Ding Dong! The Bells are Gonna Chime!

 

Wedding Mountain View

My younger daughter and her long term boyfriend were married last Saturday, in a small personal ceremony. During this, we all tied thin red strands round each other’s wrists, (very difficult to tie by yourself), to symbolise that you cannot go through life alone, but need the support of your loved one.

Red Red Twine

It made me wonder where the expression “Tying the knot” originated? Here are a few possible answers –

– Literally tying the knots in the ropes used to make the netting for the bridal bed, before mattresses.

– From the old marriage custom of binding the couple’s hands together with rope during the ceremony. This is sometimes still performed by the Reverend wrapping a sash round the couple’s joined hands. (I had this done.)

– When an illiterate sailor or soldier wanted to ask his loved one to marry him, he sent her a piece of rope. If she sent it back with a knot tied in it, the answer was yes.

I like this last one – Suitable for all tongue-tied beau!

 

post script: “Ding Dong! The Bells are Gonna Chime” movie trivia:- Points awarded for knowing the following (without google!) –

The Title of the song, The Musical it appeared in and Who sang it.