Wedding

The Celtic wedding is a ritual with symbolic rather than legal value, marking the union of two people for a trial period of one year and one day. At the end of this period, the couple may either confirm their union permanently or dissolve the bond.

This union is made special by the presence of the elements Water, Air, Earth, and Fire, as well as Mother Earth, who bears witness to the couple's bond. Druids celebrated their rituals not in stone temples but in the heart of forests, near sacred springs, or in clearings surrounded by stone circles where the connection with Mother Earth was complete and perfectly in harmony with the solar nature of the God.

Seven days before the sacred union, the couple goes to a forest or a meadow—whether in the mountains, countryside, or by the sea—where they braid a white cord or ribbon with a red one (representing the Goddess and the God, Feminine and Masculine) as a symbol of their union. In the presence of nature alone, they exchange promises they commit to keeping during the trial period of one year and one day, which will later be confirmed during the ceremony.

During this time, the couple is also expected to make offerings to nature as a token of gratitude for being a witness to this important moment in their union. A simple offering of a halved apple, some bread, or a bit of water to give back to nature and its animals is sufficient.

For the ceremony, the couple is asked to bring a small amount of soil from their respective homelands. A small handful, wrapped separately in two squares of fabric tied with a ribbon or string, will suffice.

During the ritual, the two soils will be combined to symbolize the union of the two individuals.

The couple will also choose a simple stone, which will serve as the repository of their shared history. Once cleansed and purified, the stone will be imprinted with their energy, family memories, and traditions during the ritual, to be passed down through the generations along with the stone itself.

The ceremony will proceed with the purification of the couple using the four elements and the confirmation of the promises made one week earlier.

Finally, the sacred union of hands (handfasting) will take place using the red-and-white braided ribbon, followed by the sharing of mead during the libation ritual.

Confirmation

The Celtic wedding promises foresee a follow-up one year and one day later (ideally), when the couple either confirms their lifelong union or dissolves the promises exchanged during the wedding.

Couples wishing to confirm their union will return to the same location, accompanied by the same officiant, to affirm their vows.

For the confirmation ceremony, the couple must bring:

• The stone consecrated during the wedding as the altar of their union.
• The red-and-white handfasting ribbon.
• Two or more witnesses.
• A symbolic offering to Mother Earth (e.g., a handful of seeds, grains, or legumes—something that can grow in the soil and give life).

The ritual is very simple and includes the purification of the couple and their stone with the four elements, followed by the final confirmation of their vows

Baptism

The Celtic baptism is a rite to welcome new life into the world. In this unique ceremony, parents bring the child into the circle, where a priestess introduces them to the four elements: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The child is then presented to four godparents, one for each element.

Each godparent will give a symbolic object representing their element (e.g., a feather, a candle, a vial of water, or a stone) along with a wish to bestow the qualities of that element (e.g., joy, love, growth, stability).

Finally, one parent lifts the child and introduces them to the world by proclaiming their name aloud.

Location

The ceremonies are held at Montelago by priestesses Alessandra Mac Ajvar and Katia of the Trumusio Clan in the Historical Camp, within the Eowyn and Arwen Tents, a setting that enhances the magical atmosphere of these special moments.

Each ceremony is celebrated with a toast of hippocras crafted in the Historical Camp.

Costs and Reservations

The ceremony costs €60 + Ciaotickets fees.
This amount includes the ritual offering to the priestess and all booking fees.

You can book the ceremony by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

To reserve a ceremony on the Ciaotickets portal, you must:

• Select the date.
• Choose a time slot.
• Select the officiating priestess.
• Once the ceremony is added to your cart, you will be prompted to enter your contact details and specify the type of ceremony. The reservation will be confirmed once payment is completed.

In case of unforeseen events or changes of plans, refunds are not available. However, you may resell your slot via Ciaotickets channels for €4 or communicate a name change directly to cerimonie.mcf@gmail.com (free of charge).

Note: To access the Wedding Tent, all participants in the ceremonies (couples, witnesses—parents, godparents in the case of baptisms—and any other guests) must possess a ticket to the Festival.