Handfasting Ceremony at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England

This Handfasting ceremony took place at dawn, Summer Solstice, June 21, 2001, at Stonehenge. A Handfasting is a ceremonial commitment between partners and is different from a traditional "wedding" in that it is not meant to be permanent, as such. Typically, the commitment lasts a year and a day, at which time the partnership can be renewed or dissolved, without prejudice. The Summer Solstice is a particularly popular time for these ceremonies, as is Beltain and Lughnasad. All of these festivals are connected with fertility.