Knots are a common theme in jewelry design and you might be wondering what’s the story behind it. The symbolism behind the act of tying a knot is one of binding. Thus it is no surprise that it became a metaphor for one’s commitment towards love in different cultures. These knots have many names including lover’s knot, love knot, true love’s knot, etc.

Tying The Knot

When people get married, we say that they are tying the knot. And there’s actually a meaningful story behind this saying, a very old one too! It likely dates back to several old traditions including a church tradition where a couple’s hands are tied together with a fabric as part of their wedding ceremony. Like their hands bound together by a knot, so are they bound together in marriage.

From Norse and Celtic to Hindi marriage rituals, binding husband and wife physically together is a symbolic gesture which signify the union of two lovers. While in Norse and Celtic rituals, the hands of both lovers are bind together with a rope or dyed cloth, in Hindi weddings, the groom’s scarf is tied together with the bride’s garment.

While we do not know the exact origin behind the phrase “tying the knot”, it is very possible that one of the rituals above inspired it.

Knots themselves, which symbolize unbreakable pledges in the folklore of many cultures, were also used in many marriage rituals. For example, a Celtic knot is used to propose marriage. Similar to an engagement ring in modern times, the knot is accepted if the woman accepts the marriage proposal. A knot tied using gold wire was also believed to be used by sailors at sea as a form of wedding ring.

The marriage knot is also known as the knot of Hercules, as he was considered the guardian of wedded life. As part of Roman wedding rituals,  it was tied around the bride’s wedding dress and only the groom could untie the knot.

Knots & Love

The lover’s knot or love knot has a long history of being a symbol of love. It represents the unbreakable bond and eternal connection between two lovers.

The association of knots with love has appeared in many different cultures since ancient times. These include ancient Greek jewellery, Egyptian sculptures, and Celtic knots . Meanwhile in ancient Arabia, lovers used love knots to send messages to each other.

The Celtic knots consist of unbroken loops with no beginning and end, symbolizing eternity like the love between a married couple. Yet another folklore tells of lovers tying a love knot on a small limb of a tree. If the knot holds for a year, it means that their love will last.

In modern times, we now have numerous jewelry that are inspired by the love knot. They are meaningful gifts that expresses your love and commitment towards your significant other. And are perfect for Valentines’ Day, anniversaries, Christmas and more. They come with a great story too!

True Love’s Knot by Sara Verdier comprises of two distinct interwoven lines to symbolize the love between two lovers, like arms interlocked together never separating. While the space between the knot symbolizes the lovers moving each other forward but nevertheless remain inseparable.

If you want to learn more about other symbols of love, head over to this article.