Anyone know where the phrase "tying the knot" originated?

Question

I do know, I'm just curious how many others know (without googling)

Answer 1

"Tying the knot" has various sources. One source believes it stems from the betrothal knot. Rather than the now common engagement ring, history shows that most jewelry was in imitation of knotted cords worn by primitive people around fingers, ankles, wrists and other body parts. Additionally, in Persian and Iranian wedding ceremonies the bride and groom would join hands under a curtain separating the two. A piece of cloth would be wrapped around them and tied with a symbolic knot. Finally, a twist of yarn is wrapped around the couple seven times, then around the knot seven times. More current is the Mexican Catholic practice called lazo, in which a cord is draped around the shoulders of the bride and groom. The cord is then bound by a cross to signify the couple being joined by God.

Answer 2

Well, in the novel "The Winter King" by Bernard Cornwell, during the engagement ceremony of Arthur to, um, someone else (not Guinevere), they go through a ceremony where they tie the two arms of the people getting engaged together. Am I right in thinking it comes from that? Something evolved from a pagan handfasting ceremony?

Answer 3

There actually isn't one generally accepted theory for the idiom "tying the knot". There are several explanations ranging from;

(a) the fact that beds were once made with rope and to make yourself a bed for your marriage you had to tie the knot (or several dozen of them).

(b) There are the pagan rituals of tying the wrists to show that they are bound for life although I don't think thats a uniquely pagan thing.

(c) There is the belief that peasants who could not afford a ring would tie a string around the finger (as seen in Braveheart - great movie).

I'm from Ireland and I know that (c) is a factual part of the Irish peasant history.

Answer 4

in the hindu culture the grooms clothes are tied to the brides dress and they walk around a fire

Answer 5

I believe it's Pagan in origin.  'Handfasting' is what it's called if you are Pagan.  A lovely tradition, and very old indeed.

Answer 6

I think it has something to do with a tradition about the bride and groom having their hands tied together with a loop of rope that was knotted by the adjutant as a symbol of their marriage during the ceremony.