Getting hitched, the bonds of matrimony, tying the knot: so many marriage idioms speak to the idea of two people being joined together as one. We see knots, ropes, and cords used in marriage ceremonies around the world as a physical demonstration of what it means to be married. Our Twists collection takes this image a step further. After you tie the knot, your lives will become entwined, braided together throughout a lifetime. When you choose a wedding band from the Twists collection, you’ll be reminded of the strength of the love that braids two lives together.
Why Is Marriage Called “Tying the Knot”?
It’s not a metaphor that needs much explanation. In marriage, two lives, two families, two stories are tied together as one. The question is, what came first, the ceremony or the metaphor? Some say the phrase has its origins in either a Celtic or Germanic practice called “handfasting,” in which the hands of the bride and groom were tied together, but there is little direct evidence for this. It’s more likely that “handfasting” referred to a handshake marriage, as the word originally referred to any formal promise. In Medieval Europe, remote villages often didn’t have a priest of their own, so couples would be married by handshake and have an official ceremony when a priest would visit the village.
While the origins of handfasting are disputed, ropes, knots, and the tying together of hands or clothing are rituals that have been performed in marriage ceremonies around the world for centuries. One version of this practice can be found in the wedding ceremony of the Orthodox Church. During the ceremony, the priest ties the right hand of the bride and groom together with a white silk cloth. Then there’s this image from the Codex Mendoza, an Aztec manuscript depicting scenes of daily life in Mexico before European contact, portraying a married couple with their clothes tied together.
While the direct evidence of ancient European practices of handfasting are scarce, the fact that this ceremony is practiced all over the world in various cultures points toward it being an ancient practice. It’s also possible that phrases like “tying the knot” existed as a metaphor in various languages before the actual tying of a knot was incorporated into wedding ceremonies.
No matter its origin, the knot or rope is a powerful symbol of two people becoming one. Go further than incorporating a handfasting ceremony into your wedding. Make knots, braids, and ropes part of your wedding décor, and incorporate the symbolism into your wedding bands with a ring from our Twists collection.
