On which hand do people of different religions wear a wedding ring in different countries? On which finger do widowers wear wedding rings?
A symbol of eternal love and fidelity that has no end is a wedding ring. Many people know that it is worn on the ring finger, but not everyone knows on which hand the wedding ring is worn. In Russia and in other countries, wedding rings are worn differently. Let's talk today about which hand the wedding ring is placed on, and why this happened.
Wedding ring: how to wear it correctly
We briefly mentioned above which hand the wedding ring is worn on. It depends on the country in which the marriage takes place, or more precisely, on the traditions accepted in it. So, in Russia they put a wedding ring on the right hand (ring finger). By the way, in Germany, Poland, Greece and some other countries, the wedding ring is also worn on the right hand.
But residents of France, America, Mexico, Sweden, etc. wear a wedding ring on their left hand, on the same ring finger.
What explains this hand choice? Christianity is widespread in our country, while Catholicism predominates in the West.
For Orthodox Christians, the right hand is conventionally somewhat more important; it is used to take a vow of allegiance, make the sign of the cross, and, for the most part, do many things.
Countries where the wedding ring is worn on the left hand consider this hand to be more important (particularly in relation to the symbol of marriage), since the left hand is closer to the heart. Relatively speaking, we give our heart to our spouse.
In Russia, girls wear engagement rings (those that are given to a girl before marriage when proposing) on the same right hand, on the ring finger. An engagement ring is the only ring that can be worn with a wedding ring (after the wedding).
After divorce, the rings are usually removed.
If one of the spouses dies, the widower (widow) puts a wedding ring on the opposite hand as a sign of memory and preservation of love. Of course, the ring can be removed, that’s everyone’s business.
Different countries have their own traditions for wedding jewelry. They originate in ancient times. Jewelry in the form of a ring carries a deep, hidden meaning - a symbol of eternal love will preserve the relationship for a long time.
How to wear wedding jewelry
In Russia, spouses wear wedding rings on their right hand. Orthodox people rarely think about why this happened. We have such a built mentality that it is the right side that is associated with something reliable and unchanging. The Slavs made the sign of the cross with their right hand.
In the Catholic tradition, the decoration is worn on the left hand. This is how it is in Western European countries. Wearing a ring on the left hand dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. In addition, Catholics baptize on the left side in accordance with papal decree.
Muslims also agree with Catholics that the symbol of marital fidelity must be worn on the left hand. But such rings are worn exclusively by women, because it is considered bad luck for men to purchase or receive gold jewelry as a gift. Another thing is common among gypsies: they hang the symbol of eternal fidelity on a gold chain instead of a pendant.
What are wedding jewelry made from?
Rings are usually made of gold. Previously, noble metals were considered a sign of material well-being. It all depended on what metal was used to create the wedding decoration.
The future husband presented the ring as a gift to the bride's parents and thereby proved that he was rich and had the means to provide for his wife. So the groom wanted to win the favor of relatives who might not give their consent to the wedding.
Iron and copper wedding rings were chosen by poor people. However, this does not mean that the decoration lost its purpose. On the contrary, it continued to be a symbol of infinity. It was not for nothing that the newlyweds took a vow of unbreakable and pure love.
Why is the ring worn on the ring finger?
After archaeological excavations, scientists discovered that the first wedding rings appeared in Ancient Egypt. In the land of the sun, many experiments were carried out to study the structure of the human body. Egyptian healers found out that there is a special nerve running from the heart to the ring finger of the left hand. Europeans took advantage of ancient knowledge and chose this particular method of wearing.
The ring represented the marital union. There is a belief that jewelry on the ring finger cures any ailments and gives spiritual strength and fortitude. If a person puts a ring on his index finger, it means he is still looking for his soul mate.
In fact, it doesn’t really matter which hand you wear the treasured jewelry on. It is much more important that the home always remains the center of harmony and well-being. In order for a friendly atmosphere to always reign in the house, and for the spouses to live happily ever after, it is necessary to observe the tradition of wearing a wedding ring. Try not to lose the treasured decoration and do not forget to press the buttons and
30.07.2015 09:30
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The history of the ritual of putting on rings goes back centuries and remains completely unsolved to this day. There are many versions explaining why and on which hand family people from different countries of the world wear wedding rings. This is partly due to religion, the characteristics of the human body, or even prejudices.
Why a gold ring?
People have worn jewelry since ancient times. They were made from different metals, but gold was more valuable. A man who gave a girl (in some countries, her parents) a gold wedding ring with a marriage proposal became a guarantee that his beloved would live in abundance.
An engagement ring is a sign of an endless love affair. By exchanging this attribute, the young people promise to love each other and remain faithful forever
What does the shape mean? In shape, they resemble chain links that seem to bind the main characters of the newly-made family with close ties.
On the left hand
The emblazoned attribute of family life on the phalanx of the finger of the left hand is a tradition accepted by Catholics. They are inclined to the theory that the ritual came from ancient Egyptian times. In those ancient hours, healers understood the structure of the body and allegedly discovered the presence of a vein running from the left arm to the heart area. Her called the "love vein". Hence it is believed that the ring on the left palm means love.
Now Armenians, Americans, Azerbaijanis, Turks, Slovaks, British and other Catholic countries wear rings like this.
Considering how Muslims wear a wedding ring, we note that initially their culture did not provide for this ritual. It was a consequence of the influence of Western traditions. Females wear This is a decoration for the left arm, and Islam completely prohibits men from wearing gold.
On the right hand
In Orthodoxy, this attribute should be on the right side. One theory explains this in such a way that the left side was accepted as sinful and unclean, and the right side was accepted as true and fair. After all, it is with your right hand that you need to sign various kinds of documents. Couples wear attributes of fidelity on the right hand in Russia, as well as in such countries of the world as: Austria, Ukraine, Greece, Peru, Colombia. Among the Germans, newlyweds wear rings on their left ring finger before the official ceremony, and on their right finger afterward. In India, it is allowed to decorate any side. Jewish traditions provide for a ritual when the future spouse crowns the index finger of the betrothed's right hand with gold jewelry, and only after official registration can married women change placement by placing the ring or middle finger on the phalanx.
Signs
Rings given to a young couple by grandparents who have lived their lives in unbreakable marriage and harmony will bring happiness. Rings of deceased relatives better not to wear it, and look for something new.
Orthodox people say that you shouldn’t let someone try on a wedding ring before the wedding, but if the betrothed’s girlfriend touches it afterwards, she may also get married soon.
An interesting ancient custom is when the wedding jewelry of future newlyweds was immersed in one container of water and completely frozen. Since water is a carrier of information, the rings “remember” that they were inseparable in a block of ice. Holders of this pair of rings will experience mutual attraction throughout life.
Not always by which side the wedding ring is worn, one can judge one's religion , marital status or nationality. Divorced couples often wear this attribute on the opposite hand, while widows do not wear them at all. It is customary for gypsies to wear a wedding ring around their neck. It does not play a significant role in how and where men and women wear it. The important thing is that this piece of jewelry was and remains a symbol of endless love and fidelity.
A marriage proposal is a very exciting moment for any man, and the question often arises: on which finger do they put the ring on when proposing to a girl? It would seem such a simple nuance, but, as it turns out, young people often do not know what and how to do at this moment. Let's figure out where this tradition comes from and how it is done today.
1000 and one opinion on which hand the engagement ring is worn on
Of course, there are two options - the ring finger of the left or right hand. But there are many opinions. Let's dispel the myths about which hand to wear the engagement ring on.
Myth 1. Married ladies put a ring on their right hand, and free ladies put a ring on their left hand.
In fact, you are free to wear your rings wherever you want. True, Russia has its own traditions: widows or divorced women transfer the wedding ring from the right to the left hand.
Myth 2. Photos of celebrities showing off their proposals show an engagement ring on their left hand. Who, if not they, knows exactly where to wear the rings.
A good argument if we are talking about domestic, our own stars. Compare about a hundred different photos of celebrities, and you will understand that there is no monotony.
Myth 3. We read a beautiful legend on the Internet that the “artery of love” passes straight through the left hand to the heart, so the ring is put on the left hand.
Beautiful, but somewhere in Europe. Of course, if your beloved girl is Catholic, then definitely go to the left.
Dear men, rehearsing a beautiful declaration of love and living in our country!
Remember, the ring is put on the finger of the right hand!
It so happened in Rus' that the right hand is from God. The right side is truth, grace, everything important is done through the right hand. They make the sign of the cross with their right hand. A ring on your right hand means that your marriage is under the protection of higher powers.
The left hand is from the evil one, the devil. According to Orthodox Christians, this can lead to the collapse of a marriage.
An engagement is not a wedding, but why is it so important for girls?
Everyone who is getting married will have to learn which hand the engagement ring is worn on, because this is important for your chosen one, and you yourself are unlikely to want to overshadow the engagement moment with a hesitation in this matter.
The word “engagement” used to mean that rumors (news) about the upcoming wedding had been started, so the guy and the girl could publicly show each other signs of attention. To put it nicely, a marriage proposal has been made. Simply, the girl agreed to marry a specific young man.
The results of a survey conducted on women's forums are interesting: the engagement with the presentation of the ring is valued higher among ladies than the wedding itself. Surprised?
The women's magazine invited readers to tell about an amazing and happy day in their lives. Men, think about it - 76% of the stories sent were about marriage proposals! This is happiness, but you don’t want to know which finger they put the ring on when they propose.
Why does the ring finger have no name?
Everyone knows where they wear a wedding ring - on the ring finger of the right hand.
There is a belief that each finger on the hand symbolizes a certain person.
The middle one is you, in the middle of the family. The thumb, and it is strong, the main one is our parents. The index finger, poking into everything – our sisters and brothers. Little finger, small, inept - our children.
And who does the nameless person represent? Your soulmate, we don’t have a name in advance, we don’t know yet who we will accept into our family.
Remember: The ring finger for the ring is a symbol of a strong family.
Do you have any doubts? Place your palms together and press your fingertips together. Which of them cannot be separated from each other? Nameless ones, of course! May you have the same indivisible union!
Direct confirmation of marital love and fidelity Many peoples consider it a wedding ring; on which hand this irreplaceable attribute of family happiness is worn, we will look into this in our article.
The tradition of newlyweds exchanging wedding rings with each other began a long time ago. There is archaeological evidence that In Ancient Egypt, gold wedding rings were first worn by pharaohs. and high-ranking persons, and later ordinary citizens, could put copper, silver and bronze jewelry on the fingers of their beloved.
And they wore this accessory on the ring finger of the left hand, since, according to ancient Egyptian doctors, it was directly connected to the heart, using a blood vessel called the “artery of love.” By the way, this tradition has survived to this day in most countries with Catholic and Protestant forms of religion.
Orthodox Christians There is also a tradition of wearing a wedding ring; it’s probably not difficult to understand on which hand this jewelry is worn. Of course, on the right. Residents of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Austria, Germany, Greece put “engagement rings” on their significant other’s right hand. This is what the laws of the Bible say: according to legend, behind a person’s right shoulder stands his guardian angel, and behind his left is the tempting serpent. In Orthodoxy, all good deeds are connected precisely with the right half of the human body, and the left supposedly belongs to the unclean.
Surprisingly, Muslims don't wear wedding rings in general, or they put it on the left hand.
Today, the tradition of purchasing precious rings not only for a wedding, but also for a proposal, is rapidly gaining ground. Perhaps every girl dreams of such a long-awaited gift, because after this she gets official status of the bride. An engagement ring has a less conservative design than a wedding ring: it can be encrusted with stones or decorated with engraving. This accessory looks simply gorgeous on your finger. However, wait... where should I put it on?
We already know on which hand the wedding ring is worn in Russia - it is, of course, the right hand, the ring finger. So, logically, an unmarried girl should put a ring on any finger other than the ring finger. However, before the wedding, the bride has the legal right to give her ring finger a short “test drive” so that everyone can see the extent of her happiness. After a girl acquires the status of a married woman, she can hide her engagement ring for her heirs or wear it on one finger with your wedding band. Rings preserved from the engagement date are also worn on the middle finger.
Ancient signs for newlyweds
As soon as you put this complex decoration on your finger and the finger of your loved one, you become one, united by the infinity symbol. Therefore, many ancient traditions and signs are associated with this accessory.
- Before the wedding, some northern peoples immersed the newlyweds' wedding rings in clean water and froze them. The water united the rings together and, as it were, “remembered” this moment forever, so when the rings thawed, they remained connected to each other forever.
- As is known, You can't give your ring to anyone or let me try it on. Even if a friend asks you for an engagement ring to see how it will look on her finger, rush to refuse. If such a result is not possible, do not pass the ring from hand to hand. Remove it and put it on the table, after trying it on, return the ring back in the same way - “through the table”. This way you will cleanse it of unnecessary energy. You can also breathe into the hole in the ring.
On which finger do you wear a wedding ring after a divorce?
We have already figured out which finger the wedding ring is worn on according to Christian and, accordingly, Russian tradition. Men in the times of Ancient Rus' did not wear rings at all, however, this habit, to the great happiness of many women, has become a thing of the past. Today you can easily distinguish which man is single and which is already “ringed” and is of no interest to young ladies who want to get married as soon as possible. After all, every girl dreams of mastering the secret... And for this it is necessary to distinguish free men from employed ones.
By the way, After divorce, the wedding ring is removed or they give it to a jewelry maker so that he can make another product out of it. Do not give your ring to other people if your marriage was unhappy or you are divorced. Accordingly, do not accept such a ring as a gift. Divorced people sometimes change clothes from the right hand to the left, also on the ring finger. Widows and widowers sometimes do the same.
Why do you dream about a wedding ring?
It happens that an unmarried girl, long before her wedding, dreams that she is putting on a wedding ring. Sometimes this dream appears so unexpectedly that the young lady, after waking up, is at a loss as to why she dreams of a wedding ring on her finger. After all, perhaps she doesn’t even have a fiancé yet. However, such a dream, as they say in hand, soon you will meet your betrothed and receive a marriage proposal.
It happens that in a dream you may dream of a “strange” ring– it doesn’t fit you in size, it slips off, it doesn’t fit well. This bad sign, or rather a warning that you may lose your loved one or loved one. Some girls wonder why they dreamed of a ring, but there is still no wedding. Sometimes this dream also means the opposite – temporary difficulties on the path to personal happiness. However, the reward is not far off - you will find a person who will give you the treasured gift.