It is difficult to imagine a modern wedding without exchanging rings. This is a very touching and romantic tradition, common in many countries. When did it begin and why is the engagement ring worn on the ring finger, and not on some other?
The first wedding rings in the world: Ancient Egypt
About 5 thousand years BC the ancient Egyptians paid great attention to their appearance and beauty. Representatives of this civilization made exquisite jewelry. Only the pharaohs and the richest citizens of the state could afford to wear them. According to the assumptions of some experts, ordinary people also wanted to have some kind of jewelry, and came up with the idea of making them from available materials. Rings woven from reeds quickly became a symbol of love. They were exchanged by many couples in love. "Why is the wedding ring worn on the ring finger?" - already at that time the Egyptians had their own answer to this question. Priests and doctors have studied the human body quite well. They knew that it was through the ring finger that the nerve ending goes straight to the heart. Do not forget about the practical side of the issue. The second finger is practically not used during operation, and the ring on it does not interfere in everyday life.
Ancient Roman Symbols
One of the inventions of the ancient Greeks is the language of rings for men. From time immemorial until the beginning of the last century, the representatives of the stronger sex in Greece with the help of a single decoration could tell a lot to others about their personal lives. The ring on the ring finger was a sign that this man already has a wife / bride or beloved woman. Indicative jewelry was worn by those who were actively searching for the second half. On the little finger, rings were worn by men who were free and did not seek to start a new relationship. The middle finger was decorated with representatives of the stronger sex, not shy of their popularity among women and always ready for new acquaintances with beautiful ladies.
Chinese traditions
The Chinese had their own explanation of why the wedding ring is worn on the ring finger. Try to join your own hands in such a way that the little fingers, index, ring and thumbs are connected by pads. The averages should be closed so that they are in contact with the phalanges. Try to spread your fingers apart in pairs. You will not succeed in dissolving the indicative ones. It is for this reason that the Chinese believe that this pair of fingers symbolizes the second halves for each of us. The little fingers are children, the middle one is you, the index fingers are brothers and sisters, and the thumbs are parents. All these people, despite their proximity, can leave us. And only a husband or wife should be with him all his life.
Did the Slavs wear rings?
In the pagan traditions of Ancient Russia, there was also a place for wedding jewelry. Our ancestors exchanged rings. They were necessarily smooth, without patterns and inserts. It was believed that the ornament could attract negative energy. Interestingly, the man gave his beloved a golden ring, thereby transmitting to her a little of his own energy. And the woman presented her husband silver - sharing with him the lunar female energy. The Slavs wore a wedding ring on their index finger. It moved to the nameless only with the advent of Christianity. Our ancestors believed that it was a good tradition to pass the rings by inheritance. The more ancient the rings exchanged on the wedding day, the stronger their union will be.
Modern wedding rings in different countries
In Catholic and Protestant traditions, wedding rings are usually worn on the left hand. This is due to the proximity of this limb to the heart. Today, this is how many couples wear their jewelry in Brazil, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Spain, England, France, Japan, America and Turkey. The right ring finger for an engagement ring is used by Orthodox Christians. The explanation of this tradition is simple - it is customary to be baptized with this hand. It is widely believed that a guardian angel stands behind the right shoulder. Today, wedding rings are worn on the right hand in Russia, Georgia, Greece, Poland, Israel, Norway, India, and Austria. In the modern world there are countries where the exchange of wedding rings is not a tradition in principle. It is, first of all, about the Muslim states. The Qur'an says that gold harms spiritual development. A true Muslim will never wear a wedding ring. At the same time, you can give gold to a bride or wife. But in this case, any ring will become only a beautiful decoration, without any deep meaning.
