Inspiration: a romantic Halloween wedding ceremony
“True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen.”
My Nine Knot design can be made in any colours of your choosing - but this red and black version is perfect for spooky season!
Welcome to another wedding inspiration post! This time I want to provide some ideas for the perfect Halloween or Samhain ceremony.
Samhain (pronounced “sa-whin”) is the Celtic feast day celebrating the traditional pagan New Year and the beginning of winter. As it is partly a festival that honours the dead and departed, many of its traditions were adapted into the Christian celebration of All Hallows Eve (the night before All Hallows Day). And, as you've probably guessed, this meant that they found their way into the popular holiday of Halloween!
In pagan tradition, Samhain is the celebration of the very last fruits of the harvest. Food plays a big role, from offerings made to the dead, to guising and mumming - when children in fancy dress costumes would knock on doors and be given cakes or fruit (a practice that can still be recognised in trick-or-treating). In Samhain celebrations, food represents love and connection.
But Samhain isn't just about the love of the living for the departed - there are many romantic traditions associated with it that you might incorporate into your wedding or handfasting ceremony. As always, my usual disclaimer applies: these traditions are very old, come from multiple sources, and have always changed and transformed with the times. What this means is that there is no linear tradition with strict ‘dos’ and ‘donts’ to adhere to - whatever feels right for you and your beloved goes.
New beginnings
The main emphasis on Samhain is on rebirth and new beginnings. Yes, we’re about to head into the dark half of the year, but that is just the time when seeds are germinating underground and life is readying itself for spring! This is, of course, the perfect moment to join your lives together, and you may want to make this theme of new beginnings the centre of your ceremony. You could do this with one Samhain tradition, which involves writing down either things you want to leave behind or wishes that you hope to manifest, and burning the papers in a pot or cauldron. You could even blend this with the modern tradition of speaking your vows over a Unity candle.
Celebrate the beginning of your life together with my tie-your-own infinity knot Hearts Entwined design, which gives you a memento to cherish forever
Fate and fortune
Many Samhain traditions have an element of fortune telling - especially romantic fortunes! In the past, young women would peel an apple, taking care to do so all in one strip, and fling the peel over their shoulder. The shape of the peel would tell them the first initial of their true love’s name. Similarly, brushing your hair before a mirror whilst eating an apple was said to make the image of your true love appear. Incorporating apples into your centrepieces would be a nice nod to these traditions - especially suited to a rustic wedding setting such as a barn or outdoor venue.
Hazelnuts were also used for divination:
Two groups of “Sweetheart” hazel nuts were placed within the hearth fire; one group was marked with the names of the village’s eligible maidens, and the other with the eligible bachelors. As the nuts popped, the names of the pairs were romantically linked.
A version of this could be a lovely addition to a reception, perhaps as part of a ceilidh dance. Or simply nesting place names amongst an arrangement of hazelnuts would evoke this tradition without too much social pressure!
Red
The Sunset Reds Nine Knot handfasting cord is simple but stunning
The colour red, in its autumnal shades, is strongly associated with Samhain. What could be better for creating a feeling of vibrancy and cosiness as the nights lengthen and the weather cools? Rust and wine colours have become popular for wedding colour schemes, or you might choose a bold scarlet to really stand out.
Vivid red and orange for a warm, cosy feeling. Styled by Ceotha Muirhead at Abercairny House, photographed by Kate Haag Photography
This Nine Knot design in red and orange is perfect for an autumn ceremony
I hope you have found this post helpful. For further reading about Samhain and its traditions, check out these posts at Yvonne Cassidy Weddings and Druidry.org.
If you would like to work with me on designing your own custom handfasting cord, please don’t hesitate to get in touch :)
Love,
Ceo