Why do people exchange rings when getting married? When did the first wedding rings appear? Wedding ring on which hand to wear? Let's try to understand and answer the questions.
On which hand do we wear a wedding ring?
Let's turn to the history. The ancient writer Plutarch explained that the first to wear engagement rings were the Egyptians. It was they who, exploring the structure of man, came to the conclusion that there is a very subtle connection between the ring finger and the human heart through the nerve. A wedding ring on his left hand confirms this conclusion. When the newlyweds are married in the Catholic Church, wedding rings are put on the left hand. This is explained by the fact that this hand is closer to the heart, and Catholics put a cross from left to right. In the Orthodox Church, a ceremony of wedding and putting on wedding rings on the right hand is performed. But religious recommendations are not always followed. The tradition of wearing a wedding ring on a particular hand is more likely to be national in nature. And history confirms this. In many countries, contrary to church ordinance, married people wear rings on their other hands.
Muslims have not accepted marriage confirmed by wearing wedding rings. According to the Qur'an, gold jewelry in the form of wedding rings is not worn. A Muslim groom can give a gift to the bride by giving her a gold, but not an engagement ring. On which hand a Muslim woman will wear it, it makes no difference. There is a rather interesting mystical theory, according to which a wedding ring is worn on the right hand. It is believed that behind the shoulder of his right hand is a Guardian Angel, who will save the marriage. It is a bad omen if a married woman puts a wedding ring on her left hand. And does the gypsy have a wedding ring on which hand? Not on the hand, but on a chain, on the neck.
About Wedding Rings
“There is no beginning and no end. Love is a ring, ”is sung in a famous song. A ring is a circle closed in a circle, never ending. Wedding rings were not always made of metal. In Russia, the newlyweds, entering into marriage, wore birch bark rings. Over time, ceramic rings appeared and made of simple metal with semiprecious and precious stones. Only in the 16th century did wedding rings become golden. There are new traditions in the marriage. A groom from Rome, for example, presented a ring in support of
marriage to the bride's parents. The Jews gave the groom a gold coin. The noble knight put a ring with the coat of arms of his family on his wife’s finger. When the exchange of rings became an integral part of the marriage, the tradition of giving rings came to the poor estate. Rings were made of wood, clay, stone, copper, bronze, iron. But a single established rule, the wedding ring on which hand to wear, in those days was not in any country.
Now the couple is free in their choice and can choose rings from any metal and any shape, with and without stones, with inscriptions on the rings, only observing the country's traditions in wearing wedding rings.
