Outlander: Blood of My Blood - Was handfasting a real Celtic tradition? Meaning behind Ellen and Brian's marriage, explored

The electrifying atmosphere at the Beltane festival took over Jamie's parents in Starz's Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 5, and they ended up taking a huge step, which bonded them in a holy union.

The episode titled Needfire saw Ellen meeting with Brian in secret, following which he handfasted them into marriage, and the couple consummated their love in a 'ruined' church. According to Celtic traditions, Brian and Ellen now have a year and a day to either make their marriage legal or formally part ways forever.

For curious fans wondering if Brian's handfasting ritual actually held any value in 18th-century Scotland, the answer is yes. Handfasting marriage is a real Celtic and Scottish practice, used to unofficially bind two young people in marriage, to avoid scandal or sin. According to early Pagan customs and traditions, handfasting was a trial marriage, which pledged a couple's loyalty and love for one another.

As seen in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 5, couples' hands were tied by a holy ribbon or cloth. Handfasting is still practiced in many Scottish and Pagan weddings, after the main ceremony.

More on Ellen and Brian's marriage in Outlander: Blood of My Blood in our story.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood - Exploring the history and meaning behind handfasting

Jamie and Claire's iconic wedding in a beautiful church (from the parent series) was a monumental moment for fans of Diana Gabaldon's universe. While the marriage was more of a convenience for Claire, who was trying to escape the brutal clutches of Black Jack Randall (by changing her status from an Englishwoman to a Scot), it eventually developed into one of the most beautiful bonds on television.

Walking in its predecessor's footsteps, we finally witnessed the first on-screen wedding in Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the handfasting between Brian and Ellen in Episode 5. It was heartwarming to see traces of Jamie's chivalry in his father when Brian suggested handfasting the couple before consummating their love. But was handfasting actually practiced in 18th-century Scotland, or was it just a creative ruse to give us the 'Ruin me' segment in Episode 5?

Handfasting is an actual Celtic tradition that dates back to 7000 BC, and was even practiced at the beginning of the 20th century. This symbolic tradition was especially practiced in Germanic, English, Norse, and Scottish cultures, and was a ritual that bonded two people together before the actual and official marriage.

According to early traditions, a couple's right hands were bound together (like Brian and Ellen's in Outlander: Blood of My Blood) with a blessed ribbon or cloth that symbolized their togetherness.

This tradition marked betrothal, unofficial engagement, or an informal living-in period between a couple. After a year and a day, their marriage could be declared official by a priest.

Exploring the different handfasting ceremonies in the Outlander universe

While Brian and Ellen were the first to be handfasted in Outlander: Blood of My Blood, seasoned Outlander fans are accustomed to this tradition from the parent series. Since handfasting became a popular tradition in 18th-century Scotland, it was often included in the main ceremony (like Jamie and Claire's wedding in Outlander Season 1).

Dougal made a small cut on the couple's hands, following which their hands were tied together by a holy cloth. While the prequel series excluded this particular handfasting detail, it was important and symbolised eternal union. The mixing of blood was considered to be a pure ritual that bound two souls together in matrimony and also echoed the theme of the series:

''Blood of my blood and bone of my bone.''

Another iconic handfasting in the parent series, which reminds of Brian and Ellen's from Outlander: Blood of My Blood, was between Roger and Brianna from Season 4.

After Brianna time-traveled to the 18th century to warn her parents about the house fire, Roger followed her suit. The couple finally resolved their differences and Roger handfasted them together before consummating their love. The yearning between Brianna and Roger was quite similar to that between Brian and Ellen in Outlander: Blood of My Blood, and in both cases, handfasting was a medium that allowed the couples to be together without officially marrying.

Additionally, Fergus and Marsali also handfasted themselves in the parent series. Lizzie was also handfasted to both Beardsley twins in the parent series. While Jamie handfasted Lizzie to Kezzie, Roger officiated her handfasting with Joseph, creating an unsual marriage dynamic in Outlander.

While Brian and Ellen are handfasted for now in Outlander: Blood of My Blood, she is still betrothed to Malcolm, which will certainly create problems for the couple. The couple still has a year and a day to officiate their wedding, but it will be exciting to see how their official wedding plays out in the prequel series.

Tune into Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 6 on Starz on September 5, 2025.

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