The joining together of a couple through handfasting is a public celebration of their love and commitment to one another.

Handfasting is the Wiccan equivalent of a wedding, and represents a couple's desire to be bonded together and have their love and commitment seen by family, friends and other practitioners of their spirituality. Handfasting may be temporary or permanent: for a year and a day (like an engagement), for life (like a wedding), or for eternity.

Handfasting comes from a Scottish custom, where a couple would have their hands tied together in a simple ceremony; if they were still together a year later, they were accepted as man and wife. This was still practiced into the 19th century.

In the last 50 years it has become traditional to perform handfasting ceremonies at Beltane (Mayday) or at Litha (the Summer Solstice), these being the times when the weather is best and nature is at its most abundant and beautiful.

As with weddings, the exchange of rings in a handfasting ceremony signifies the couple's desire to be faithful to each other and share the rest of their lives.

The design of the rings is entirely up to the couple, some people liking a Celtic design to go with the Scottish origins.

The tying together of the hands symbolizes the union of the couple, and may be the origin of the expression tying the knot' that is used to describe marriage.

The handfasting cord is always red, which represents the passion, vitality and sexual love between the couple; they will keep it as a reminder of their vows.

The congregation gathers in a sacred circle for the handfasting ceremony. Everybody witnesses the tying of the hands and offers their blessings and then the party commences.

1. Casting the circle. Before any Wiccan ceremony is performed, a sacred space is created. This is usually done by casting the circle and calling the elements.

When everyone is gathered in a circle, the officiating priestess will walk around the circle, starting and finishing in the east or north. She will usually mark the boundaries of the circle with a sword or athame (ritual knife).

The elements of air, fire, water and earth, and the presiding deities, are invoked to be present and bless the ceremony.

2. Hand tying. Once the circle has been cast, the bride and groom come forward to stand before the altar and have their hands tied together.

The groom stands on the left and the bride on the right. The groom's right had and the bride's

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