Irish Customs: an Important Part of Everyday Life in Ireland
Irish customs are an important part of everyday living in Ireland and significant life events, such as marriage and remembrance of the dead or lost.
Among the ancient Irish customs related to the union of a bride and groom is that of "handfasting." This ancient Celtic custom is particularly prominent in Ireland and Scotland. While not all Irish couples participate in these Irish customs, some still do and people in the United States who wish to pay homage to their roots still incorporate the custom in some manner.
The ritual of handfasting required brides and grooms to be literally tied together at the wrists. The term, "tying the knot" probably originated with this practice. This custom came along before Christianity, but once Christianity was well established, the tradition continued. This tradition, among the most interesting of Irish customs, was recognized under the ancient Irish law (Brehon). Men and women agreed to stay together for a certain amount of time and at the end of that period of time they could renew their covenants to stay together for another specific period of time or move on to another partner.
Under Brehon Law, marriage was a contract designed to protect the property rights of individuals and their families. The law also sought to protect children born to couples married under the law. Brehon Law spelled out the division of property and the rights to children's inheritance should a couple separate. Irish customs associated with handfasting still survive today.
A Celtic festival known as Lughnasadh, took place on Aug. 1 and was a very popular event in which handfasting took place. These were known as "Teltown marriages" and in many cases people came to the festival in Teltown, county Meath to find out who their long-term partner would be! In some cases the couples returned to the same festival to end their unions. Irish customs were born and survived through and well beyond these ancient gatherings and have seeped into Western culture with migration.
Irish customs can also be found in Irish wakes intended to help close-knit families tell their loved ones goodbye as they are laid to rest and sometimes when they are merely leaving the country.
The Irish wake is an important part of the grieving process. Irish customs called for a wake to last from the time a person died to the time the family moved the body or held a funeral service for the dead individual. Irish customs played an important part of this service and historic services called for women to bathe and dress the body and lay it out on a table in preparation for the funeral. Once the body was prepared, Keening became a part of the process. Keening is similar to wailing.
Historically Irish customs have called for a rosary to be put in the hands of the body and for each visitor to kneel at the side of the body and pray. The wake often includes a party, an important part of many Irish customs, during which the life and passing of an individual was celebrated with wine and other drinks, food and activities. The wake was also incorporated into send-offs when immigrants prepared to leave (most likely to never return) the country.
