The tradition of wearing wedding rings appeared before our era, presumably in ancient Egypt (according to other sources, in ancient Greece), although archaeologists and historians cannot yet say for sure - it is not a fact that some of the unearthed ancient rings were wedding rings.
In ancient times, rings, due to their complete circle shape, symbolized infinity. Thus, wearing wedding rings symbolized endless love and fidelity in marriage for both spouses.
This tradition has survived for centuries and has survived almost unchanged to this day. Now crossed wedding rings are a recognized symbol of newlyweds, marriage, and family.
However, in different cultures, countries and religions, the tradition of wearing wedding rings varies slightly, most often slightly.
On which hand do they wear a wedding ring in Russia?
In Russia, it is customary to wear a wedding ring on the ring finger of the right hand for both men and women. It is on the right hand that the wedding ring is worn, because Orthodox Christians cross themselves with their right hand.
It is by the ring on the ring finger of the right hand that others can determine a person’s status: whether he is married or single. There are many jokes and anecdotes about guys or girls who want to flirt and take off their wedding rings at this moment.
This applies to secular or moderately religious (not fully following the canons and prescriptions of religion) Russians of different nationalities and Orthodox Christians, from whom the tradition of wearing wedding rings on the right hand and ring finger originated in Rus'.
Mini-excursion into history
It is not precisely established whether the tradition of betrothing spouses with rings originated in Ancient Egypt or Ancient Greece. But the ancient Greeks are considered the authors of the custom of putting jewelry on the ring finger. They were sure that the vena amoris (“vein of love”), located close to it, connected to the heart.
Everyone around them understood that if a person has a ring on his ring finger, then his heart is forever occupied by his beloved
The ancestors of many nations exchanged rings as a sign of passionate love and eternal adoration for each other. These were not necessarily jewelry made of precious metal. The lovers wove symbolic rings from flexible reeds or hemp. Couples in Ancient Rome, having decided to start a family, exchanged iron rings upon engagement. Later at the wedding they were replaced with jewelry made of precious metal. They were worn on the right hand, since it was believed that the left was unlucky.
Customs and traditions of different countries have changed over the centuries. Thus, in England at the end of the 17th century, the thumb was decorated with a wedding ring, and German knights ringed the little finger. But for the most part, the rules for which hand to wear a wedding ring on have remained unchanged.
On which hand do Muslims wear a wedding ring?
Russian Muslims, for example, Tatars or Muslims of the North Caucasus, if they profess religious service, do not wear wedding rings at all.
Firstly, a Muslim man is, in principle, not allowed to wear gold rings, only silver and other metals. Secondly, this tradition is not Muslim in principle, which means it is based on imitation of “infidels,” which automatically imposes a ban on it.
In addition, the belief that wearing wedding rings in one way or another strengthens the marriage, and that removing or not wearing rings, on the contrary, puts the family at risk, is considered a harmful superstition, something of a heresy.
Tatars and representatives of other nationalities, living according to secular laws in big cities, wear wedding rings in the same place as Russians - on the ring finger of the right hand.
On which hand do Catholics wear their wedding ring?
Catholics, unlike other Orthodox Christians, wear wedding rings on their left hand, but also on their ring finger. By the way, in some countries this finger is not called the ring finger, but is called the “ring finger” - so rooted and entrenched is the idea of wearing a wedding ring on this particular finger.
On which hand do Armenians wear a wedding ring?
Armenians have a tradition of wearing a wedding ring on their left hand, although they are not Catholics. The fact is that it is believed that the wedding ring should be closer to the heart, which means on the left, not on the right hand.
On which hand do Turks wear a wedding ring?
The Turks, like many other nationalities, unlike Russia, have a tradition of engagement. So, after an engagement, Turks wear wedding rings on the ring finger of their right hand, and after the wedding they put it on their left.
Wedding rings for Turkish men, due to the ban on Muslims wearing gold, are most often made of silver.
On which hand do Americans wear a wedding ring?
In the United States, most people wear a wedding ring on their left hand, on their ring finger.
On which hand do Jews wear a wedding ring?
For Jews, as always, everything is a little more complicated. At a wedding, a girl can wear a wedding ring on both her index and middle fingers (specifically in Jerusalem), but always on her right hand. After the wedding, the ring moves to the left hand.
The Torah does not directly prohibit a man from wearing a wedding ring (but does prohibit a girl from putting a ring on the groom during the wedding ceremony), but theologians strongly discourage this, again, for the same reason as among Muslims, due to the fact that this tradition came to them from other religions.
On which hand do divorced people wear a wedding ring?
Usually, after a divorce, rings are not worn, but if the engagement ring is expensive or you like it on its own, for example, it is encrusted with precious stones, women simply change it to the other hand.
After a divorce, men prefer not to wear a wedding ring, primarily because they want to appear free to members of the opposite sex.
And why the left one?
In general, the attitude towards the hands was different. The right one was most often more active . And they usually decorated it with rings. And the left was not assigned a primary, secondary role. She wore virtually no feminine jewelry.
Upon marriage, only the bride was given a ring. The groom did not receive any decorations for his engagement. In the 18th century, brides in some European countries began to move it to the left side.
Important! It is believed that moving the ring to the left side of the lady was used to demonstrate how respectful they were to their spouse.
And still in many countries of Europe (Great Britain and Ireland, France and Italy, Sweden and Switzerland, Czech Republic, Finland, etc.), America (USA, Canada), as well as in the countries of Asia, Africa, Australia, the bride and groom extend each other friend's left hand. Some explain this by closeness to the heart, “cordiality” of feelings and intentions.
On which hand do widows and widowers wear their wedding ring?
People who have experienced the loss of a spouse and do not want to enter into a new relationship usually leave their wedding rings, but everyone wears them differently.
- For example, some widows simply wear their wedding ring without removing it, where it was during marriage, as a symbol of fidelity to their deceased spouse.
- Some people wear two rings at once on one hand or even on one finger - their own and their spouse’s ring.
- There are those who wear rings on different hands, for example, theirs on their left hand, and the deceased’s on their right.
- There is also a tradition of wearing the ring of a deceased spouse on a chain around the neck, which is also a symbol of fidelity and love.
- Because men's rings are often larger than women's, some widows wear their husband's ring on their thumb.
Engagement ring – fashionable and timeless
“Of course, the ring has a symbolic meaning: closed in itself, it points to eternity...”
An engagement ring is a notoriously difficult piece of jewelry. This is also sung in a German hit: “marble will crack and iron will break - only our marriage will never fall apart.” When at the end of 1965 this song topped the national hit parade, marriage ties were indeed a much more stable institution than they are today. I will not bore you with statistics regarding the decline in the number of marriages and the increase in the number of divorces in Germany. Let's turn instead to eternal values. The wedding ring, the eternal and the changeable in this tradition, will be discussed in today’s episode of the Weekend radio magazine.
— Almost seventy percent of couples exchange rings at the registry office during the wedding ceremony. Some couples get engaged in church if the wedding takes place before going to the registry office. There are also those who refuse the custom of exchanging rings.
Sylvia Krenke, who has worked in the registry office for more than thirty years, testifies. Interesting detail: no one was ever required to wear a wedding ring. Neither in the annals of the church, nor in civil laws, is such a rule contained anywhere. And yet, this is one of the most persistent, universal and widespread traditions in the history of mankind.
Trying to discover the “world’s first engagement ring”
- a thankless task: a ring, a ring - a headband that you can put on your finger - is one of the oldest ways to decorate yourself. Or another person. This means that the history of a ring that is given to another person as a sign of affection is as old as the history of mutual attraction. Well, probably, we could start with Adam and Eve - but the Bible is silent about what gifts the forefathers exchanged after their expulsion from paradise. One way or another, both in ancient Mesopotamia and in Egypt there was a custom of bride price: having given a herd of cows or a cotton field as payment for a girl, the groom put a ring on the chosen one’s finger - as a sign that she now belonged to him. Rings also had a pragmatic purpose in ancient Rome: after a successful matchmaking, the bride received from her betrothed a ring with the seal of his family - as a sign that she already belonged to another house. Gold and decorated with fancy filigree and engraving - for patricians, silver - for people of lower dignity, wedding rings also had a status meaning: by the ring, those around them saw what class the woman belonged to - and behaved with her accordingly. The tradition of paired wedding rings appears in Byzantium around the 10th century AD. At the same time, the Christian custom of betrothal before the Holy See arose, immediately before the wedding or some time before it. In the Middle Ages, the ring and the exchange of rings acquired a special, mystical meaning. They are given as a sign of eternal love by knights and beautiful ladies. Often short mottos, messages and parting words are engraved on the rings. Donors believed that their offering would protect their lover from dangers, the evil eye and temptations. But the true era of wedding rings is the era of the burghers, which began somewhere at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, flourished in the 19th century and in some places has not yet ended. A wedding ring rhymes with a cap and dressing gown, with a cane and a hat, with a holiday in Mallorca and a Saturday family shopping trip. The ring and the obligation to wear it are one of the last bourgeois bastions that can withstand the pressure of new times. Thus, one militant defender of family values recently demanded that men getting married be required to have a wedding ring tattooed on their ring fingers - so that it would not be common to take it off and secretly hide it in a pocket.
Back in the 15-16th century, simple, unadorned twin rings were established as the standard model of a wedding ring in Europe, and are still recognizable as wedding rings themselves.
However, today many people find this model too boring. Sylvia Krenke, a veteran of one of the Cologne registry offices, talks about attempts to modernize the engagement ring:
— There are wedding rings that seem to be woven from several thin rings - two or three. There are snake rings that are not closed - and thus seem to deny the symbolism of the ring and marriage. There are rings, the closure of which is interrupted by a diamond or other precious stone - they seem to me quite original and exquisite...
Individualism wins everywhere – including in such a narrow market segment as wedding rings. It is worth opening any of the numerous catalogs of wedding accessories to discover wedding rings of all imaginable modifications - from the thinnest to the super-massive, with precious and semi-precious stones, with dragon heads and erotic symbols. Wedding rings are made from all precious metals and their alloys, steel, copper, aluminum, carved from stone and wood. You can even get engaged with an ice ring, which, however, will melt during the wedding ceremony, leaving only a wet spot, but it is sold in a very beautiful crystal refrigerator box. There are rings made from grass, from flowers, from the hair of a lover and their mother-of-pearl. It seems that only the old-fashioned Irish insist on the symbolic meaning of the solar metal - in the country of red-haired people, a wedding ring from time immemorial to this day can be gold and only gold.
In search of the most inimitable, most special and individual ring, couples seem ready to “sink to the bottom of the sea and fly beyond the clouds.” Well, or, at least, go to the most real jewelry workshop, so that, so to speak, like Siegfried, who forged his sword in the opera of the same name from the Ring of the Nibelungs series, forge symbols of marriage ties for himself...
Bettina Bissinger is the owner of a small jewelry store combined with a workshop. Here, in a picturesque room with dark antique beams under the ceiling and a collection of antique jewelry tools, interested couples can, under the strict guidance of the hostess, start forging wedding rings.
— Everyone always makes a ring for their partner. Everything is done independently - from the idea and sketch to the finished ring. Well, of course, I intervene at the most critical stages, but in principle, every person can be taught forging and other necessary skills. Couples come to me five to seven times and spend two to three hours here. This is a fun activity for everyone - including me: people usually come happy, joyful, working with their hands is a pleasant thing... Then we often go to a bar or restaurant together, and when the work is ready, we open a bottle of champagne. It's all very romantic...
— One groom engraved on his ring a tattoo that his girlfriend had on... Well, where the back ends. And she engraved his tattoo on her ring. Another couple met because of a common love for motorcycles. So they decided to engrave the profile of a motorcycle tire on their rings. Winter, at that. They even brought a special tire catalog with them. Well, and so on - everyone wants something special, connected only with their individual history...
Which finger should the ring be worn on? And on which hand?
There is no clear answer to these questions – and there never will be. On the one hand, the right hand seems to be more important. On the other hand, the heart is more likely to be on the left, and from a practical point of view, wearing a ring on the left hand is more convenient, especially if you wear it without taking it off. Every normal woman knows that even a manicure on the left hand lasts twice as long, and the left hand looks better - there are fewer calluses. In a word, a dilemma.
Each country has its own traditions. For example, in ancient Rome, wedding rings were worn mainly on the index or middle finger. In Renaissance Italy - on the little finger. Then the ring moved to the ring finger. In Germany, there is a tradition of wearing a wedding ring on the right hand. In France and Holland, as in Russia, only on the left.
To wear or not to wear?
Another issue causing public controversy and discussion. As we learned at the beginning of the program, almost seventy percent of German couples observe the custom of exchanging rings. But among women, almost all continue to wear rings even after the wedding, practically without taking them off, while among men only a third show such persistence. The rest put the ring on from time to time, or even hide it on the back burner, citing a dislike for jewelry and the fear of losing an expensive item.
— Yes, men wear rings not as willingly as women. “They say it bothers me.” Of course, it gets in the way - any new ring gets in the way, you need to wear it for two or three weeks at first before your hand gets used to it and you stop noticing it. But men are so impatient...
But same-sex couples wear rings with even greater zeal:
— Yes, for two years now we have been officially registering same-sex couples in our registry office, and every time we notice that compliance with all formal rituals is of particular importance for them - the trip to the registry office itself, and witnesses, and rings. Probably because it still tastes like “forbidden fruit” to them. 90 percent of homosexual couples exchange rings without fail...
According to statistics, two out of three marriages concluded in Germany, apparently, do not receive the seal of eternity in heaven - and, alas, break up within the first years. But where do the wedding rings go?
— Some continue to wear a wedding ring even after a divorce - especially women, for whom the ring remains a kind of protection from sideways glances. Others scrap it out of anger. But most simply hide the engagement ring in the back drawer of the secretary. It also happens that when new love comes, the old wedding ring is taken out of a dusty corner and begins to be worn as a symbol of new love. Sometimes they come to me with such wedding rings and a request to engrave the initials of a new lover or the date of meeting him on them - in a word, to “renew” the ring, to “update” it using computer technology...
“Till death do you part”
- this formula is pronounced at the conclusion of a church marriage. Even the strongest earthly ties are powerless before the most formidable of family judges. What happens to the engagement ring after the death of a spouse? Here we again find ourselves in the sphere of “national characteristics”. In southern European countries - Italy, Spain, Portugal - the widow continues to wear her husband's wedding ring, tying it to hers with a black thread. Or the jeweler carefully melts one ring to another so that it doesn’t get lost. In Germany, in former times, it was customary to place a wedding ring in the coffin of the deceased. Today everyone acts as he sees fit. According to jeweler Bettina Bissinger, it is better if the ring remains among the living, continuing to serve as a reminder of the departed:
— When my father-in-law died, my husband and I were not sure what to do with his wedding ring now - my husband’s mother had also died by that time. And my husband said: “Come on, you will wear it.” And indeed, I put it on and have been wearing it ever since. Firstly, because this thin silver ring matches my hands and other jewelry that I wear. Secondly, because it is a living memory of my husband's parents and their lives. They got married during the war, when there was no money for expensive rings. Therefore, they exchanged thin rings smelted from a teaspoon - that is, from a very bad, unstable metal. That is why the ring became thinner and thinner every year... I wear it with pleasure...
A common superstition claims that the loss of a wedding ring means a quick breakup of family ties.
This is not true - and a fantastic story
Rüdiger Zurhorst is proof of this.
Every Friday, Rüdiger sells vegetables at a small market in Cologne. To his regular clients - which includes the author of this program - the peasant vegetable grower often tells an amazing story about his wedding ring.
“I lost it about thirty years ago.” Well, I was weeding something in the garden, and the ring got lost - I looked through everything, but I can’t find it. Yes... I grieved and forgot. The wife just scolded.
Almost three decades have passed. Rüdiger planted the same carrots in the same beds year after year. And then one carrot, apparently, “found” the ring and grew through it. No, this is not the end of the story. While harvesting, Rüdiger did not notice the “ringed” carrots. He sold vegetables to feed horses at a horse breeding farm located about a hundred kilometers away. Juicy carrots are a favorite horse treat. And one morning the stable owner was cleaning the stall. And suddenly something flashed in the manure. Rüdiger was surprised when a horse breeder client asked him about his wedding day. This is the date that was engraved on his wedding ring. So the ring returned to its rightful owner. However, I never had a chance to see the wonderful ring:
“My wife said no, you won’t get the ring anymore.” If you want, I can buy you a collar with a chain...
Actually, because of this extraordinary story, I started today’s entire program. I hope I haven't bored you.
What do you wear instead of a wedding ring?
Each tradition has its exceptions and nuances. Some cannot wear wedding rings for religious reasons, some cannot because of work, many are allergic to precious metals, and there are those who simply do not want to wear rings due to simple discomfort.
However, lovers, one way or another, require symbols of their love. In order to indicate your belonging and affection to a loved one, there are many options:
- a variety of bracelets, decorated with or without symbols of love;
- rings made of wood, glass and other hypoallergenic materials;
- threads of different colors that are tied around one of the fingers;
- key rings that you carry with you all the time;
- tattoos on fingers or other places symbolizing love and devotion.
The meaning of a wedding ring on different fingers
Wedding rings are allowed to be worn on different fingers , despite existing traditions.
Thumb
A ring on the thumb increases vital energy and normalizes the nervous system. This makes it easier to cope with your absent-mindedness and achieve harmony with the world around you. A person becomes more tolerant of everything and learns to build communications.
Forefinger
The index finger is a symbol of power and leadership ambitions. Decoration activates the corresponding energy. Kings could develop leadership qualities by placing a ring on a specific hand. Nowadays, only a few people do this, but sometimes people can see a symbolic decoration on their index finger.
Average
The middle finger is called a symbol of the threads of fate. Due to its location, it is responsible for balance. Astrologers associate it with Saturn. This planet influences personal development in business and helps promote significant ideas on a voluntary basis.
Women show the makings of a leader and their own business begins to take off. The ring protects men from the negative influence of others. Decorating in this place embodies responsibility.
Ring finger
The ring finger has a direct connection with the heart, which is why jewelry is most often worn on it. It is believed that this promotes positive energy in marital relationships, strengthens joint affection, helps to get closer and gives optimism. Silver jewelry is a good option, as it has the right energy. Rings are also often made of gold. To decorate jewelry, it is advisable to choose precious stones such as moonstone, jade, turquoise or amethyst.
Little finger
Jewelry on the little finger is responsible for the development of beautiful and correct speech, as well as the ability to establish contacts with the right people. The little finger helps activate the energy of Mercury. Artists, actors and representatives of other creative professions like to wear a ring on this finger.
Is it safe to wear a wedding ring?
Wearing a wedding ring can be unsafe in some cases - for representatives of certain professions in some countries (for example, in the UK for medical personnel) there is even an outright ban on wearing wedding rings. For doctors, the reason is that the space under the ring is not disinfected during standard disinfection procedures, which means that a medical worker with a wedding ring may pose some danger to patients and to himself.
For those who work with their hands (car mechanics, working on factory machines, construction workers, etc.), wearing a wedding ring is prohibited by safety regulations. Many representatives of blue-collar professions themselves remove their wedding rings while working to avoid risk.
However, it is not uncommon for a wedding ring to get caught on any part leading to damage or even the cutting off of a finger and other, even more serious injuries.
There is a well-known case of a Swiss football player celebrating a goal and caught his wedding ring on the stand fence. Jumping from the fence, he tore off his finger, which, however, the doctors present at the match managed to disinfect and freeze in time. Subsequently, the football player’s finger was sewn on.
Do homosexuals wear wedding rings?
Gays who have officially married in countries where this is permitted wear wedding rings in accordance with the traditions of the country where they married and live.
However, in Russia officially married gays and lesbians are exotic, although there are those who specifically go to get married in other countries, where this is allowed. However, not many people live in an open marriage, given the society that has little tolerance for such relationships.
Lesbians have a tradition of wearing a ring on their thumb. If a lesbian wears a ring on her right thumb, she is currently in a relationship with someone more or less permanent. If the ring is located on the thumb of the left hand, the lesbian is in search and would not mind meeting a new girl.
Questions and answers
First, a few unusual facts about the wedding jewelry of famous people:
- One of the most unusual wedding rings was that of the Silver Age poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. He ordered jewelry with the initials of his beloved - LYUB (Liya Yuryevna Brik). If you turn the ring, you can read “love”.
- Princess Diana was offered a choice of a variety of diamond jewelry, but she chose a rather modest sapphire ring. Now this ring is considered a precious heirloom.
- It took the craftsman a whole year to make Angelina Jolie's engagement ring. However, on long trips the actress replaces it with a simpler and cheaper one.
What to do if it turns out that the engagement ring does not fit in size?
If you find that your ring is a little too big for you, there is no harm in taking it to a workshop and having it made smaller. Losing jewelry is a much worse situation. This is considered a very bad omen: the marriage may collapse.
Is it possible to replace wedding rings with new ones?
There is no clear answer to this question. It is believed that if young people were united in marriage only in the registry office, then it is permissible to change rings. If the wedding ceremony took place in a church, it is not advisable to do this.
Is it possible to wear someone else’s wedding ring (mom’s, grandmother’s, friend’s)?
In some cases, the parents' rings are passed on to the children. Mom and dad give them as a wedding gift or leave them as an inheritance. The energy of the person who previously wore the jewelry is preserved and transferred to the new owner of the ring. The symbol can become both a talisman and bring negative changes. If the mother has lived a happy family life, then the daughter is even recommended to wear her ring.
People who try on someone else's ring on their hand take a great risk. If such a person is not yet married, he may remain single forever. This is the opinion of sorcerers. The Church does not say anything about this, but instructs never to remove the ring from the finger in order to protect the marriage.
Is it possible to wear an engagement ring before marriage?
Wedding rings are chosen by the spouses together: it is important that both of them like them. The groom, as the future head of the family, must pay for the purchase. Choosing jewelry is not complete without first trying on several dozen possible options.
If a couple expresses a desire to wear rings before the official celebration, no bad omens, of course, will overshadow the upcoming event, but there will no longer be a feeling of celebration. It's okay to show your wedding rings to someone before your wedding. The main thing is that a person does not wish harm on the young and does not try on jewelry on himself.
Can I wear my engagement ring and wedding ring together?
After the wedding, many brides leave the engagement ring on their right hand and change the engagement ring to the left. Someone flaunts both jewelry on one hand, both on different fingers, and on one - together with the wedding ring. Others want to wear the engagement ring separately; in this situation, the engagement attribute is sent for storage in a box. It's all a matter of taste.
When the question arises about the possibility of combining engagement and wedding rings, it is useful to remember the general rules for combining jewelry. They must be made in the same style: classic does not suit jewelry geometry. You can wear gold of different colors nearby.
Engagement and wedding rings can be worn together.
