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Sharing a phrase - "To Tie the Knot"

(2009-05-15 08:51:01) 下一个
One colleague is getting married and a phrase jumps up: To tie a knot.

Searched the web and found several interesting demonstration on the etymology of it:

Where does the expression tying the knot come from?

1.
There is a suggestion that this expression derives from the nets of knotted string which supported beds prior to the introduction of metal-sprung bedframes. The theory goes that, in order to make a marriage bed, you needed to \'tie the knot\'. Like many such folk-etymological explanations, there\'s not a shred of evidence to support this idea.
2.
Could be illiterate sailors and soldiers of would send a piece of rope to their sweethearts when they wanted to get married. If the rope came back with a knot in it, that meant she said yes. He demonstrated this by tying two ornate knots in a length of rope. When the ends were pulled, the knots came together in the middle. Even if this isn\'t the origin of the expression, it was a charming demonstration.
3.
Another speculation is that in a Hindu wedding the bride and groom would each tie a necklace of flowers to consummate the marriage.
4.
Tying the knot of the ropes in the marriage bed.
James in Japan writes: ... the priest performing the wedding would bind the bride and grooms hands with rope during the ceremony. In modern day, you will often see the priest place a sash around their hands rather than rope, and it is from this that the saying comes. Although the practice is not as common as it was, depending on your denomination it is still done.
5.
There\'s no solid proof that this is where the expression came from, but a common theory is that the know referred to is all about the marriage bed. Before the springy matresses we know today, beds used to be constructed of knotted rope netting.
So if you\'re going to get ready for a marriage you had better tie the knots, and be ready for a wild honeymoon.
6.
It comes from the old marriage custom of actually tying the couple\'s hands together as part of the ceremony. They were not allowed to untie it until they had consummated the marriage.


http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tie-the-knot.html
http://askville.amazon.com/expression-tying-knot/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=1662833
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