Autumn Love: Irish tradition of hand-fasting and matchmaking at harvest time
Written by Ciaran Vipond on Sep 05, 2023 | 0 Comments
You may well be familiar with term "summer romance." But in Ireland autumn is truly the time for “falling” - in love that is! Yes love is in the air each autumn in Ireland. Read on to find out how hand fasting and matchmaking are tied to the harvest in Ireland and why Autumn is the season of love.
Photo Credit: Bernie Brown
Falling for Autumn
Traditionally a time of harvest and bounty, it is not hard to see why autumn is a season for love in Ireland. After all the way to most people's hearts is through their stomachs!
A Season for Love
In the time before industrialisation, the harvest and the harvest celebrations that followed would have brought people together in large numbers. And before online dating and swiping right, outside of the harvest festivals or fairs and the odd wedding or funeral, there would have been little opportunity for people to even encounter others their own age, never mind get romantic!
And so Autumn became one of the most important times for our ancestors to meet their match.
Harvest Knots
Prospective couples would often commit to a sort of trial marriage. Lasting a year and a day, these trials and could be ended the following year or made permanent for those who had forged a strong bond, leading to a tradition of autumn marriages and engagements.
Braided straw tokens called 'Harvest Knots' were often exchanged between sweethearts as as a token of love and have links to the tradition of hand-fasting, popular in wedding ceremonies to this day.
Matchmaking
Often these pairings were made with the assistance of an official "matchmaker" - a person tasked with assessing a couples compatibility and sounding out the two families for a favorable alliance. This tradition has all but died out in Ireland today. But it continues on and is in fact thriving in the tiny village of Lisdoonvarna in Co. Clare on the beautiful wild Atlantic coast of Ireland.
"The Lover's Bed," an ancient stone dolmen in the Burren in Co. Clare.
Located just 10 minutes drive from the wild and romantic landscape of the Burren, the month-long festivities of Europe’s largest matchmaking festival, runs each September. It remains the place to be for those looking for fun, friendship and perhaps their perfect match with the festival's invitation to 'meet, match and make a life.'
Dancing at the 1964 matchmaking festival at Lisdoonvarna
The origins of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking festival
The local story goes that the matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna owes its existence to the healing waters of several natural spas in the area. In the 1800’s, people would travel to the town to recuperate after the harvest and “take the waters” which were rich in sulphur and iron and reportedly good for all manner of ailments. This saw the population of the town swell each September and by 1895, over 20,000 visitors were coming annually! This gathering was too good an opportunity to pass up for those looking for love. And so the matchmaker in Lisdoonvarna was kept busy!
Willie Daly, the matchmaker at Lisdoonvarna, and his magic book
Love in Lisdoonvarna today
Matchmaking at the festival is now overseen by Willie Daly, a third generation traditional Irish matchmaker and his daughter who is following in his footsteps. With their "magic book", they are credited with finding love for over 3000 couples so far.
But it is not all down to Willie, his family and the magic book. The scene is set in the town with plenty of music and dancing to the wee hours of the night to help Willie in his work! You can be sure there will be plenty of sweet nothings and perhaps even a few Claddaghs and celtic love knots exchanged in Clare this year.
A token for your Autumn Love
Want to show your love this Autumn and don't fancy your hand at fashioning your own harvest love knot? Our selection of Fine Celtic Jewelry is designed and made in Ireland with Rings, Necklaces, Earrings, and Bracelets to fit every taste. And for those looking to take the next step, we have stunning Celtic engagement and wedding rings. And if you need help choosing get in touch. Send us an email or book a one-on-one appointment with us - we can help you find that perfect piece for your perfect match.
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Ciaran Vipond
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
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