| Getting married, or tying the knot, can be exciting | | | | of Normandy, known as the queen of England |
| not only for the bride and groom but for their family | | | | following the Christian wedding rites. However, he has |
| and friends who are looking forward to several | | | | a trial wife, Aelgifu of Northampton, queen of the |
| weeks or months of preparation. But what if tying | | | | northern kingdoms. |
| the knot literally meant just that? Would it still be as | | | | The Telltown marriages in Telltown, Ireland are a |
| exciting? | | | | good historical example of handfasting or trial |
| Unknown the many people, the act of getting | | | | marriage by tying the knot. The trial marriages were |
| married has been called tying the knot because some | | | | celebrated during the yearly festival called |
| people really do tie the knot when they get married. | | | | Lughnasadh, which lasted for a year until the next |
| Tying the knot or handfasting is a wedding ritual | | | | festival. Those who entered the trial marriage are |
| where the bride and groom clasp their hands | | | | free to leave if the marriage doesn't work. |
| together before it is tied up by a ribbon or a cord. | | | | The handfasting ritual is also being practiced by |
| The tying of the knot can be done by the guests or | | | | Neopagans who take their wedding vows and live |
| the wedding officiant. | | | | together as a couple for a day, a year or a lifetime |
| How would you like to have a trial marriage by | | | | depending on the couple's decision. The validity of the |
| handfasting? This was practiced in the rural areas of | | | | handfasting ritual depends on the state where it is |
| Scotland and Ireland where priests are seldom seen. | | | | performed. |
| A couple who wants to get married can tie the knot | | | | It is interesting to note that handfasting (which |
| and get a trial marriage sans a priest. If they want to | | | | imitates a valid wedding) has a counterpart in divorce |
| go through the wedding they can just wait for the | | | | and this is called handparting. |
| priest to visit the area and have a real ceremony. | | | | While handfasting seems to be a pagan ritual, it is the |
| Take the case of King Canute the Great who had | | | | origins of the now commonly used wedding phrase |
| two wives. King Canute married his first wife, Emma | | | | to 'tie the knot'. |