I really love this tradition.
It’s based on Old Time agreements. Apparently, once you gave your word on a deal, you secured it by taking some salt out of your little salt pouch and putting it into the pouch of the person you were making the deal with.
You could break your word whenever you wanted–you simply had to remove your exact grains of salt from his bag of salt.
Impossible.
Your word was your Word. A vow was a vow. No breaking it. The salt covenant comes from this tradition.
In the ceremony, both the bride and groom blend their salt together. Then, they use the blended salt in their daily cooking. When the salt gets low, they repeat the ceremony, refilling the Salt Container and having a constant reminder of their vows.
The actual ceremony is as follows:
The Salt Covenant
Now you shall make a Covenant of Salt together.
During ancient times agreements and promises
were sealed by a salt covenant.
Each person would take a pinch of salt from their
pouch and place it in the pouch of the other.
This agreement could not be broken unless an
individual could retrieve their own grains of salt.
But this, of course, is impossible.
Now you have chosen to create a salt covenant with
each other at the beginning of your new life together.
The egg shape symbolizes the full cycle of life,
and therefore encompasses all that you will enjoy,
create, and love in your life together.
Bride and Groom, please now combine your two bags
of salt together in this egg.
This is a bond that can not be broken and is a symbol
of an unbreakable promise of love.
Salt is a good preservative.
It will help you remember that your love for
one another should be preserved for all time.
Salt adds flavor.
We all need a little spice in our lives.
Salt melts ice.
When your heart begins to grow cold you can
melt one another again.
Salt is easily dissolved.
You can remember to dissolve your issues
and learn to work together.
Now use this salt in your cooking until it is gone,
and each time it needs refilled, refill it together.
It is a wonderful way to remember what your
marriage is about.
