The Origin and Customs of Wedding RIngs - How are they worn?
The Origin and Customs of Wedding RIngs - How are they worn
Have you ever wondered why we wear wedding rings after marriage or where did wedding rings originate from?
Which hand should engagement rings be worn? Should men wear wedding rings on their right or left hand?
ALUXE has the answers to all of your wedding ring related questions.
Various Origins and Legends of Wedding Rings
Wedding rings in Egypt:
In the past, Egyptian rulers carried seals of nobility to symbolize their power. However, they found them cumbersome to carry so they embedded these seals into a loop and wore them on their fingers. Over time, these seals evolved into rings and eventually encompassed many meanings. Also, the hieroglyph of a ring in ancient Egyptian represented “eternity”, thus imbuing rings with this meaning and leading to their use in marriage.
Egyptians believe that wedding rings must be worn on the left ring finger as its blood vessels are connected directly with the heart. In ancient Egypt, both engagement and wedding rings were deemed as a type of contract; once the groom placed a ring on the bride’s ring finger, the bride was required to obey the groom and display 100% loyalty.
Wedding rings in Ancient Rome:
Wedding rings in ancient Rome can be traced back to Greek mythology: the Almighty Zeus punished Prometheus for stealing fire and gifting it to the humans by chaining him to the Caucasus Mountains. Centuries later Hercules, son of Zeus, rescued Prometheus and turned his chains into a ring. Since then, people have believed rings to symbolize “mutual help and support”.
Due to this legend, rings became a symbolic token of a couple’s mutual commitment, representing life and eternity. Also, the ancient Romans believed the ring finger to be protected by Apollo, god of the sun, and thus the legend of wearing wedding rings on the ring finger was passed down. During that period, wedding rings were crafted by iron until the second century when they were instead cast by gold. Additionally, ancient Romans believed that diamond rings contain the sun’s power, capable of creating a love that is strong and lasting.
Wedding rings in Ancient China:
Archaeologists discovered that people in ancient China, during a primitive era 4-5000 years ago, had the habit of wearing rings and bracelets; however, they believed these accessories were worn for decorative purposes. It was during the Han Dynasty when rings were worn with deeper meaning; palace maids or concubines wore gold rings on their left hand to indicate they were pregnant or having their menstrual period, thereby notifying the emperor against being intimate with them; during normal times, they wore a silver ring on their right hand. Later, rings became popular with the public as a beautiful accessory and symbol of marriage.
The origin of diamond wedding rings:While rings can be worn as wedding rings, how did diamond wedding rings become a prerequisite object for weddings? The origin can be traced back to 1477 when Archduke Maxmilian of Austria commissioned the first diamond ring to commemorate his engagement with Mary of Burgundy, thereby sparking a diamond craze across Europe. However, it wasn’t until the legendary slogan “A Diamond is Forever” in the 1947 ad campaign by De Beers that people regarded diamonds as a symbol of eternal love.
How to Wear Wedding and Engagement Rings
In Christian weddings of the past, priests would offer their blessings with a ring to the order of the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger, each representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Rings would end up on the ring finger, it being the last finger in this order, and as such wedding rings were worn on the ring finger. However, should wedding and engagement rings be worn on the left or right hand? It depends on individual faith and preference, as Christian customs differ by area! It should be noted that most people wear their wedding and engagement rings on the ring finger of their left hand. In summary, these are the origins and ways that wedding and engagement rings are worn.
Truthfully, there’s no need to be too particular about how the men’s and women’s rings are worn as long as both parties are in agreement. After all, those who are left hand dominant may find that a ring can affect their efficiency and convenience in daily life, not to mention the additional wear this would cause to their wedding ring.
Ultimately, regardless of which hand the ring is worn, ALUXE hopes that everyone can wear their rings with enjoyment as they accompany you through every memorable moment of your marriage.
