Kittens for brides a Viking wedding tradition?

As a cat owner, I was intrigued when I first read that Viking brides were sometimes given kittens as wedding gifts. Was this really a Viking wedding tradition, or just a charming story rooted in Norse mythology? I set out to discover whether this practice was fact, fiction, or something in between.

 

This tradition is thought to be rooted in Norse mythology and the goddess, Freyja, who in the Norse mythos, rides in a chariot pulled by two cats. As a goddess she is associated with love, sex, beauty, and fertility as well as other things like war, death, and gold. I set out to find out if this kittens for Viking brides as a wedding gift is a fact, fiction, or somewhere in-between.

 

Giving of kittens Viking wedding tradition

I have found two variations of the giving of kittens as an ancient Viking wedding tradition. The thing both of these variations have in common is that the kittens were given to a new bride to help set up her new household. On the practical side, they helped take care of rats, and on the mythos side, cats were associated with the goddess of love, Freyja, who received two cats as a gift from Thor. These cats were blue or gray and pulled her chariot.

• Members of the community gave the bride a kitten or kittens.
• The groom gave the bride a kitten

Learning from Freyja’s cats

We are introduced to Freyja’s Cats in a description of Freyja found in Of Freyr and Freyja, “When she goes forth, she drives her cats and sits in a chariot.” While cats are found in prose like this, it turns out that cats were uncommon in Iceland even in medieval times. In the Norse world, the use of the cat, for the most part, has ritualistic connotations, so I looked into Freyja’s Cats to see if I could find a direct link to this goddess and any wedding tradition related to kittens or cats. 

 

 

As I searched through archaeological evidence, I didn’t find a picture stone, rune stone, or tapestry showing evidence of a Viking wedding related to a kitten or cat. In sagas, cats tended to be portrayed as harmful forces which wouldn’t make for a good wedding gift. On the other hand, in Brenda Prehal’s Freyja's Cats: Perspectives on Recent Viking Age Finds in Þegjandadalur North Iceland she points out that “Cats were rare, especially in Iceland, expensive, and connected with the most powerful Norse goddess, Freyja, as well as her magic.” That could make them a coveted wedding gift.

If you know of a source showing cats given as gifts to brides in the Viking culture, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you. 

Cat Bobble Head Ring Holder

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Celtic Wedding Rings: Ancient Symbols with Modern Meaning

(Updated October 2025)

Wedding rings have no beginning or end. As perfect circles, they symbolize eternity and everlasting love.

For couples seeking even deeper meaning, Celtic Wedding Rings adorned with intricate Celtic knots offer a powerful connection between ancient tradition and modern romance.

What is a Celtic knot?

Celtic knots are among the most recognizable motifs in ancient art. Historians trace their origins as far back as 500 B.C., though they became prominent in Celtic manuscripts around the third century A.D.

Each knot is formed from a single, unbroken line woven into loops with no beginning and no end, representing eternity, spiritual unity, and the interconnectedness of life.

When engraved on wedding bands, Celtic knots symbolize values such as loyalty, friendship, faith, and everlasting love.

Popular Celtic Wedding Ring Designs

Over centuries, Celtic artisans developed unique patterns, each with its own story and meaning. Today’s jewelers continue that legacy with rings that blend history and modern design.

Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh ring is among the earliest gold rings crafted in Celtic tradition. Its design includes:

• Two hands – friendship 

• A heart – love 

• A crown – loyalty 

Traditionally, it’s worn with the heart facing outward during engagement and turned inward after marriage. Many families pass Claddagh rings down from generation to generation, making them treasured heirlooms.

Celtic Love Knot Ring

Celtic love knot ring

The CelticLoveKnot is created from graceful interlacing patterns symbolizing the eternal bond between two people. Historians believe Celts once exchanged these knots much like we exchange rings today.

A popular variation, the Celtic oval knot, offers simple elegance—perfect for couples who want timeless design without excess ornamentation.

Celtic spiral knot

The spiral knot features three interwoven sides representing water, fire, and earth. The spiral itself is a sacred Celtic symbol, signifying life’s journey as it unfolds.

• Its continuous design reflects unity and oneness of spirit, making it a powerful choice for couples beginning their new life together.

Celtic Trinity Wedding Ring

Trinity Knot (Triquetra)

With the spread of Christianity, Celtic art merged with Christian symbolism. The TrinityKnot, or Triquetra, emerged as a powerful emblem of faith.

• Its three points represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• Its unbroken form expresses eternal devotion.

Today, the Trinity Knot is one of the most popular Christian wedding ring motifs, combining faith and heritage in a single design.

Choosing Your Celtic Wedding Ring

Ancient Celts crafted jewelry from bronze, gold, tin, silver, coral, and enamel. Modern jewelers honor that legacy using gold, platinum, silver, titanium, and mixed metals, allowing couples to match tradition with their own personal style.

When choosing a Celtic ring, consider:

• Design: Which knot best expresses your relationship?

• Material: Do you prefer classic gold or modern mixed metals?

• Personalization: Engraving initials or vows inside adds intimacy. 

The Meaning Endures

Celtic wedding rings are more than decorative jewelry.
They are wearable stories, symbols of eternity, unity, and love that has no end.

Whether chosen for their ancient symbolism or their modern beauty, Celtic designs continue to inspire couples who want their wedding rings to carry both artistry and meaning.

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Ancient Egyptian wedding customs

While the origin of wedding rings can be traced back to ancient Egypt, you may be surprised to learn that in ancient Egypt there was no wedding ceremony. Instead, marriages were most often arranged by the parents with goals of personal advancement or stability. Back then, the “men” usually married between the ages of 16-20, or when he could earn money to provide for his family. Women, or I should say girls, commonly married at 13 or closely after puberty. So instead of a ceremony, there was an agreement and when the bride entered the groom's house and the agreed price or goods were exchanged, they were married.

Bride price

The groom’s father was the one who wrote up the marriage “settlement” or contract which was signed in front of witnesses before marriage could even be considered. This agreement included the bride price (payment made by the groom or his family to the bride’s parents), and also included pre-nuptial agreements as to how things would be divided if divorce did enter the picture.

 

Purpose of marriage in ancient Egypt

While marriage in ancient Egypt seems more like a business deal by today’s standards, the purpose of marriage in ancient Egypt was to have children. Along with that, it was hoped, and even expected, that the husband and wife would grow to love and honor one another. So, ideally, an ancient Egyptian marriage relationship was one where the couple remained faithful and produced offspring. I guess you could say, they had the same hopes and aspirations as many brides and grooms in modern times.

How did ancient Egyptians handle divorce?

Ancient Egyptian women were not treated as property by their husbands (like ancient Grecian woman) and so they had the right to divorce and remarry. Divorce happened much the same way as the marriage with a new agreement to end the marriage. This divorce could be asked for by either of the spouses, and a new agreement was signed agreeing to the dividing of material possessions based on the prenuptial agreement. Once it was signed, the marriage was over. But with divorce in ancient Egypt, the woman left the relationship with the children. They belonged to her.

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