A handfasting ceremony is a pagan ritual that dates back to ancient times. It is a symbolic way of uniting two individuals in marriage or commitment. The word "handfasting" comes from the Old Norse language, where "hand" refers to the act of joining hands, and "fast" means to make a promise or a pledge. In a handfasting ceremony, the couple's hands are bound together with ribbon or cord, symbolizing the joining of their lives and their commitment to each other. This act is often accompanied by vows or promises that the couple exchange, expressing their love and dedication. The origins of handfasting can be traced back to pre-Christian paganism, where it was a common practice among Celtic tribes.
Ages: 7-11
Call number: JChapter Pilke.D
About the book When George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. This effect also underlies the sad case of facilitated communication , a fad whereby carers believed they could help severely disabled children communicate by guiding their fingers around a keyboard.
The origins of handfasting can be traced back to pre-Christian paganism, where it was a common practice among Celtic tribes. It was a way for couples to publicly declare their intentions and bond in the presence of their community and deities. Handfasting was often celebrated during the summer solstice, a time associated with fertility and new beginnings.
Shhhh! These Kid’s Books Have Been Banned (or Challenged)
About the book: Callie rides an emotional roller coaster while serving on the stage crew for a middle school production of Moon over Mississippi as various relationships start and end, and others never quite get going.
About the ban: This book has been banned several times in Texas schools and libraries for its inclusion of LGBTQIA+ content and concerns that it goes against “family values/morals.”
Ages: 7-12
Call number: JGraphic Telge.R
Title: Worm Loves Worm
By: J.J Austrian
Published: 2014
About the book: Two worms in love decide to get married, and with help from Cricket, Beetle, Spider, and the Bees they have everything they need and more, but which one will be the bride and which the groom?
About the ban: This book has been challenged for LGBTQIA+ content.
Ages: 4-8
Call number: JPicture Austr.J
Title: The Adventures of Captain Underpants (series)
By: Dav Pilkey
Published: 1997
About the book: When George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, where they must defeat his evil robot henchmen.
About the ban: The series overall was challenged for encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for featuring a same-sex married couple.
Ages: 7-11
Call number: JChapter Pilke.D
Title: The Watsons go to Burmingham
By: Christopher Paul Curtis
Published: 1995
About the book: The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.
About the ban: This book has been challenged for "inappropriate language and violence."
Ages: 11 and up
Call number: J Curti.C
Title: This Day in June
By: Gayle Pitman
Published: 2014
About the book: A picture book illustrating a Pride parade. The endmatter serves as a primer on LGBT history and culture and explains the references made in the story.
About the ban: This book has been challenged for its inclusion of LGBTQIA+ content. In 2019, a local religious activist checked out four copies of the book from the Orange City Public Library and burned them live over Facebook. However, not only did people send in donations to help replace the books, a GoFundMe and several Facebook fundraisers were set up, raising thousands of dollars to replace damaged materials.
Ages: 4-8
Call number: JPicture Pitma.G
Title: Melissa
By: Alex Gino
Published: 2015
About the book: When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. Melissa thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. Melissa really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
About the ban: This book has been challenged, restricted and banned for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community.” In 2017, author, Alex Gino even raised money to purchase copies of the book when administration for Wichita, Kansas school district restricted school librarians from using system funds to purchase the book.
Ages: 8-12
Call number: J Gino.A
Title: Prince & Knight
By: Daniel Haack
Published: 2018
About the book: A prince and a knight in shining armor find true love in each other's embrace after fighting a dragon together.
About the ban: This book was challenged and restricted for featuring a gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content.
Ages: 4-8
Call number: JPicture Haack.D
Title: Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
By: Mildred D. Taylor
Published: 1976
About the book: A black family living in Mississippi during the Depression of the 1930s is faced with prejudice and discrimination which its children do not understand.
About the ban: This book has been banned and challenged to be removed from many school libraries for its "harsh depictions of racism and its use of racial slurs."
Ages: 11 and up
Call number: J Taylo.M
Title: The Lorax
By: Dr. Seuss
Published: 1971
About the book: The Once-ler describes the results of the local pollution problem.
About the ban: In 1989, a parent who owned a logging company tried to have the Dr. Seuss book The Lorax banned from the Laytonville Elementary School reading list on grounds that it was “anti-logging."
Ages: 4-8
Call number: JPicture Seuss.D
Title: The Giving Tree
By: Shel Silverstein
Published: 1964
About the book: A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.
About the ban: In 1988, the book was banned from a Colorado public library, who argued that the book was sexist.
Ages: 6-8
Call number: JPicture Silve.S
Title: Something Happened in our Town: A Child's Story about Racial Injustice
By: Jessica Herthel
Published: 2014
About the book: After discussing the police shooting of a local Black man with their families, Emma and Josh know how to treat a new student who looks and speaks differently than his classmates. It It includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers that provides general guidance about addressing racism with children, child-friendly vocabulary definitions, conversation guides, and a link to additional online resources for parents and teachers.
About the ban: This book was challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views
Ages: 4-8
Call number: JPicture Celan.M (Children's Parenting)
Title: Walter the Farting Dog: Banned from the Beach
By: William Kotzwinkle
Published: 2007
About the Book: Although confined to a hotel room after his flatuence offends the patrons of a beach resort, Walter the farting dog makes an explosive sea rescue to save little Billy and Betty.
About the Ban: This book was challenged for ‘using the words “fart” and farting” twenty-four times’
Ages: 4-8
JPicture Kotzw.W
Title: I Am Jazz
By: Jessica Herthel
Published: 2018
About the book: This book is the true-life story of Jazz Jennings, a child who, in her own words, was born with “a girl’s brain and a boy’s body" and follows the gradual acceptance by Jazz’s parents and teachers of her transgender reality.
About the ban: This book was banned, restricted, or challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for a transgender character, and for confronting a topic that is 'sensitive, controversial, and politically charged.'
Ages: 5-11
Call number: xBiog Jenni.J Herth.J
Title: A Wrinkle in Time
By: Madeleine L'engle
Published: 1962
About the book: Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.
About the ban: This book was challenged to be removed from a Florida elementary school library for “opposing Christian beliefs and teaches occult practices,”
Ages: 10 and up
Call number: J Lengl.M
Title: And Tango Makes Three
By: Justin Richardson
Published: 2005
About the book: At the New York City's Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches.
About the ban: This book was challenged and restricted for including LGBTQIA+ content.
Ages: 4-8
Call number: JPicture Richa.J
Title: Sex is a Funny Word: A Book About Bodies, Feelings and YOU!
By: Cory Silverberg
Published: 2015
About the book: A comic book for kids that includes children and families of all makeups, orientations, and gender identities, Sex Is a Funny Word is an essential resource about bodies, gender, and sexuality for children ages 8 to 10 as well as their parents and caregivers. Much more than the "facts of life" or "the birds and the bees, " Sex Is a Funny Word opens up conversations between young people and their caregivers in a way that allows adults to convey their values and beliefs while providing information about boundaries, safety, and joy.
About the ban: This book was challenged banned, and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content; for discussing gender identity and sex education; and for concerns that the title and illustrations were “inappropriate”
Ages: 8 -10
Call number: x612.6 Silve.C
Title: The Family Book
By: Todd Parr
Published: 2003
About the book: Represents a variety of families, some big and some small, some with only one parent and some with two moms or dads, some quiet and some noisy, but all alike in some ways and special no matter what.
About the ban: This book was banned from an Illinois school district because of a reference to same-sex parents.
Ages: 3-5
Call number: JPicture Parr.T
Title: A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
By: Marlon Bundo
Published: 2018
About the book: Meet Marlon Bundo, a lonely bunny who lives at the Naval Observatory with his Grampa, the Vice President of the United States. But on this Very Special Day, Marlon's life is about to change forever.
About the ban: This book was challenged and vandalized for LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints,
Ages: 4-9
Call number: JPicture Bundo.M
Title: Harry Potter (series)
By: J.K Rowling
Published: 1998
About the book: Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
About the ban: This book was banned banned and forbidden from discussion for referring to magic and witchcraft, for containing actual cursed and spells, and for characters that use “nefarious means” to attain goals.
Ages: 9-12
Call number: J Rowli.J
Title: Hop on Pop
By: Dr. Seuss
Published: 1991
About the book: Pairs of rhyming words are introduced and used in simple sentences, such as "Day. Play. We play all day. Night. Fight. We fight all night."
About the ban: In 2014 formal complaint was sent to Toronto Public Library claiming that the book “encourages children to use violence against their fathers” by hopping on them.
Ages: 3-8
Call number: JBegin Seuss.D
Title: The Stupids Step Out
By: Harry Allard
Published: 1972
About the book: The Stupid family and their dog Kitty have a fun-filled day doing ridiculous things.
About the ban: This book was challenged for reinforcing negative behavior, promoting low self-esteem, encouraging disrespect for authority, use of the word "stupid."
Ages: 4-7
Call number: JPicture Allar.H
Title: Jacob's New Dress
By: Sarah Hoffman
Published: 2014
About the book: Jacob, who likes to wear dresses at home, convinces his parents to let him wear a dress to school, too.
About the ban: This book was banned from a North Carolina school district on the grounds it was “a tool of indoctrination to normalize transgender behavior.”
Ages: 4-7
Call number: JPicture Allar.H
Title: Harriet the Spy
By: Louise Fitzhugh
Published: 1964
About the book: Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. She's staked out a spy route, and she writes down everything about everyone she sees -- including her classmates and her best friends -- in her notebook. Then Harriet loses track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before Harriet can stop them, her friends have read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she's written about each of them. Will Harriet find a way to put her life and her friendships back together?
About the ban: In1983, the book was challenged during a school board meeting in Xenia, Ohio, where some argued the book encouraged bad behavior.
Ages: 8-12
Call number: J Fitzh.L
Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.
About the ban: This book was challenged and restricted for featuring a gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content.
Today, handfasting ceremonies are still performed by pagan communities and individuals who wish to incorporate ancient traditions into their weddings. However, handfasting has also gained popularity among non-pagans who are drawn to its symbolism and unique way of uniting two people. The ceremony typically begins with an opening statement or blessing, followed by the binding of the couple's hands. This is often done by a chosen officiant or by the couple themselves. The couple may choose to have specific colors or types of cords or ribbons that hold significance to them. After the binding, the couple may exchange their vows or make promises to each other. These vows can be traditional, personal, or a combination of both. The couple may also choose to include other rituals or traditions into their handfasting ceremony, such as the sharing of a drink or the lighting of a unity candle. At the end of the ceremony, the couple's hands are unbound, symbolizing their free will and choice to be together. They are then pronounced as married or committed, and the celebration continues with the gathering of friends and family. Handfasting ceremonies offer a meaningful and personal way to celebrate love and commitment. They provide an opportunity for couples to honor ancient traditions and incorporate their own beliefs and values into their special day. Whether pagan or not, handfasting can be a beautiful and memorable way to begin a lifelong journey together..
Reviews for "Traditional vs. Contemporary Pagan Handfasting Ceremonies: A Comparison"
1. Emma - ★☆☆☆☆
I attended the Pagan handfasting ceremony with high hopes, but unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed. The whole experience felt like a poorly executed amateur performance. The rituals lacked authenticity and depth, making it difficult to connect with the supposed spiritual significance. Furthermore, the event seemed more focused on the aesthetic appeal rather than genuine spiritual connections. I left feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed by the entire ceremony.
2. John - ★★☆☆☆
As someone who is genuinely interested in exploring different spiritual practices, I was excited to attend the Pagan handfasting ceremony. However, the event fell short of my expectations. The lack of structure and organization made it difficult to follow along, let alone understand the meaning behind each ritual. Additionally, the ceremony felt more like a theatrical performance than an actual spiritual gathering. It lacked the sense of authenticity and connection that I was hoping for. Overall, it was a disappointing experience that left me questioning the true purpose of the ceremony.
3. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
Attending the Pagan handfasting ceremony was a complete waste of time. The entire event seemed disorganized, with no clear direction or purpose. The rituals felt forced and lacked any genuine spiritual significance. It was evident that the people leading the ceremony had little knowledge or understanding of Pagan practices. I wouldn't recommend this event to anyone looking for an authentic and meaningful experience. Save your time and look for a different event that will actually fulfill your spiritual needs.