Even tho Wicca is recognized as religion in the Canadian forces army and even jails. Our faith we like to call the old religion being pagan, Our Handfastings (weddings) are still not recognized legally as a religious wedding and requires a civil ceremony.
Handfasting is an ancient Celtic ceremony of (temporary or permanent) betrothal or wedding that dates back to pre-Christian times and usually involves the tying or binding of the hands of the bride and groom with a cord or ribbon. It is the origin of the term "tying the knot" in reference to getting married.
Handfastings are still done today but not legal as it would be in a church, we have our own priest/esses to do our celebrations. We do not have churches as our church is the nature but it does not make Wicca a lesser religion.
Please give us our full rights!
Dear governement of Canada, we as Wiccans requests that the Wiccan / Pagan Handfastings becomes offically legal as religious wedding and by so not requiring to do a civil wedding on the side to be legally married.
The name Wicca may be recent, from the 20th century but the faith and practices are from pre-christianism. As what we call the old religion. Handfasting is not only practiced by Wiccans but also by other Pagan based religions, just like druids.
The website http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/ normally shows the list of religions recognized in canada but seems to be off at the moment.
Every Wiccan priest or priestess should have the right to celebrate a religious wedding, without having to send a request to be celebrant at every single wedding they are asked to take part of.
May you consider our request,
Blessed be
Natacha Lalande from Quebec Canada
