Handfasting

Have you ever wondered where the expressions "honeymoon" and "tying the knot" come from, in association with marriage? This practical guide takes you on a historical journey, starting with pre-Christian times. It describes the customs and traditions associated with betrothal, from times and places in the world when our forebears were in tune with the changing seasons and the natural rhythms of the world they lived in. The increasing popularity of handfasting is recognition that the current alternatives of church or civil ceremonies offer little in the way of deeper meaning in our increasingly Pagan times. Mary Neasham offers practical advice on creating your own handfasting ceremony. A very modern way to commit to another person based on the lore and customs of our ancestors.

Mary Neasham lives in a remote part of the Suffolk countryside in England, where she has spent many years studying. She is the author of Handfasting: A Practical Guide and the co-author of Teenage Witch's Book of Shadows.