Lady_Elaine
Castle Lord
Castle Member
Forest Queen
Mariner's Shield
Posts:
6301
Joined:
May 20, 2006
Status:
Offline
Zodiac:
Sagittarius
Chinese:
Dog
Posted Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:28 am...
AN OLD ENGLISH HANDFASTING RITUAL
(In script format, for a lively performance your guests will enjoy!)
A circle is cast in stone or stake by the Priests and Priestesses participating.
The bride's party gathers in the middle awaiting the groom's party.
The groom's party arrives noisily and try to enter the circle. The keeper or tiler (largest priest, armed with a staff) prevents them from entering. They must leave all arms and blades outside the circle. They grumblingly comply, leaving one in the party to guard their arms. Again they try to enter but the keeper notices one wearing a cross. "The rood must stay out the circle. A cowan may enter in peace, but this is sacred ground." He leaves the rood with the arms.
Again they try to enter but one member of the bride's party asks if they have "geld for the missus." A bag is produced and the bride's party counts out the money to make certain it is sufficient. Only when told to by the bride's party does the keeper stand aside.
The two parties meet and wine is poured for all as a toast to the groom's party for having "come such a far distance." When all have drunk, the two parties form a circle. In the middle stand Bride and Groom and Officiator(s). The priests and priestesses form a smaller circle around them.
Calling the Elements
One Priest(ess) goes to the east and lights a censer of incense:
Come ye sylphs of air and wind,
Bring your airy magics in.
Protect this couple from all harm,
From evils of every form.
Walks deosil around the circle, swinging the censer and chanting:
Come wind and cloud and tempest in,
Round and round the circle spin.
A Priest(ess) goes to the south and lights a candle:
Come salamanders from the flame,
Enter in the goddess' name.
Bring your magic powers here
And guard this pair from every fear.
Walks deosil around the circle, with the candle:
Come fire and magic and changeling power,
Protect us in this mystic hour.
A Priest(ess) goes to the west and picks up the chalice of water:
Come undines from the distant sea,
Join us in the revelry,
A couple wed must needs your charm,
So protect this circle from every harm.
Walks deosil around the circle, sprinkling water on all:
Come water spirits to bring us mirth
And spread your joy upon the earth.
A Priest(ess) goes to the north and picks up the pentacle:
Come gnomes who hill and cave abound,
And join us in our circle round.
Bring us your magic earthy spell
That these young folk may prosper well.
Walks deosil around the circle, sprinkling grain:
Come earthy folk so strong and bold.
Bring wealth and feasting to our fold.
A Priestess takes the athame and holds it to the sky. Others make the sign of the god (hands crossed over the breast).
Come god of field and grove and sky,
Come bring your mighty forces nigh.
Join us now at this joyful feast
And honor us, oh mighty beast.
A Priest takes up the chalice and pours in a bit of salt. He kneels to the earth. Others make the sign of the goddess (arms held out in a crescent.)
Come, Mother of all, and bless this round.
Let perfect peace herein be found.
Let your spirit fill this place,
Hold us all in your embrace.
Priestess stirs the water with the athame:
As the goddess takes the god in spring,
To create food and everything,
So may this circle blessed stay
As the wedding that we do today.
Priest pours some of the water upon the earth:
The circle is closed and time stands still.
We honor now the goddess' will.
Let no one leave or enter now
Without the keeper's leave and vow.
All say "Blessed be."
We are present today to perform a handfasting for Mistress Bride and Master Groom. If any person knows any reason why this couple should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Asks Bride: Have you a witness?
Bride turns to her maid of honor: Will you be my witness?
Maid of honor: That I will.
Asks Groom: Have you a witness?
Groom turns to his Best Man: Will you be my witness?
Best Man: That I will.
Asks Maid of Honor: Know you any impediment to this handfasting? Do you testify upon the earth that Master Groom is of age and is free to wed?
Maid of Honor: I know none. I do.
Asks Best Man: Know you any impediment to this handfasting? Do you testify upon the earth that Mistress Bride is of age and is free to wed?
Best Man: I know none. I do.
Asks Bride: Have you anything to tell this company?
(Bride explains in her own words that it is her will and intent to be handfasted to Groom.)
Asks Groom: Have you anything to tell this company?
(Groom explains in his own words that it is his will and intent to be handfasted to Bride.)
Then, Bride, please repeat after me:
I, Bride, give thee, Groom, my hand. To hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and health, with faith and devotion, til death us do part.
And, Groom, please repeat after me:
I, Groom, give thee, Bride, my hand. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and health, with faith and devotion, til death us do part.
Remember the seriousness of this commitment. This is no Lammas wedding or Midsummer's tryst, but before the company herein assembled, you have sworn a life together before the god and goddess. Please raise and grasp your left hands.
A bundle of long ribbons is placed in their hands. The witnesses first and then all members of the company take a ribbon in hand. With music, they dance around the circle (ladies widdershins and gentlemen deosil) winding the ribbons around the couple's arms.
When the ribbons are all in place,
Do you have the rings? (Witnesses produce the rings.) Place the ring in Groom's right hand. Repeat after me: I give you this ring, in token and pledge, of our love and friendship.
Repeat for Bride.
Therefore. Groom and Bride, having proclaimed your love to one another in the presence of these witnesses and your will and intention to join each other in this handfasting, and with the pleasure and consent of this company, I declare by the power of god and goddess, that you are joined.
Opening of the circle: This circle is now open. Nymphs and salamanders, undines and gnomes, god and goddess. Go now in peace. The circle is open but unbroken. Merry meet and merry part. And merry meet again. Feasting and merry-making all around.
Original Ceremony written by the Rev. Rel Davis
Edited and Used with permission.
(In script format, for a lively performance your guests will enjoy!)
A circle is cast in stone or stake by the Priests and Priestesses participating.
The bride's party gathers in the middle awaiting the groom's party.
The groom's party arrives noisily and try to enter the circle. The keeper or tiler (largest priest, armed with a staff) prevents them from entering. They must leave all arms and blades outside the circle. They grumblingly comply, leaving one in the party to guard their arms. Again they try to enter but the keeper notices one wearing a cross. "The rood must stay out the circle. A cowan may enter in peace, but this is sacred ground." He leaves the rood with the arms.
Again they try to enter but one member of the bride's party asks if they have "geld for the missus." A bag is produced and the bride's party counts out the money to make certain it is sufficient. Only when told to by the bride's party does the keeper stand aside.
The two parties meet and wine is poured for all as a toast to the groom's party for having "come such a far distance." When all have drunk, the two parties form a circle. In the middle stand Bride and Groom and Officiator(s). The priests and priestesses form a smaller circle around them.
Calling the Elements
One Priest(ess) goes to the east and lights a censer of incense:
Come ye sylphs of air and wind,
Bring your airy magics in.
Protect this couple from all harm,
From evils of every form.
Walks deosil around the circle, swinging the censer and chanting:
Come wind and cloud and tempest in,
Round and round the circle spin.
A Priest(ess) goes to the south and lights a candle:
Come salamanders from the flame,
Enter in the goddess' name.
Bring your magic powers here
And guard this pair from every fear.
Walks deosil around the circle, with the candle:
Come fire and magic and changeling power,
Protect us in this mystic hour.
A Priest(ess) goes to the west and picks up the chalice of water:
Come undines from the distant sea,
Join us in the revelry,
A couple wed must needs your charm,
So protect this circle from every harm.
Walks deosil around the circle, sprinkling water on all:
Come water spirits to bring us mirth
And spread your joy upon the earth.
A Priest(ess) goes to the north and picks up the pentacle:
Come gnomes who hill and cave abound,
And join us in our circle round.
Bring us your magic earthy spell
That these young folk may prosper well.
Walks deosil around the circle, sprinkling grain:
Come earthy folk so strong and bold.
Bring wealth and feasting to our fold.
A Priestess takes the athame and holds it to the sky. Others make the sign of the god (hands crossed over the breast).
Come god of field and grove and sky,
Come bring your mighty forces nigh.
Join us now at this joyful feast
And honor us, oh mighty beast.
A Priest takes up the chalice and pours in a bit of salt. He kneels to the earth. Others make the sign of the goddess (arms held out in a crescent.)
Come, Mother of all, and bless this round.
Let perfect peace herein be found.
Let your spirit fill this place,
Hold us all in your embrace.
Priestess stirs the water with the athame:
As the goddess takes the god in spring,
To create food and everything,
So may this circle blessed stay
As the wedding that we do today.
Priest pours some of the water upon the earth:
The circle is closed and time stands still.
We honor now the goddess' will.
Let no one leave or enter now
Without the keeper's leave and vow.
All say "Blessed be."
We are present today to perform a handfasting for Mistress Bride and Master Groom. If any person knows any reason why this couple should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Asks Bride: Have you a witness?
Bride turns to her maid of honor: Will you be my witness?
Maid of honor: That I will.
Asks Groom: Have you a witness?
Groom turns to his Best Man: Will you be my witness?
Best Man: That I will.
Asks Maid of Honor: Know you any impediment to this handfasting? Do you testify upon the earth that Master Groom is of age and is free to wed?
Maid of Honor: I know none. I do.
Asks Best Man: Know you any impediment to this handfasting? Do you testify upon the earth that Mistress Bride is of age and is free to wed?
Best Man: I know none. I do.
Asks Bride: Have you anything to tell this company?
(Bride explains in her own words that it is her will and intent to be handfasted to Groom.)
Asks Groom: Have you anything to tell this company?
(Groom explains in his own words that it is his will and intent to be handfasted to Bride.)
Then, Bride, please repeat after me:
I, Bride, give thee, Groom, my hand. To hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and health, with faith and devotion, til death us do part.
And, Groom, please repeat after me:
I, Groom, give thee, Bride, my hand. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and health, with faith and devotion, til death us do part.
Remember the seriousness of this commitment. This is no Lammas wedding or Midsummer's tryst, but before the company herein assembled, you have sworn a life together before the god and goddess. Please raise and grasp your left hands.
A bundle of long ribbons is placed in their hands. The witnesses first and then all members of the company take a ribbon in hand. With music, they dance around the circle (ladies widdershins and gentlemen deosil) winding the ribbons around the couple's arms.
When the ribbons are all in place,
Do you have the rings? (Witnesses produce the rings.) Place the ring in Groom's right hand. Repeat after me: I give you this ring, in token and pledge, of our love and friendship.
Repeat for Bride.
Therefore. Groom and Bride, having proclaimed your love to one another in the presence of these witnesses and your will and intention to join each other in this handfasting, and with the pleasure and consent of this company, I declare by the power of god and goddess, that you are joined.
Opening of the circle: This circle is now open. Nymphs and salamanders, undines and gnomes, god and goddess. Go now in peace. The circle is open but unbroken. Merry meet and merry part. And merry meet again. Feasting and merry-making all around.
Original Ceremony written by the Rev. Rel Davis
Edited and Used with permission.
If you cant explain it simply, you dont understand it well enough.-- Albert Einstein
Blessings Bright and Dark,
