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"BJM" wrote 14 May 1999:
As far as I can recall, and I would have to check my
sources, but handfasting was actually invented after Christianity made it
to the Scottish highlands, but before priests were always readily
available. When a couple was to plight their troth, as it were, this was
publicly announced by means of a public ritual in which their hands were
fastened
together (by tying). When the priest came 'round (in circuit-rider fashion), the proposed union was finalized by marriage.
The fact that it's not an "official marriage" meant
that it was ripe to be picked up by any subculture that was
infatuated with Gaelicky stuff and less than infatuated with
"official marriage".
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