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Tuesday's Internet Edition, January 06, 2009.
Wilton couple renews vows seeped in Celtic tradition
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JoAnn and Ed McGinnis cut their cake with a Celtic sword as part of the traditional theme of their celebration.
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By Fran Soto
River Valley Times Staff
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Many married couples choose to renew their wedding vows, but for Wilton couple Ed and JoAnn McGinnis, their ceremony was also a celebration of the groom's Celtic heritage. Officiating was another Wilton resident, Rich Gunn, who is well versed in Celtic tradition. “Ed knew Rich was president of Clan Gunn and that he had a kilt and knew a bagpiper,” said wife Linda Gunn. “Ed being of Irish decent asked Rich to officiate at their renewal.”
Before 100 family and friends, the couple renewed their vows on Oct. 18. The McGinnis’ three children - Teri, David and Carrie - and five granddaughters - Taylor, Carley, Kylie, Tori and Abby - participated in the ceremony. Darrel Krentz, the groom's best man from his original wedding, arrived from North Carolina to help celebrate.
During the ceremony the guests watched as the Celtic traditions of hand fasting, pinning of the tartan, toasting with the Quaich (or loving cup) and celebrating the Celtic spirit of Anam Cara (soulmate) were incorporated into the ceremony. Chuck Jamison played the bagpipes as guests were ushered into and out of the ceremony.
The tradition of hand fasting symbolizes a temporary marriage ceremony from the Middle Ages when most villages did not have a priest or minister in residence. Couples would perform the hand fasting, which legally bound them until a member of the clergy would pass through the village.
To celebrate the hand fasting, Ed and JoAnn McGinnis' hands were wrapped in a sash of the groom's tartan, which is from County Cork in Ireland, home of his McGinnis ancestors. “This is to show that they are no longer two, but are one,” Linda Gunn said. “Following the ceremony, the hand fasting tartan sash was taken from their arms and draped over JoAnn’s shoulder to signify her acceptance into the McGinnis family.” All the granddaughters wore tartan sashes.
Guests also watched the loving cup ceremony, a tradition from the 15th century when the bride and groom toast one another. The toast is to the past, the present and the future of the two families coming together and ensures happiness and good fortune to all who drink from it.
The loving cup, or Quaich, also symbolizes the celebration of Anam Cara, which is Gaelic for "soulmate." By entering into a continued partnership with Anam Cara, the couple is joined in an ancient and eternal way with the person they most cherish. “Cairdeas, gra’ dilseacht,” Rich Gunn said at the conclusion of the ceremony. This is Gaelic for friendship, love and loyalty to the couple.
The happy couple's first dance was to the Celtic Thunder’s song, ‘The Voyage.” It is a song about a captain and his first mate steering their course over the ocean of life. Toward the end of the song, the captain sings that "now they have their own crew.” At this point, the children and granddaughters got up and the family danced together. “It was beautiful and very touching," Linda Gunn said. "It was a fitting song for this Wilton couple.”
The couple preformed the final tradition as they sliced their wedding cake with a Celtic sword. The guests then enjoyed a buffet of Mexican food served to the tune of "La Cucaracha," the only departure from the Celtic theme of the occasion.
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