Online Encyclopedia

Search over 40,000 articles from the original, classic Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition.

HANDFASTING (A.S. handfcestnung, pled...

Online Encyclopedia
Originally appearing in Volume V12, Page 915 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
» Make a correction to this article.
» Add information or comments to this article.
Spread the word: del.icio.us del.icio.us it!

See also:

HANDFASTING (A.S. handfcestnung, pledging one's See also:hand) , primarily the O. Eng. synonym for See also:betrothal (q.v.), and later a See also:peculiar See also:form of temporary See also:marriage at one See also:time See also:common in See also:Scotland, the only necessary ceremony being the verbal See also:pledge of the couple while holding hands. The pair thus handfasted were, in accordance with Scotch See also:law, entitled to live together for a See also:year and a See also:day. If then they so wished, the temporary marriage could be made permanent; if not, they could go their several ways without reproach, the See also:child, if any, being supported by the party who objected to further cohabitation.

End of Article: HANDFASTING (A.S. handfcestnung, pledging one's hand)

Additional information and Comments

There are no comments yet for this article.
» Add information or comments to this article.
Please link directly to this article:
Highlight the code below, right click, and select "copy." Then paste it into your website, email, or other HTML.
Site content, images, and layout Copyright © 2006 - Net Industries, worldwide.
Do not copy, download, transfer, or otherwise replicate the site content in whole or in part.

Links to articles and home page are always encouraged.

[back]
HANDEL, GEORGE FREDERICK (1685–1759) 		[next]
HANDICAP

Site © 2006 - Net Industries