Ring Finger
The wedding ring has been traditionally worn on the third finger of the left hand. There are two strong beliefs:One, dating back to the 17th century, during the Christian wedding the priest arrived at the fourth finger (counting the thumb) after touching the three fingers on the left hand “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost”. . This was known as the Trinitarian formula.
Another belief refers to an Egyptian belief that the third finger follows the vena amoris; the “vein of love” that runs directly to the heart.
Basically through carelessness in cataloguing human anatomy the ring finger was thought to be the connecting vein to the heart, evolved from the Greeks, and continued to Western culture. Romans plagiarizing Greek anatomy charts adopted the ring practice without question. This also became the Roman physician’s “healing finger“, used to stir mixture of drugs. Since the finger’s vein supposedly ran to the heart, any potentially toxic concoction would be readily recognized by a doctor “in his heart” before being administered to a patient.
Other ring fingers that were used were: the thumb, or left hand for engagement, and then the right hand during the wedding ceremony.
Claddagh Ring
Named from the fishing village in Western Ireland. The Claddagh ring has been handed down from mother to daughter and used as a betrothal and wedding rings. Worn with the crowns facing inward (toward the wrist) on betrothal, and outward (toward the fingertip) to symbolize marriage. It is improper for a person to buy it for him/herself; it must be given as a gift.
“The Old Claddagh ring, it was my grandmothers,
She wore it her lifetime and gave it to me.”
~~~(A ballad written about the Claddagh ring)
Wedding Rings
In mythology, Prometheus smelted a ring from the fire of the gods for mankind, out of love.
Tidbits:
Double ring ceremonies were not popularized until after World War II, in the United States.
Some of the other common beliefs were:
- The wedding ring was, thought to be, used by Barbarians to tether the bride to her captor’s home.
- Wealthy Egyptians and later Romans valued gold rings.
- A finger ring was first used in the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, around 2800 BC. To the Egyptians, a circle, having no beginning or end signified eternity–for which marriage was binding.
- To avoid the misfortune of breaking, the wedding ring would be made of a strong metal, like iron. If the ring were to break this would be a very bad omen.
Engagement Ring
First was proof of intent:
Well before the 15th century, an early Anglo-Saxon custom required that a prospective bridegroom break some highly valued personal belonging. Half of the broken token was held by the father of the bride and the other half by the groom. A wealthy man was expected to split a piece of gold or silver. The ring the bride received at proposal was given to her again during the wedding ceremony.
Then there were bands:
The earliest engagement rings were also used as wedding rings, serving to seal an act of sale which transferred ownership of a daughter from father to husband. Such rings were usually of solid gold to prove the groom’s worth.
For Roman Catholics, the engagement ring became a required statement of nuptial intent, as decreed by Pope Nicholas I in AD 860. The engagement ring was to be of valued metal, preferably gold, which for the husband-to-be represented a financial sacrifice.
And finally there were diamonds:
Signifying enduring love, and chosen for its durability, the diamond was chosen for the engagement ring. The diamond’s fire is also associated with “love’s clear flame”.
Given by Medieval Italians because of their belief that the diamond was created from the flames of love.
The Venetians were the first to discover that the diamond is one of the hardest, most enduring substances in nature, and the fine cutting and polishing releases the brilliance. Rarity and cost limited their rapid proliferation throughout Europe but their intrinsic appeal guaranteed them a future. By the seventeenth century, the diamond ring had become the most popular sought after statement of European engagement.
Interesting history:
The Council of Elvira condemned the parents of a man who terminated an engagement to excommunication for three years. If a woman backed out for reasons unacceptable to the Church, her parish priest had the authority to order her into a nunnery for life. For a time, “till death do us part” began weeks or months before the bride and groom were even united.
Other Interesting Notes:
Great misfortune was said to occur if the ring was dropped during the ceremony or if it is lost or removed at any point during one’s married life.
The rings should be tried on by no one else, to avoid absorbing another’s ill fortune
Misc:
Birthstone Rings:
It was considered lucky to wear your fiancées birthstone.
Gimmal Rings:
series of separate rings that forms one ring when inter locked. During engagement period, one of each of the rings was worn by the bride, the groom and a special witness. All are brought together on the wedding day and worn by the bride.
Posy Rings:
Engraved with a special sentiment or poem.
Regard Rings:
By placing together the first letter from each gemstone, a word was revealed. The name “regard” would be created from: ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby & diamond. Gemstones can be used to spell a variety of sentiments or fiancée’s name.
Keeper Rings:
Once used to keep to the more valuable rings beneath it from falling off.