Traditionally, precious rings were worn on the left hand. This was done so that the decorations did not interfere with the work. But the wedding ring was an exception - it was worn on the right hand.
Representatives of almost all religions or mystical currents endowed the rings with magical properties. Tradition to exchange rings during the marriage ceremony existed among the Jews, Rusich, Gypsies and many other peoples. This custom was so popular that the Christian church did not dare to eradicate it by inscribing it into its wedding ceremony. The Church did not even reject the accepted symbolism of metals, ordering the groom to wear an iron ring, and the woman to wear a gold ring.
By the way, the tradition of wearing an engagement ring on an unnamed finger is also interesting. Historians and culturologists explain this custom by the fact that many peoples (in particular, the Egyptians) had an unnamed finger connected with the heart.
The first time the bride and groom exchange rings at the time of the engagement. The bridegroom gives her ring to the bride, and the bride leaves him his ring. The pair stores each other's rings until the wedding, when they exchange them repeatedly after taking oaths of loyalty. It is believed that after the couple put rings on each other's fingers, they can no longer be removed, but today this tradition is almost forgotten.
There is another version of the ring exchange during the engagement, popular in European countries, and more recently with us. During the engagement, the groom gives the bride an "engagement" ring. In our time it is customary to give a ring with one big stone - "solitaire", most often a diamond. The bride wears an engagement ring until the wedding, and during the wedding ceremony the groom takes this ring off the girl's finger, replacing it with a wedding. There is another option - after the wedding, the girl wears both rings on the ring finger - both engagement and engagement.
According to the ancient tradition, wedding rings should be smooth, without stones and filigree, because it is considered that "if the rings are smooth - and the whole married life will be smooth." The very word "ring" came from the word "colo" - a circle, and the circle from ancient times symbolized infinity, cyclicity and renewal. Modern newlyweds rarely follow this tradition, often opting for rings with an unusual design. Rings are often decorated with exquisite carving, encrusted with precious stones, and laser engraving.
Very often the newlyweds order jewelers engrave on their wedding rings any inscription. Such engravings can be both laser and relief, they can be applied both on the inner and outer sides of the ring.
Often couples choose to engrave phrases in Latin or other ancient languages. Here are the most popular and interesting, in our opinion, options:
- Aeterna historia - Eternal Story
- Absque omni exceptione - Without any doubt
- Ad vitam aut culpam - For life or until the first fault
- Hoc erat in fatis - It was destined to be fate
- Ne varietur - Not subject to change
- Sed semel insanivimus omnes - Once we all are insane
For the production of wedding rings use different metals: silver, gold, platinum, various alloys. Metal, from which the ring is made, you can determine by the sample, which is on the inside of the decoration. Of course, golden rings are the most popular. In the modern market there are gold rings for every taste - you can choose a gold ring in any color scheme. Red, yellow, white and even pink gold - the ingenuity of modern jewelers has no limits. Very popular are models combining several different metals, for example, gold and platinum.
Yes, in our time, the newlyweds have all the possibilities to make their wedding unique and memorable, filling this celebration with unique and symbolic things and engagement rings are not an exception. You can inherit rings from your parents, buy traditional jewelry or order "wedding rings" with an extravagant design. After all, what should be your wedding ring in the right to decide only you.