In different parts of the world, a wedding is associated with different colors, outfits and, of course, jewelry accessories. And wedding rings are the main attributes of this holiday. Why, then, as a sign of love and fidelity, the newlyweds Exchange them at the most exciting and unforgettable moment of their lives? It is believed that a smooth ring symbolizes endless and all-encompassing love in marriage.
The emergence of the tradition of putting on wedding rings for newlyweds is presented in different ways by researchers. Some give the palm to Ancient Greece, others to Ancient Egypt.
Although such jewelry was familiar even to the Nanderthals, who weaved wreaths and bracelets from plants and flowers, happy lovers gave each other symbolic rings made from improvised materials, they were woven from reed or hemp. Often, the bride's wrist was decorated in this way, not only as a sign of love and fidelity, but also to protect the girl from evil spirits.
Centuries later, the Egyptians began to make rings from leather, ivory, and certain plants. Such items were often used as currency, but when a woman received one as a gift from her husband, it guaranteed her access to her lover's property.
In ancient Rome, a custom was born when the groom gave the bride's parents a metal ring, symbolizing his obligation to love and care for his future wife. The Romans gave this tradition a more romantic meaning. The wedding ring on her hand served as a symbol that the wife managed to find the key to the heart of her chosen one, so the image of the key was often used as a decorative element of jewelry.
In the Middle Ages, wedding accessories began to look much more like modern jewelry: they began to use gold and sometimes precious stones for their manufacture.
Today, the engagement ring is still in demand and has not lost its dominant position at the wedding celebration.
Most often, wedding rings are made of precious metals, which are a symbol of purity. And if initially the rings had a simple shape, now the spouses often opt for exclusive pieces. The design of such products does not exclude the presence of precious stones and various combinations of metals.
Modern wedding traditions are largely dictated by the religion prevalent in a particular region. Differences also apply to the design of rings: for example, diamond jewelry is more common in the United States, while Russian and French jewelers use three colors of gold to make their accessories. It is not uncommon for newlyweds with Celtic heritage to opt for jewelry with the claddagh symbol.
There are differences in the habits of wearing rings. For example, Jewish traditions oblige young people to wear a ring on the index finger, in Orthodox countries the ring is worn on the ring finger. Christians prefer to wear this symbol of marriage on their right hand, but Catholics prefer to wear it on their left.
But this does not happen always and not everywhere. Each country makes its own adjustments. In Russia, a ring on the left hand means that the person lives in a divorce, and widowed spouses put on their left hand, along with their ring, the ring of the deceased.
Wearing a wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand can be explained by reading the historical reference of the ancient Greek writer Plutarch, who, relying on ancient treatises, cited such an interesting fact: according to the custom in ancient Egypt, dead people were opened; at the same time, it was discovered that it was from the finger closest to the little finger of the left hand to the very heart of a person that a certain mysterious nerve goes. Thus, the ring finger became the owner of the decoration, as the most "attached" to the human heart.
But there are other more modern interpretations of this tradition. Ancient oriental methods of healing the body report that a person’s hand completely reflects his entire body. Each point of the hand is responsible for a specific organ. And it is the ring finger that contains the points of "control" of the sexual sphere. Any, even slight, irritation of the receptors in this place activates the body and there is an additional production of hormones that affects the functioning of the endocrine system, the tone of the pelvic organs. And for newlyweds, even a slight stimulation of the ring finger area with a wedding ring is enough to keep the hormonal level normal.
And there is a somewhat playful theory about the location of the wedding ring on the hand. The ring on the ring finger warned everyone that its owner was busy, on the index finger those who want to show that they are looking for a life partner wear it, the ring on the little finger indicated that at the moment its wearer did not want to change his marital status. And the presence of a ring on the middle finger gave out to everyone a lover of adventures.
Recently, fashion has also made its own adjustments to the sphere of engagement rings.
For those who have no shortage of funds, designers offer amazing specimens of their kind: made of precious metals of the highest standard, individually designed. Such rings can combine several types of gold: red, white, pink. More expensive metals are used, such as platinum, palladium.
Silver rings are still fashionable and in demand. And their execution is diverse and limited only by the imagination of the master. Adherents of esoteric teachings bring their own subtext to the meaning of the exchange of wedding rings. They believe that the silver ring enhances magical abilities, the gift of foresight and prediction.
But young people also choose rings from unusual materials, such as ceramics, simple iron, and tin.
It should be noted that today the presence of a wedding ring on the hand is not considered mandatory: many newlyweds, for various reasons, prefer to express their affection in other ways. Nevertheless, the tradition is preserved, flourishes and develops to this day, giving lovers, their friends and relatives a lot of positive emotions.
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Anyutik
31/07/2014 at 16:01
The choice of wedding rings is a very responsible business. now in jewelry stores, eyes run up from the number of offers of rings, there are completely different in shape and material. I am of the opinion that the ideal engagement rings should be made of gold and should be smooth. There is such a belief: what a ring, such a life path for the spouses. And it should be straight, without roughness and trouble.
Alla
05/08/2014 at 16:24
Excellent article!
I hope that soon I will also become a happy owner of this beauty. Pah-pah-pah! (I don't want to jinx it =))))) I was very interested in the importance the Romans attached to the wedding ring. I will have to discuss this with my beloved. I really wanted a ring with an engraved key on it! It will be so cute, adorable and original!