Celtic Traditions

Celtic wedding traditions  are a collection of rituals and symbols that trace back to the customs  of the ancient Celts, whose culture is still celebrated today in  Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and other Celtic areas. These ceremonies honor  the union of two people while embracing the natural world, community,  and ancestry. From handfasting ceremonies to the use of symbolic  elements like knots, fire, and flowers, these traditions provide a  meaningful way to bring ancient Celtic practices into modern weddings.  Exploring these rituals reveals not only the beauty of the ceremonies  but also the enduring legacy of Celtic heritage.

At a Celtic wedding, brides wear  gowns that can range from simple and understated to intricately adorned.  These dresses might be one-piece designs or feature an overdress paired  with a bodice, and they’re crafted from fabrics like silk, cotton,  velvet, or lace. The hallmark of Celtic bridal gowns is their dramatic,  flowing sleeves and ethereal quality. Grooms traditionally wear a kilt  made in the pattern of their clan or regional tartan. This is paired with a dress shirt, vest, tie, jacket, and sporran. One Celtic wedding tradition calls for pinning a sash of the groom’s tartan on his new spouse during the ceremony, symbolizing their inclusion as part of his family.

A traditional Celtic wedding ceremony  can be rich with symbolism and ritual, and couples can choose to  incorporate a variety of elements that honor ancient customs. A  tradition ceremony begins with the consecration of the space, using  items like salt and herbs to purify a circular area for the union to  take place. The couple is then presented to those gathered for the  ceremony. Then, a bard might read a few words reflecting on the meaning  of marriage. This is followed by the couple’s declarations of love and  commitment and an exchange of rings. A highlight of the ceremony is the  handfasting ritual, in which their hands are bound together with cords  to symbolize their bond. A Celtic wedding might also include a passing  of light, in which a lit candle is passed between the couple or through  the circle, symbolizing the sharing of their love. At the conclusion of  the ceremony is a blessing for the couple and the symbolic opening of  the circle, which releases the newly married pair back into the world.

• Celtic Wedding Traditions
• Scottish Wedding Customs
• Ancient Irish Wedding Traditions

“Something old, something new,  something borrowed, something blue” isn’t specifically Celtic, dating  back to 19th-century England, but this famous rhyme has become part of  many Celtic weddings. Brides are supposed to wear or carry all four of  these things on their wedding day for good luck. “Something old”  symbolizes continuity and the importance of family heritage, while  “something new” represents the hope and promise of the couple’s life  together. “Something borrowed” is meant to “borrow” the good luck of the  happily married person who owns the item. And the color blue is  traditionally associated with fidelity. The rhyme is also sometimes  extended with “and a sixpence in her shoe,” meant to bring wealth and good luck to the couple.

• Something Borrowed, Something Blue: The History Behind the Rhyme
• Wedding Traditions Explained: Something Old, Something New

Celtic bridal bouquets are often  deeply symbolic, combining flowers and herbs with special meanings.  Lavender, rosemary, and wildflowers are commonly included for their ties  to love, protection, and blessings, while vibrant greens and natural  elements reflect the Celts’ reverence for nature. Brides might also  include flowers tied to a specific nation of their heritage, like shamrocks for Ireland, thistles for Scotland, or daffodils for Wales.

Celtic weddings are often held near  water, and guests might toss small stones into the water to send their  wishes and blessings to the couple. The ripples symbolize the way these  good wishes will spread and influence their life together, making it a  peaceful and meaningful gesture.

“Grushie” is a Scottish word meaning  “thriving,” and it’s also the name of a tradition at Scottish and Irish  weddings in which a groom tosses coins to the wedding guests for them to collect, symbolizing prosperity and  generosity. It’s a playful and joyful ritual that represents the  couple’s wish to share their good fortune with others.

A horseshoe with the points facing up is a classic symbol of good luck,  and in Irish tradition, it’s believed to ward off negative energy and  bring protection and blessings to the marriage. A bride might carry a  horseshoe in her bouquet or have this symbol sewn into her dress.

In a traditional Irish wedding of a bride and groom, the groom would give the bride a silver coin during the ceremony, intended to be a token of his possessions,  symbolizing that he will share everything that he has with the bride.  The bride would then keep this coin until her oldest son got married,  when she would pass it down to her son to give to his bride.

According to Celtic superstition, the  final stitch in a bride’s wedding dress should be sewn on her wedding  day. This custom is supposed to bring good luck.

Lavender is a common addition to Celtic weddings because of its soothing scent  and symbolic meaning. It represents love, devotion, and serenity, and  it’s often woven into bouquets, wreaths, or decorations for a wedding.

Traditionally, every Celtic couple  should be given at least one bell, which is to be placed in their  marital home. This bell symbolizes harmony in their marriage, and it can  be put to practical use: When the couple has an argument, one spouse  can ring the bell to stop the fight, reminding both of their commitment  to resolve conflicts peacefully and cherish each other.

• The Irish Bell of Truce
• How a Truce Bell Can Make Marriage Easier

The iconic Celtic ritual of handfasting involves tying the couple’s hands together with one or more ribbons or  cords in a symbolic “binding.” Each ribbon or cord might represent a  shared value, such as love, trust, or respect. This may be the origin of the phrase “tying the knot.”

This modern adaptation of Celtic  symbolism involves the couple lighting a single candle from two separate  flames. The unified flame represents the blending of their lives and  families as well as their shared journey moving forward.

A quaich is a traditional Scottish drinking vessel, a shallow cup with two  handles that the couple uses to share a drink during the post-wedding  celebration. This act symbolizes unity and trust.

The claddagh is an iconic Irish  design featuring two hands holding a heart that’s topped with a crown.  It symbolizes friendship, love, and loyalty, making it a popular motif  for wedding or engagement rings or decorations that emphasize the couple’s bond.

• Everything You Need to Know About the Claddagh Ring
• History of the Claddagh Ring

The Celtic cross is a design based on  a cross with a circle around the point where the two lines meet. Often  included in Celtic Christian wedding ceremonies, it represents faith and  unity.

Celtic knots,  with their interwoven patterns and endless loops, represent eternity  and connection. They are often incorporated into wedding decor, jewelry, or ceremony elements to symbolize the infinite bond of love and commitment.

The triquetra,  or trinity knot, is a simpler Celtic knot design made with three arcs  that connect to form a three-pointed shape. It can have a few different  meanings at a wedding,  like past, present, and future; mind, body, and spirit; the vow to  love, honor, and protect your spouse; or the Christian Holy Trinity.

• Bagpipes: Ireland and Scotland each have their own distinct types of pipes with their own unique sounds.
• What the Fugue Are Uilleann Pipes? Learn more about this Irish instrument and how it’s played on this page.
• Folk Music of Other Celtic Regions:  Often overlooked in the realm of Celtic culture are places with Celtic  roots beyond Scotland and Ireland, including Wales, the English county  of Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany in northwestern France, each  of which has its own musical traditions.
• Welsh Folk Songs:  You can listen to a variety of traditional Welsh folk songs on this  page, each presented with the lyrics so you can learn them yourself.
• Traditional Irish Music: Irish music encompasses a variety of styles developed over the centuries.
• Scottish Music: While bagpipes do play a prominent role in traditional Scottish music, there’s much more to it than just pipes.
• Dancing in the Celtic Nations:  Some commonalities exist between Celtic dance styles in different  areas, but each part of the region also has its own unique forms and  traditions.
• The History of Irish Dance: The earliest documented evidence of Irish dance traces back to 1413.

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