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History of Wedding RingsThe Wedding Ring – History of the Symbol of LoveEvery year, thousands of couples around the world exchange wedding rings but many of them do not know the history behind this meaningful act or the history of the ring itself, probably the oldest wedding tradition out there. The wedding ring of course, as they know it, symbolizes eternal love, devotion, and loyalty of the marriage union. But when did people start wearing it? And why is it worn on the left hand? The history of the wedding ring goes back 5,000 years ago. The wedding ring tradition was first originated by the Egyptians who believed that the ring’s circular shape symbolized perfection and eternity. The hole in the center of the ring is said to be the symbol of the gateway to things and events, both known and unknown. This belief is recorded in the Egyptian hieroglyphics, which were found on the walls of Egyptian tombs and translated by archaeologists. The first wedding ring was probably made of hemp, which would need to be changed often. Eventually they started using a more lasting material, such as leather, bone, ivory, and finally metal, to craft the ring. Despite the less-than-perfect shape of the ring, being crude and lumpy, the sentiment of eternal love and commitment remained the same. The Egyptians wore the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was believed that the vein of that finger is directly connected to the heart. The Greeks continued this tradition when they conquered Egypt in 332 B.C. and later passed it onto the Romans who called it the ‘vena amoris’, meaning ‘the vein of love’. Today, this tradition is practiced in most parts of the world simply because most people are right handed. Certain countries and groups, however, have a different tradition. The Roman Catholics in Europe wear the ring on the right hand, while the Jewish traditionally wear their wedding rings on the index finger. The thumb also briefly challenged the common norm during the 17th century when wedding rings were typically worn on this finger. This practice did not last and it was back to the fourth-finger tradition pretty quickly. Despite the long history of the wedding rings, men only began to wear them in the last century. Before 1940, only about 15% of couples exchanged wedding rings. However, this percentage quickly rose to 60% during the World War II, when many young men left behind their wives, fiancés, and girlfriends, and later to 70% during the Korean War. Today, almost every couple has a double-ring ceremony and men have even started wearing engagement rings! |
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