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The Celtic Caim - Celtic Wedding with Attitude
by Marek Sutherland
The Caim is an ancient Celtic Wedding tradition which seems after Christianization of the Celts, to have taken on a blending of pre-Christian and post-Christian sensibilities, creating an entirely new manifestation. The Caim seems to have survived primarily as a Scots tradition, though it is uncertain how far back the practice goes. Whether or not it reaches back to the Scottish forebears, the Pictish and Gallic Kingdoms, is not generally known to scholars apparently.
In the Welsh Mabinogion, A Caim is referred to as a protective spirit. As Christianization has occurred, this spirit has over time generally vanished and only the proper name of Caim seems to exist meaning 'protector' and has become a somewhat come name for a boy child in Wales. In Scotland this spirit has also over time vanished and has been replaced by Christian prayer of a somewhat stylized type.
It seems to be of purely Celtic stock. It at least goes back to medieval times and may have been part of the process a Knight would undergo to prepare himself for battle. The Knight would seek protection, from God by casting a circle around him with his sword and kneeling in prayer asking for a protective space by God's grace around him while in battle. The style of prayer was almost mantra like, no doubt helping the warrior with facing the coming trials of battle.
In the Marriage Ceremony, particularly in Scotland and particularly in the Highlands, the groom would escort his bride to the altar with his sword available and his fighting arm free, thus the tradition of the bride on his left (as most were right handed). He could defend her against attack from other suitors. This also was the original role for the Best Man to be protector of the couple while both coming and going from the ceremony.
The Caim was originally performed at the altar and was a circle drawn by sword or lance around the couple and officiate to create a sacred space. This was always important to the highlander for battle and/or treachery could come from any quarter. In modern times, the sword and the cutting of the circle has disappeared and has been replaced by the prayer itself. Many examples still exist from Victorian times. Some of the most notable come from the Carmina Gadelica written by Alexander Carmichael around 1900. These come from the highlands and islands of Scotland. Several examples of Caim prayers, passed down from long ago are included in the collection.
An Example:"The compassing of God and his right handBe upon my form and upon my frame;The compassing of the High King and the grace of the TrinityBe upon me abiding eternally, Be upon me abiding eternally. May the compassing of the Three shield me in my means,The compassing of the Three shield me this day,The compassing of the Three shield me this nightFrom hate, from harm, from act, from ill, From hate, from harm, from act, from ill."
The Caim has become known as an Encircling type of prayer. It's rhyme and metre tends to act almost mystically, focusing one's intent and helping to make an already sacred space that much more sacred.
Whether or not you choose to use the Caim in either form for your ceremony it will likely make the experience that much more dear and meaningful. One can also write one's own Caim for the ceremony and I would highly recommend this. You can often work it out with your wedding officiate to help draft an appropriate version for your sacred Celtic ceremony.
About the Author
Marek Sutherland writes about Celtic weddings and culture for Reflective Images, selling Celtic jewelry at celticjewelry.com/content/celtic-w... They sell unique, unusual conflict free Celtic wedding bands at artisanweddingrings.com, and fair trade sourced recycled jewelry.
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