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Tie the knot

Posted by ESC on April 29, 2003

In Reply to: Tie the knot posted by ESC on April 28, 2003

: : While we understand the meaning of to "tie the knot," as in a marriage ceremony, can anyone help with its origin?

: I don't have anything on its origin but I can tell you that it is old.

: TIE THE KNOT - "Marry or get married. It would be interesting to know whether it was a man or woman who first envisioned marriage as a knot. Matthew Prior had heard the expression by 1717, when he wrote (in 'Alma'): 'So to the priest their case they tell: He ties the knot." From The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Ballantine Books, New York, 1985).

Maybe this is a clue.

"In the seventeenth century, one or two of the bride-favours were always blue. These were knots of coloured ribbons loosely stitched on to the wedding gown, which were plucked off by the guests at the wedding feast, and worn as luck-bringers in the young men's hats." From "The Encyclopedia of Supertitions" by E. and M.A. Radford, edited and revised by Christina Hole (Barnes and Noble Books, New York, 1961).

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