The Infinity Knot Ritual Symbolizes the Newly Sealed Bond Between Spouses

The Infinity Knot Ritual is based on the ancient Celtic tradition of binding the hands of the spouses, symbolizing the newly sealed bond.

Handfasting is a wedding ritual of ancient Celtic origin, widely used in Ireland and Scotland. During this ritual, the hands of the spouses are bound with one or more ribbons.

In the original rite, the colors of the ribbons represent the elements of nature: air, water, earth, and fire. The binding represents the union of the couple with each other and with nature.

When I incorporate a symbolic ritual into a ceremony, I like to personalize it, always inventing new variations that harmonize with the couple's personality, but leaving the original meaning of the ritual intact. In this case, the union of two people in love.

For example, with Antonio and Rosy, we chose a particular binding that results in the knot forming the shape of the infinity symbol.

The infinity knot is a symbol already used in secular ceremonies, but we personalized it as I explain below.

Their four witnesses each delivered a cord of different colors, wrapping them around the hands of the spouses.

Each color embodies three values, symbolically given by each of the witnesses to the spouses (e.g., white for purity, peace, and trust; green for health, fertility, and hope, etc.), so that these values are present for the future life of the couple and the family that is emerging. All accompanied by an emotional text and engaging music.

Credits: PH: @Filippo Morabito

In the end, I tied the cords in a particular way so that the spouses, simply by sliding their hands and pulling the ends of the cords, formed a knot with the infinity symbol.

"When a man's hand touches the hand of a woman, both touch the heart of eternity." (quote by K. Gibran)

In the photo: Antonio and Rosy