At a yearly fair held where the Black and White Esk meet, unmarried men and women chose a partner to live with until the same fair the next year. If they still liked each other they stayed together for life, and if not they parted and were free to choose again. A priest from Melrose nicknamed Book-i’-bosom came round from time to time to confirm the marriages. The minister of Eskdalemuir reported in 1794 that the fair had long been given up.
Handfasting at Eskdalemuir
8 September · Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire
No longer kept
At that fair it was the custom for unmarried persons of both sexes to choose a companion, according to their liking, with whom they were to live till that time next year.
From Hone's Year Book, cols. 1049-1050. Read the original
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