The ring is a symbol of marriage bonds, so it is believed from antiquity, from ancient Egyptian and Roman traditions. Then this trend spread to other sectors of society. The Romans gave the ring to the bride's parents, which symbolized the ability of the young husband to support his family. Today, the traditional exchange of rings between the bride and groom is observed in many cultures.
Different traditions involve wearing rings on different hands. Even the fingers can vary. In some cultures, they are usually worn on the left ring finger - or on the index finger. To understand this issue, it is necessary to consider the traditions of different nations.
Wearing a wedding ring in ancient times
Egyptians and Romans - they became the first connoisseurs of engagement rings. The choice in favor of jewelry, symbolizing eternity, and its presence in humans was associated with the Egyptian belief that this finger was in contact with the heart through an artery of love. Accordingly, the ring worn on this finger meant that a person’s heart was occupied, he had already found his soul mate. The Romans thought a little differently: according to their worldviews, the left hand was unhappy, and therefore wore jewelry on the right.
European tradition of wearing a ring
In some countries, the tradition was preserved after ancient times, but in others it returned only to the 17-18th century.In most cases, the ring was put on the right hand - even in England, where it is now customary to wear it on the left ring finger, until the 17th century, jewelry was worn on the right. Considering the reason for choosing the left hand, some researchers note that this was done as a sign of respect for her husband. In the past, in the framework of European traditions, husbands did not wear rings, and the wife had to put the jewelry on her left hand as a sign of submission to her husband. After all, the right hand is the most important and important, and the left is secondary.
Interesting fact: European men began to wear engagement jewelry from the Second World War. The rings reminded them of the women who were waiting at home.
European tradition suggests the following features of donning rings. The groom should put the jewelry on the index finger of his right hand, as he is considered the most important. Then, after the wedding, the bride can change his nameless. German lovers, as well as couples from the Netherlands often wear rings before the wedding - on their left hands, and only then change their clothes to the contrary to demonstrate the event and the change in their own position.
Global trends: how to wear a ring?
A number of countries support the wearing of a ring on his right hand. This category includes not only Russia, but also Spain, Norway, Colombia, Latvia, and many other countries. But in Turkey, Brazil and Lebanon, the decoration on the finger of the right hand is worn only before the wedding, then it changes to the left. It is also customary to do the same in Syria.
Interesting fact: Citizens of most Muslim countries do without wedding rings, because they don’t have a ritual with the exchange of jewelry. But if the rings are still present, they can usually be worn on both the right and left hand.
In India, rings were worn exclusively on the right hand, because the left is considered dirty. Although the situation has changed today, both options are acceptable. Only on the left hand rings are worn in England, the USA, Australia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and many Asian countries.
Interesting fact: widows often change the ring on the other hand, this is especially common in the tradition of its original wearing on the left hand. A ring changed to the other hand is intended to symbolize fidelity. Many widows, widowers do not part with him until the end of their days, refusing the subsequent possibilities of marriage.
How to wear a wedding ring?
Most Russians wear symbolic jewelry on their right hand. Someone periodically takes them off, putting them on from time to time, other people never take them off. In general, there are no strict canons; each person can wear the jewelry as they wish. So, some married women or married men dress the ring on their left hand so that it does not wear out so much and deteriorate from everyday activities.
It just bothers some people when it is on the working right hand. It is worth remembering that the engagement ring is a symbol of love and family happiness, because there can simply be no strict canons around it.After all, everyone has their own happiness, as well as the idea of an ideal marriage.
Why in Russia put on a wedding ring on his right hand?
Wearing a wedding ring on the right hand in Russia is a Christian custom, opposed to the Catholic choice in favor of the left hand. The right side is associated in the Christian worldview with good, light, harmony. To a person who expresses a true, competent opinion, in Russia they say: "you are right." The ring on the right hand symbolizes for the Orthodox Christian respect for marriage and an understanding of family values. The ring finger is chosen because the ring on it is least likely to interfere with manual labor.
Until 1755, the betrothal and the wedding were held separately, on the day of the betrothal it was supposed to give the bride a ring and a shawl, and by the evening send alcoholic drinks to her house for guests, the celebration began. The exchange of rings was not considered a wedding, it was a kind of engagement.
Marriage was held together only in the church, when spouses were supposed to drink from a special cup.
After the indicated date, when the Holy Synod simplified the procedure, the groom should simply buy a ring and hand it to the clergyman, or send it to the bride along with gifts in the form of wedding candles, veils, and other items. Rings began to be worn at the time of marriage, and not before, although the engagement tradition still persisted and played an important role.
So there were separate rings that were given at the engagement, and they could be much richer than those that were given to the bride at the wedding.But in any case, they always wore it on the right hand.
Interesting fact: The Christian tradition dictates to choose as simple as possible rings without jewelry for engagement, although today many people do not follow this tradition.
Thus, an engagement ring is worn from cultural beliefs rooted in society. It can be worn on the right hand according to Russian canons, which are also relevant for a number of other countries. According to English tradition, it is worn on the left hand. Sometimes a couple wears rings before the marriage, and then changes their clothes to other hands. And in Muslim countries, newlyweds may not have any rings at all.
