of the broom is still incorporated in many African American weddings today to honour the slaves from the past and celebrate their cultural heritage.