www.stonehenge-druids.org

Blog20 : Ireland recognises handfasting (23rd Feb 2010)

In our previous post we showed a hand-fasting conducted at Stonehenge. I have conducted many of these rites and can witness that they are beautiful, honouring of the state of union, love and commitment between two people. It is appalling that in the UK we cannot yet make this a legally recognised process and rite, here it remains more or less a Christian monopoly.

 

Not so in Ireland:

 

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Pagan-weddings-now-allowed-in-Ireland-84903247.html

 

“Pagan weddings, in many cases performed by a recognized druid, will now be
allowed in Ireland.”

“Following a five-year campaign the Irish state has now recognized the right
of the Pagan Federation Ireland to perform weddings.”

“Couples will now be able to be legally married after a ceremony that
concludes with jumping over a broomstick to mark crossing over from an old
life to a new one.”

“Pagan weddings are also known as hand-fasting and most recently, the nephew
of Richard Branson got married that way and they have become increasingly
popular.”

“Ray Sweeney, coordinator of Pagan Federation Ireland told the Irish Sunday
Times that there are 40 couples ready to be married now by the old tradition
of binding their hands with ribbons, literally tying the knot.”

“Kate Deegan, a wedding coordinator says she has couples ready to go
including an American pair.”

“When Ray Sweeney informed me that they are now legal, I thought he was
pulling my leg," Deegan said. "A white witch I worked with conducted the
hand-fastings, bringing in the elements of fire, earth, wind, and water. We've
done them on the Cliffs of Moher and further up the coast at Fanore.”

"The couples used to have a civil marriage in a registry office first, but
they often did it on their lunch break because they considered the pagan
blessing more important."

“The tradition of hand fasting goes back to the Celtic pre-christian era.
Currently eight marriage solemnizers or druids are being trained in how to
carry out the wedding. 250,000 people in the last Irish census revealed they
followed no organized religion.”

 

We would like to congratulate the Irish people and the Irish Pagan Federation for putting right this long standing injustice and re-empowering this ancient tradition. English authorities please take note, we expect and require no less from you.

 

Frank