March 17, 2024
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Or at least, that is the day I am posting this article. All things Irish is the theme. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to share a few Irish wedding traditions and vows.
In ancient Ireland, wedding traditions were born out of religion, superstition, or the wishing of luck or good fortune. Some of these traditions, steeped in superstition, are still followed today, such as wearing a veil and carrying fragrant flowers, initially intended to protect against evil. However, two Irish traditions are no longer followed. One is avoiding having your wedding during the harvest season or on Saturdays. Ironically, Saturdays in September and October are now the most popular months for weddings. Another tradition was to eat salt on your wedding day.
At Irish ceremonies, one might see lucky shamrocks and perhaps tiny horseshoes in the bride’s bouquet or as part of the decor. Irish brides once carried a real horseshoe down the aisle, open side up, so the luck would never run out. Another superstition dictates that the bride must walk down the aisle with a sixpence coin in their right shoe for more good fortune. The sixpence coin is a symbol of prosperity and is believed to bring financial luck to the couple.
It's common for brides of Irish heritage to customize their wedding dresses by adding Celtic symbols like knots, crosses, or shamrocks in white embroidery. They can add Irish lace to their headpieces or veils for an elegant touch. In colder weather, brides may opt for a traditional bridal cloak made from wool or a combination of lightweight wool and Irish linen. This not only adds a touch of tradition but also ensures the bride's comfort and warmth on her special day.
Irish kilt tartans stand for the counties and districts of Ireland, while Scottish kilts represent their clan in their tartan design and color. There is also an Irish national tartan, a symbol of resistance and national pride that gained fame in response to the British Anglicization of the Emerald Isle. In traditional Irish weddings, the groom wears a formal kilt outfit. Typically, the groom wears a Brian Boru jacket, which is named after the Irish warrior king, a white tuxedo shirt with a bow tie, knee socks with ribbons that match the color of their tartan, a Sporran with shamrock detailing, and Ghillie Brogue shoes. It is more common in America for the groom to wear an Irish kilt than in Ireland. Many pipers, Irish musicians, and Irish dancers wear kilts, too.
Irish kilt tartans stand for the counties and districts of Ireland, while Scottish kilts represent their clan in their tartan design and color. There is also an Irish national tartan, a symbol of resistance and national pride that gained fame in response to the British Anglicization of the Emerald Isle. In traditional Irish weddings, the groom wears a formal kilt outfit. Typically, the groom wears a Brian Boru jacket, which is named after the Irish warrior king, a white tuxedo shirt with a bow tie, knee socks with ribbons that match the color of their tartan, a Sporran with shamrock detailing, and Ghillie Brogue shoes. It is more common in America for the groom to wear an Irish kilt than in Ireland. Many pipers, Irish musicians, and Irish dancers wear kilts, too.
Handfasting, a popular symbol of unity at many weddings, is an ancient Celtic tradition that dates back 2,000 years. This rich history, from which we get the term “tying the knot,” adds a deep cultural significance to the practice. Handfasting was an engagement or commitment ritual allowing the couple to live together for a year and a day to see if they were compatible; if they were not, they could merely separate. Today, many opt to have a handfasting ceremony instead of lighting a unity candle or perhaps in place of vows. The officiant places a ribbon or cord around the bride and groom's hands while they say vows of promise and commitment aloud. All four hands are bound together, or the more popular way is to tie only the bride's and groom's right hands together. To read our article on all unity ceremonies, click here.
Irish Wedding rings with clasped hands can be traced back to ancient Roman times. The Irish Claddagh ring, which first appeared in the 18th century in Galway, features two hands holding a heart with a crown above it. The way the Claddagh is worn silently communicates a message to those who know its meaning. When used as an engagement ring, the Claddagh is worn on the left hand, with the bottom of the heart pointing away from the wrist. During the wedding ceremony, the rings are placed on the left-hand ring finger, with the point of the heart facing inward towards the wearer's heart. A remarkably intimate aspect of this tradition is the practice of engraving the inside of the rings with a Gaelic sentiment, adding a personal touch to the symbol of love and commitment.
In many cultures, the ringing of a bell is believed to have the power to keep evil spirits away. In some traditions, bells are also associated with creating a peaceful atmosphere. For instance, the church bells may ring after a wedding ceremony, or guests may be given tiny bells to ring as the newlyweds make their way down the aisle. Additionally, gifting a bell to the newlyweds is a common wedding tradition. You may even see Bells of Ireland flowers included in the bride's bouquet, as they symbolize good luck in the language of flowers.
Irish brides often carry a white linen handkerchief on their wedding day, an old tradition and a lovely way to showcase Irish culture in bridal attire. The handkerchief is embroidered with shamrocks, a symbol of good luck and a significant part of Irish heritage. After the wedding, the handkerchief is sewn into a bonnet as part of the firstborn child's christening outfit in Ireland, carrying the respect for this tradition to the next generation.
An essential part of an Irish wedding reception is the performance of Irish dancers. Irish dancing schools often perform with an Irish band or a Uilleann pipe player. Unlike the Scottish Highland Bagpipes, the Irish Uilleann Pipes, with their unique and intimate sound, create a special atmosphere inside the church. Dressed in kilts and full regalia, they cut a dashing figure at an Irish wedding. The piper, with the melodious sound of the Uilleann Pipes, may play before the ceremony as guests arrive and announce the bride’s arrival at the church just before they lead the processional down the aisle. Having the piper lead the couple out together down the aisle during their recessional is also customary. Another choice is to have a harpist play the Celtic harp, renowned for its lyrical tone and the sound of the haunting Irish music written for it. As the national symbol of Ireland, the Celtic harp is included on everything from Irish government documents to labels on Guinness bottles.
The reception will feature a delightful variety of Irish beverages, including Meade (or mead), the oldest drink in Ireland, made from honey. In medieval times, the bride and groom would toast each other with special goblets full of mead, carrying on with this tradition for a month or one moon cycle, hence the term "honeymoon." Other popular Irish drinks include Irish Mist liqueur, Irish whiskey, cream liqueur, cider, and beer.
An Irish wedding reception typically features multiple toasts and blessings, starting with family members, the wedding party, and friends, before the traditional toasts start. Sláinte!
Irish Wedding blessings or vows, with their long histories and deep, intriguing meanings, offer a fascinating glimpse into Irish culture. Their focus on seasons, elements, and nature, as seen in Irish/Celtic blessings, vows, art, poetry, and songs, adds a layer of curiosity. These traditions, which center around trees, forests, rivers, coastlands, mountains, and valleys, can be equally embraced in religious and non-religious weddings, inviting couples to explore their deeper significance.
Catholicism is the largest religion in Ireland. Many couples still opt for a traditional church wedding, so many Irish wedding vows come from Roman Catholic ceremonies.
The couple then exchange rings.
The couple then recites the following prayer, and the ceremony is complete.
Ancient Celtic Wedding Vows Pre-Catholicism:
The following are some old Irish blessings, usually used during toasts and speeches, but can easily be incorporated into personal vows;
B. As A Light to The Eye, As Joy to The Heart
This is a common Irish blessing bestowed on the couple by the priest before leaving the church:
In Ireland, not only are there traditional vows that couples use, but there are also two choices. Couples have the choice to exchange vows in English or Irish. While saying them in Irish Gaelic gives the ceremony a very traditional and cultural feel, not everyone will be able to understand what the bride and groom are saying!
Most couples, even the gaeilgeoirs (Someone who speaks Irish) among us, will often choose English or a mixture of both. For anyone who wants to try to say their vows in Irish, here is a similar version of the traditional Irish wedding ceremony vows above;
This translates to the 'love each other faithfully, for richer or poorer' section of the ceremony, i.e., the vows proper.
This is the translation of the priest's blessing of the rings: “Lord, bless these rings and let them be a reminder of their love for one another.”
As I conclude my St. Patrick’s Day Post, I want to share a part of my Scottish heritage that is close to my heart. “Everyone is a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day, except the Scottish; we're still Scottish.” This saying always reminds me of my roots, especially with my last name being Anderson. And since we Scots don’t have a big holiday celebrating our traditions, I thought I would share my favorite Scottish Vow. It's a vow that speaks to the sacredness of marriage and the endless nature of love, and it's something I hold dear, whether for civil, religious, or traditional weddings.
Main Image: Photo by Aldo De La Paz on Unsplash
Thumbnail Image: Photo by Enes Beydilli