handfast

Handfast is a verb meaning to bind the hands with a cord, ribbon, or other strap. It can also function as a noun, referring to the binding itself or to a betrothal or marriage contract established by such binding. The term comes from Old English handfæst, literally “fastened by the hand.”

Historically, handfasting was practiced in various parts of Europe, notably in Britain and Scotland, as a formal betrothal or temporary marriage. A common arrangement was to bind the couple for a defined period—often a year and a day—with the option to extend into a permanent union through further vows, a church or civil ceremony, or public consent. In some legal contexts, handfasting could be recognized as binding, at least temporarily; in other contexts it was treated as a contract rather than a full marriage.

In modern usage, handfasting has experienced a revival in contemporary pagan and Wiccan communities and is sometimes used to describe a wedding ceremony. In these contexts the binding is symbolized by cords or ribbons joined by the couple or by participants, and vows are exchanged. The duration can be indefinite or limited to a period, depending on the participants’ wishes. Legally, a handfast ceremony is typically not equivalent to civil marriage unless followed by a recognized legal process, and practices vary by jurisdiction.