A wedding or altar ring is a symbol of marriage, fidelity and devotion to a partner. Legal spouses wear wedding rings on the left or right hand, which largely depends on the accepted traditions or religion. But is the ring finger always used to wear this symbolic jewelry? Let's figure out which finger the wedding ring is worn on in different countries by representatives of different faiths and nationalities.
The history of rings, including wedding rings, begins with Ancient Egypt - they served as a symbol of power and its continuity, indicating the status of the owner
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Why is a wedding ring worn on the ring finger?
When getting engaged, it is not by chance that a ring is put on the ring finger, and the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt are also “guilty” of this. They believed that a thin nerve connected the ring finger and the heart, and the Greeks and Romans also believed that rubbing medicinal ointments with this finger would lead to relief from many ailments. Wearing a wedding ring correctly means creating an unbreakable, healthy and fulfilling bond between husband and wife.
In ancient times, the choice of metal for wedding jewelry also played a significant role: only rich people could afford gold, and silver, copper, bronze or iron were used by poorer people. In the modern world, a silver or gold wedding ring is chosen mainly based on personal preferences, clothing style and financial capabilities.
Superstitions
Signs
According to most people, wedding accessories are magical symbols of the marital union of souls. Therefore, it is not surprising that many different signs and beliefs are associated with them. Here are some of them:
- You should not let anyone try on your jewelry , as you will thereby let someone try on your happiness.
- If your friend touches the attribute after registration , then soon she too will get married.
- You cannot use rings that you received from divorced or widowed people , because they can bring you the same fate.
- But if you use jewelry from grandparents who happily spent their entire married life together, then this, on the contrary, is good and will bring you the same luck in family relationships.
- If you drop it during the ceremony, it means bad luck in the family.
- And if you lose it , it means divorce.
- Do not put a wedding accessory on a glove , because in this case your connection with your chosen one will not be strengthened. If the image includes such a thing, then remove it first.
- It is unfortunate to acquire symbols of love at different times and in different places .
- Don't engrave the outside - it promises an uneven life.
- Do not wear rings before the wedding , as they must be together before registration, otherwise their strength will be impaired, which will lead to misunderstandings, quarrels and discord.
Why don't they film it?
- It is generally accepted that in this case the connection between husband and wife is broken , and their union will face troubles;
- others may think that you are looking for a soul mate ;
- This can offend your lover.
On which hand do they wear a wedding ring?
In Russia and other Orthodox countries, a man puts a wedding ring on a woman’s right hand, but this is not customary everywhere. In the West, married women are supposed to wear a ring on their left hand (because it is closer to the heart), while divorced or widowed women transfer the jewelry to their right hand. Married men wear a ring according to the same principle.
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The newlyweds put on their wedding ring at the registry office. And if you live in a civil marriage, you can put on rings when you decide to live together. The jewelry symbolizes, albeit not a registered, but a family.
If you got divorced
Unfortunately, it happens that people get divorced, no one is immune from this, and in such a situation the wedding ring is simply removed by the ex-spouses. Whether to throw it away, put it in a pawn shop or store it, each person, of course, decides for himself. For example, men often adhere to the second option, and girls to the third, because they are more sensitive to jewelry.
You definitely shouldn’t give your product to someone, because it won’t bring happiness to anyone.
Sometimes former lovers after a divorce still continue to wear this attribute, in most cases, choosing the left hand for this.
Wedding ring on left hand
Let us once again clarify the meaning of the ring on the left hand on the ring finger: thus the decoration is worn either by Catholics or divorced/widowed Orthodox Christians. The Catholic religion is very widespread in the world: Americans, Turks, Germans, Italians, French and representatives of many other nationalities put a wedding ring on a girl’s left hand.
Gypsies quite often wear wedding rings not on their hands at all, but as a pendant on a neck chain
In the East things are different. Koreans, for example, in principle do not attach any deep philosophical meaning to wearing rings, so marriage jewelry can be seen on the right hand, but more often they are found on the left.
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Widowers
A man who has become a widower can continue to wear a symbol of love and fidelity. But psychologists are opposed to such behavior. After all, an invisible connection with the deceased, which a man continues to maintain by continuing to wear jewelry on his hand, can have a negative impact on his future relationships. A widower wearing a ring on his right finger is still deeply attached to his late wife and is not ready to move on.
If a man cannot completely erase his deceased wife from his memory, he can leave the wedding jewelry, changing it to his left hand.
Wedding ring on the right hand
Russians put a wedding ring on their right hand when they get married. This is explained by the fact that from time immemorial the right hand was considered the right hand, intended to accomplish good, just deeds. There can be nothing more correct than the union of a couple into a family, which is why in Orthodoxy both married men and married women wear a wedding ring on their right hand.
In Serbia and Greece, in Ukraine and Belarus, in Georgia and Russia they wear a wedding ring on the right hand
Muslims do not wear a ring on the right ring finger; for them, the left hand is considered the traditional wedding hand. Many Muslim men do not wear rings at all, partly due to polygamy customary in Islam. In addition, a Muslim cannot wear a gold wedding ring or any jewelry made of gold is haram. Of the precious metals, only silver or platinum are allowed to be worn.
In China, a woman wears a ring on her right hand, and a man on his left: the wife is considered the keeper of the hearth and the head of the family. But there are also couples in which equality reigns and both have rings on their left hands. In mixed Chinese marriages with foreigners, wedding jewelry can be worn in different ways.
In case of divorce, Catholics simply stop wearing the ring; they do not have the custom of exchanging the traditional left “engagement” hand for the right. The family symbol can “move” to the right hand in three cases:
- the owner is widowed;
- the finger on the left hand has become too thick - this often happens in left-handed people;
- the person converted to Orthodoxy.
Traditions of different pages and religions
The most important word here is traditions: not laws, not strict regulations, not clear recommendations or guidelines. Traditions are an expression of habits, customs that have developed over centuries and nothing more. To accept them or not is the voluntary choice of each person.
Notice how great the differences are between the characteristics of wearing wedding rings among many nations, but family happiness is, on average, the same for everyone. Some wear rings on their right hand, others wear jewelry on their left, middle or ring finger, index or even little finger. Many couples do not pay any attention to which finger the ring is worn on: the middle finger is more comfortable for the husband, the ring finger for the wife, but it is unlikely that this difference affects the feelings and relationships in the couple.
In Russia
If we take into account the traditions that have developed since ancient times, then in our country the wedding ceremony instructs the bride and groom to put wedding rings on the ring fingers of their right hand. This custom can be explained quite rationally: our Slavic ancestors crossed themselves with their right hand, used it to do all the housework, pay for purchases, take many household items, and also gave alms.
The right hand was considered life-giving, dominant - a wedding ring was placed on its ring finger. It is worth noting that engagement rings were not common in Russia for a long time, although in the Middle Ages some semblance of such a tradition still existed. The groom expressed his intentions to marry precisely by gifts to his future wife and members of her family. Among others, the gifts included a ring. For many reasons, mainly economic, this custom gradually faded into history, but is being successfully revived in our time.
In the USA and Europe
American traditions are completely opposite to Russian ones: both the engagement and the wedding ring are placed on the left hand of the future wife. This is where geography and the customs of different religions come into play. In the United States, most believers adhere to the Catholic denomination, where it is customary to wear rings on the left hand.
But with European countries everything is not so simple. Brides and grooms in the western part, as in the United States, do not hesitate to extend their left hand on their wedding day, while the eastern part, although not all, for the most part, like Russians, wear wedding rings on their right hand. And such a trifle does not at all separate loving hearts from different countries.
Of course, if we analyze the traditions in detail, by country, some confusion will arise: for example, Spanish couples, Polish or Norwegian right-handed couples, while France or England, Ireland, Slovenia and a number of others prescribe wearing rings on the left hand. By the way, even with little sunny Spain, misunderstandings can arise - proud Catalonia, long before its separation from the Spanish state, always wore wedding rings on its right hand. But who can stop such details if love and family happiness are at stake!
Muslims
This is not an easy question, because for men, Islamic traditions do not provide for such an attribute as wedding rings. But the east is a mysterious matter, so sometimes everything depends on the geography of residence of the bride and groom. The fact is that in ancient centuries, rulers of different countries were happy to teach ordinary people about fashion: for example, a decree of the Shah could command the wearing of a wedding ring on the index finger, and his colleague in the neighborhood, in order to be different, ordered to get engaged only with rings on the little fingers. It’s easy to guess that there were 10 wearing options, based on the number of fingers on both hands.
Nowadays, this whole complex system has more or less come to a single result, and Muslims, like the majority of those getting married around the world, more often wear wedding rings on their ring fingers. Right or left hand - depends on the country of residence. There is, however, a nuance: men wearing gold, to put it mildly, is not recommended, so silver, platinum, a non-standard shape of a wedding ring and many other tricks are used. If a man wears jewelry that vaguely resembles a wedding ring, for example, on his little finger or even his index finger or thumb, this may also well mean that he is married.
Jews
Jews make up the largest part of the adherents of this denomination, and it is also impossible to say that there is a single rite of marriage here. It all depends on how strong the faith of those entering into marriage is, whether the bride and groom follow the canons of the Torah (the holy book of the Jews), and whether they want to live in respect for the traditions of their parents, ancestors, and the nation as a whole.
For secular youth, the wearing of rings by husband and wife is not prohibited; the style of jewelry, hand and fingers are chosen at the request of the future spouses. But for God-fearing young people, honoring the traditions and prescriptions of the Torah is sacred: wearing a ring for a man is inappropriate. Therefore, during the ceremony of initiation into a wife, the ring is worn only by the bride, and on the index finger of the left hand (in Jerusalem - on the middle one).
It is characteristic that the decoration is on this finger only until the end of the ceremony, and then the young wife puts it on and subsequently wears it on any one convenient for her. It is easy to come to the conclusion that most women prefer the nameless one that is already familiar to everyone, just like a man who decides to follow secular traditions. The choice of hand does not matter.
Which finger is the engagement ring worn on?
Don't confuse an engagement ring with a wedding ring. During the engagement, the engagement ring is also placed on the ring finger of an unmarried girl, and on which hand depends on the country and customs. And brides wear an engagement ring before the wedding, showing others: the girl’s heart and hand are occupied, and the wedding will soon take place. On the day of the wedding ceremony, the engagement ring is transferred to the middle finger, giving way to the wedding ring on the ring finger.
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Sometimes after the wedding they put two rings on the ring finger, fortunately there are no clear recommendations and rules on this matter. But most married ladies are inclined to believe that the engagement ring, which signifies the status of a bride, should be replaced with a wedding ring, which signifies the status of a wife. In addition, the engagement ring is often chosen from jewelry with a beautiful stone, and wearing an engagement and wedding ring together on one finger is simply inconvenient.
Purity Ring
If you are not yet completely confused about engagement rings, wedding rings, traditions, fingers and hands, here is another idea for you - how to diversify your life before marriage with the help of rings. The jewelry, as a symbol of purity, is worn by a couple who wish to get married, but at the same time observe the tradition of abstaining from sex until the wedding ceremony.
Unlike wedding and engagement rings, the purity ring has its own symbolism; in Russia these are Christian prayers transferred to the outside or inside of the jewelry. Western options are also associated with the Christian faith, but are framed in the traditions of a particular denomination. In other countries, the purity ring is also called the daughter's oath to the father.
Which hand is the wedding ring placed on?
There is a third type of ring, one way or another connected with the unity of a couple - a wedding ring. Among the Slavs, wedding and betrothal were two completely different rites, and accordingly, different rings were provided for them.
Wedding rings are put on the fingers of the spouses during the sacrament of wedding in the church, civil wedding rings - in the registry office
Sunlight Gold Wedding Ring
The groom's wedding ring is made of gold, the bride's is made of silver. This difference in execution materials is due to the man’s personification of Christ, and the woman’s personification of the Church. Orthodox Christians who adhere to the traditions of the faith wear a wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand: it is believed that the artery leading to the heart runs through this finger.
As is customary in Western countries
There is no single rule - each country has different customs. On the right, the rings are worn by residents of Spain, Germany and Greece, Hungary and Bulgaria, Portugal and Poland.
Americans, French, Brazilians, Italians and residents of other countries where there are many Catholics and Protestants are accustomed to wearing “wedding bands” on the left. Representatives of the Catholic Church explain this tradition simply - the left hand is closer to the “love center” - the heart, and the “vein of love” runs from the ring finger to it. Is it possible to find a more suitable place for such a symbol of matters of the heart as an engagement ring?
Is it possible to wear wedding rings before marriage?
It is not recommended for those who believe in omens to wear wedding rings before the wedding - it’s like a groom seeing the bride’s dress before the wedding, as a sign of some kind of trouble. Of course, an unmarried woman wants to show off a beautiful piece of jewelry and a new status, but this is exactly why an engagement ring is purchased at the moment of engagement. From now on, this is a stop signal for all other applicants: this woman has a man who is going to connect his life with her.
Remember: a wedding ring is not a toy or something to show off to your friends.
Is it possible to wear two rings on one finger?
Modern jewelry stores offer magnificent sets of engagement and wedding rings that are comfortable to wear on one finger. Designers create a wide variety of models combining gold, silver, platinum, other metals and materials, decorated with scatterings of small precious stones.
The fashion world is fickle. If previously the combination of white and yellow gold was considered vulgar, now such products are in trend. Also, the appearance of a girl with a set studded with diamonds in the work office or in casual clothes does not surprise anyone. Anything that looks beautiful, elegant, stylish is allowed.
Many ladies wear three pieces of jewelry on one finger at once, matched by style or purchased as a set - engagement, wedding and wedding. Such decorations look excellent and attract attention. Smooth models, devoid of any decorations, are considered traditional. But you can choose products of the most fantastic shapes, with floral patterns, various symbols, and inscriptions.
Jewelry is often decorated with large and small precious stones. These could be diamonds and emeralds worth millions of dollars, or a few sparkling stones that complete the composition with an elegant touch. In aristocratic circles, restrained classics are in fashion, following a high style consecrated by centuries-old traditions.
On which finger should the ring be worn apart?
Few people plan to wear a wedding ring after a divorce, especially if the breakup was painful. More often, divorced women and men prefer to remake the ring into some other piece of jewelry - miniature earrings, a pendant, a tie pin.
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If the former spouses remained on normal terms, retained warm feelings for each other and are in no hurry to make new romantic acquaintances, the wedding ring is simply transferred to the ring finger of the other hand. It does not always remain there for a long time: new heartfelt attachments arise, which can end in quite successful relationships and the formation of a new family.
Adviсe
In conclusion, some tips for choosing and purchasing:
- According to statistics from jewelry factories, the fashion for wedding rings changes every year. At the same time, the greatest demand occurs consistently in summer and early autumn. It is by this time that manufacturers expand their range as much as possible and update collections, so even if you decide to get married in winter, buy rings in September .
- If you still have an expensive and beautiful ring from your first marriage, do not use it as an engagement ring in your next marriage. If you don't believe in the energy of things, consider it just a bad omen .
- If money is short before the wedding, buy silver wedding rings . Many jewelry manufacturers offer such budget, but very nice and stylish products. They are often made in vintage style, which is especially popular now. More expensive gold ones can be given to each other, say, on the fifth wedding anniversary, and then they will become a real symbol of love, family and fidelity.
Original bvlgari wedding rings are the choice for connoisseurs of luxury and style. Read our article about a beautiful old Russian matchmaking ritual.
How should you properly prepare for the sacrament of a wedding in church? Everything about the wedding ceremony.
How widows wear wedding rings
Widowhood is always a grief for the remaining spouse, especially if the relationship was really close and warm. As a memory of the years lived together, a wife can wear a wedding ring after the death of her husband, just like a husband after the death of his wife.
Gold engagement ring with diamonds in the Sunlight catalog
It is not necessary to wear jewelry on the finger after the death of a spouse, but if a widow or widower has made such a decision, then there may be several options for wearing it:
- the widow wears her or her husband's wedding ring on the ring finger of her left hand;
- you can wear yours on your right hand, and your husband’s on your left;
- you can wear both rings on your left hand;
- sometimes a widower wears a ring on his right hand, and his wife wears it on a chain: women’s jewelry sizes are much smaller, and the wife’s ring simply won’t fit on a man’s finger.
Sometimes the wedding ring of the deceased spouse is donated to the church - people believe that this is the only way the soul of the deceased will find peace. Listen to your heart and do as it tells you.
Types of wedding products
Nowadays, the variety of accessories is simply off the charts. And since for Russians there are no specific rules regarding engagement, the future bride and groom can choose whatever their heart desires.
If we talk about metal, then today it is gold that remains the most popular and in demand. After all, such jewelry looks fashionable, stylish and elegant, moreover, it is durable and requires almost no maintenance. What, for example, cannot be said about silver, because over time it turns black.
Advice. White gold models are an excellent modern option.
Without decoration
Despite the huge selection, the most popular rings among newlyweds remain simple rings made of red gold, without any decoration, stones, etc. The rim of the product can be wide or flat. Everything depends on your hands. For example, the first case is good for men and women with chubby fingers, and the second is suitable for graceful thin ones.
Such modest classic models are usually bought by discreet people who prefer elegance and sophistication to luxury and chic. Choosing rings without decoration means that lovers take their marriage seriously and thoughtfully, and they do not have to shout about their feelings while showing off expensive and bright accessories.
Decorated
But this option is the exact opposite of the previous one. Models with decor are especially loved by girls. Rings can be decorated with: diamonds, cubic zirconia, precious stones, large or barely noticeable diamond chips on the rim, and so on.
Naturally, they will cost more than simple modest ones. But if you really want something unusual, luxurious and chic, then you should definitely take it. After all, you need to wear this symbol of love all your life and you need it to suit you and please your eyes.
It is not necessary for a man to choose a ring with stones; if he does not want one, he can get by with a classic wide bezel.
With engraving
Cute inscriptions are preferred by people who want to make their product individual and different from others. Engraving can be in the form of the names of the spouses, their wedding date, surname, first letters of the name, and so on. It all depends on the imagination of the lovers.
Advice. The inscription can be located both inside and outside. Depending on what you want: for it to be only for you or visible to everyone.
Doubles
Rings that are absolutely identical in appearance are chosen by romantic natures. This primarily speaks of their mutual love, joint decisions, similar positions and common views.
Gold is still most often used as a metal. And the decoration can be one or more diamonds, a diamond path, all kinds of curls, a scattering of precious stones and much more. The main thing is that they should be made in the same style, and differ only in size.
It doesn’t matter what country you are from, what finger you will wear your wedding ring on and what it will look like, the only important thing is that this piece of jewelry becomes a talisman of your sincere and eternal love.
What is important to know about the finger of the Sun
The finger of the Sun is designed to wear a wedding ring. The tradition was founded by the ancient Egyptians, who believed in the special power of the finger. They believed that from his phalanx came the “artery of love”, which led to the heart. During the period of the dominance of Ancient Rome, people began to give their other half jewelry made of iron or bronze, which meant love and fidelity.
Currently, the product symbolizes the desire for luxury, wealth and recognition by society.
Palmistry Basics
According to the tenets of palmistry, the ring finger is dedicated to the ancient Greek god Apollo. This Olympian deity rules light and is directly identified with the Sun.
It is believed that the finger of Apollo is responsible for the emotional and sensual sphere of a person, his secret desires and subconscious impulses. In addition, he is given responsibility for a person’s creative abilities, his self-confidence, the ability to control his own emotions and the tendency to create.
The ring finger is also responsible for the tendency to take risks, gambling and all kinds of addictions. Unfortunately, the Sun also has its not-so-pleasant sides!
In most cultures (including ancient Slavic), the Sun is associated with the active masculine principle, responsible for creation and movement forward. But the Moon symbolizes the passive feminine principle, which is designed to balance the active masculine nature and direct its energy in the right direction.
A well-developed long ring finger indicates the primacy of masculinity. Here is a very active person, not devoid of talent, prone to excitement and risk to the point of foul. Such a person is often chosen as a leader. And he lives up to expectations, unless, of course, he falls beyond the bounds of reason due to his inability to calculate the situation due to being blinded by excitement.
A short and weak ring finger (much shorter than the index finger) is more common among shy people who are unable to make independent decisions and have poor control over their own emotions - in a word, melancholic people.
If the length and thickness of the index and ring fingers are approximately equal, then you are dealing with a balanced nature. This person can take risks, but after carefully weighing the pros and cons. His feelings are in complete harmony with his will and reason. The perfect combination! True, there is no need to talk about genius here, but divinely talented people are extremely rarely happy.
Gold wedding ring (go to SUNLGHT catalogue)
In this regard, we can summarize: the meaning of the ring on the ring finger is truly enormous. Correctly selected jewelry can neutralize the shortcomings and enhance the advantages of a particular person. Of course, spiritually and emotionally.
Questions and answers
First, a few unusual facts about the wedding jewelry of famous people:
- One of the most unusual wedding rings was that of the Silver Age poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. He ordered jewelry with the initials of his beloved - LYUB (Liya Yuryevna Brik). If you turn the ring, you can read “love”.
- Princess Diana was offered a choice of a variety of diamond jewelry, but she chose a rather modest sapphire ring. Now this ring is considered a precious heirloom.
- It took the craftsman a whole year to make Angelina Jolie's engagement ring. However, on long trips the actress replaces it with a simpler and cheaper one.
What to do if it turns out that the engagement ring does not fit in size?
If you find that your ring is a little too big for you, there is no harm in taking it to a workshop and having it made smaller. Losing jewelry is a much worse situation. This is considered a very bad omen: the marriage may collapse.
Is it possible to replace wedding rings with new ones?
There is no clear answer to this question. It is believed that if young people were united in marriage only in the registry office, then it is permissible to change rings. If the wedding ceremony took place in a church, it is not advisable to do this.
Is it possible to wear someone else’s wedding ring (mom’s, grandmother’s, friend’s)?
In some cases, the parents' rings are passed on to the children. Mom and dad give them as a wedding gift or leave them as an inheritance. The energy of the person who previously wore the jewelry is preserved and transferred to the new owner of the ring. The symbol can become both a talisman and bring negative changes. If the mother has lived a happy family life, then the daughter is even recommended to wear her ring.
People who try on someone else's ring on their hand take a great risk. If such a person is not yet married, he may remain single forever. This is the opinion of sorcerers. The Church does not say anything about this, but instructs never to remove the ring from the finger in order to protect the marriage.
Is it possible to wear an engagement ring before marriage?
Wedding rings are chosen by the spouses together: it is important that both of them like them. The groom, as the future head of the family, must pay for the purchase. Choosing jewelry is not complete without first trying on several dozen possible options.
If a couple expresses a desire to wear rings before the official celebration, no bad omens, of course, will overshadow the upcoming event, but there will no longer be a feeling of celebration. It's okay to show your wedding rings to someone before your wedding. The main thing is that a person does not wish harm on the young and does not try on jewelry on himself.
Can I wear my engagement ring and wedding ring together?
After the wedding, many brides leave the engagement ring on their right hand and change the engagement ring to the left. Someone flaunts both jewelry on one hand, both on different fingers, and on one - together with the wedding ring. Others want to wear the engagement ring separately; in this situation, the engagement attribute is sent for storage in a box. It's all a matter of taste.
When the question arises about the possibility of combining engagement and wedding rings, it is useful to remember the general rules for combining jewelry. They must be made in the same style: classic does not suit jewelry geometry. You can wear gold of different colors nearby.
Engagement and wedding rings can be worn together.
When are wedding rings not worn?
Some couples don't wear their wedding rings. There can be many explanations for this.
- Scientists believe that constantly wearing gold jewelry has a negative impact on well-being. Gold provokes outbursts of negative emotions and slows down metabolism. Therefore, from time to time it is even useful to take off your wedding ring.
- They cannot wear jewelry for health reasons - their fingers become very swollen, the skin cracks, and calluses form.
- The size has changed and the ring does not fit.
- They want to hide their marital status.
- The symbol of marriage has been lost, and a new one has not yet been acquired.
- Interferes with doing household chores.
- The chosen profession does not allow it: surgeon, builder.
- Priests also do not wear wedding bands: they belong only to God, and family, although an important component of life, is still in second place.
Classic wedding rings will never go out of style. Smooth, matte, with or without decoration - these jewelry are harmonious in any look, showing the status of the owner and impeccable taste. The ring can be selected according to any financial capabilities and whims.
