What Exactly Does “Tying The Knot” Mean?

I was thinking about this question the other day when I was in a pensive mood. Where does this term originate from geographically, and what types of knots were being tied to finalize marriage? Who does the tying and what did it signify? Of course, as with most things, there are several different cultural meanings that may or may not be related.

After a couple searches on Google, I found that the first place this term was used was in ancient Rome. Brides from this era typically wore plain cotton gowns that would be held up by an intricate and ornately tied knot that was meant to both tease the groom and test his patience on the wedding night. Tying the knot around the wedding gown signified the final act a maiden would perform before her marriage.

A couple miles to the west in the Celtic region, tying newly married couples hands to each other with ribbon was seen as a completion of the wedding contract. During roughly the 15-18th centuries, this practice was known as “handfasting” and officially ended the nuptial process for most marriages in the region. Couples around the world sometimes still engage in this cultural tradition, though the “binding” legal nature of this practice no longer stands. Now we sign a piece of paper.

Where ever you are and no matter what your traditions are, weddings should be a celebration of mutual commitment and love.

Written by Nick

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