Every girl has a dream: sooner or later to receive a ring as a gift from a loved one, which would be a symbol of love, tenderness, and care. Most girls find it difficult to get engaged without a precious gift - it’s like a wedding without a groom.
How did the tradition of giving this ring come about? Which finger is the engagement ring put on? Which hand should I wear it on? What happens to the decoration after the wedding has taken place?
Where do you put the ring?
After the engagement has taken place, the couple has the right to officially be called the bride and groom.
This is a very important step on the path to creating a family, finding a soul mate with whom you will live in both sorrow and joy. An engagement ring is proof of the seriousness of the groom's intentions. The man must place the ring on the ring finger of the bride's right hand. And this must be done after the marriage proposal, when the chosen one agrees.
Important! This is not just a decoration, but a symbol of love, a pure and bright feeling that arose in the hearts of lovers at the very beginning of a relationship.
Why the ring? The ring is very symbolic, because at its core it is a closed strip that has neither beginning nor end. The circle (circle) symbolizes constancy and eternity , which every married couple hopes for.
If we talk specifically about engagement rings, they first appeared among the ancient Romans . When they came to woo the bride, they gave the parents a simple ring made of metal. It symbolized the obligations that the groom undertakes and demonstrated his willingness and financial ability to support his wife and family.
Interesting! The first rings appeared among the Egyptian pharaohs, who used them not only as jewelry, but also as a personal seal.
Legend
According to a beautiful biblical legend, Joseph put Mary's ring on the ring finger of his left hand. Why this is so is not known exactly. Scientists believe that the custom dates back to the ancient Egyptians. According to their beliefs, it is on the ring finger that the “artery of love” is located, which leads directly to the heart.
How to wear a wedding and engagement ring?
- There is no official tradition that explains how to combine an engagement and wedding ring. But according to signs, the engagement ring can come first (after all, it was the beginning on the path to family life) or second, after the wedding ring, which is a symbol of the marriage bond and will be closer to the heart.
- But there is another opinion, and it is mainly held by older women (usually mothers-in-law). The engagement ring must be removed on the wedding day and never worn again. It, like a family heirloom, should be carefully preserved and passed on from father to son, so that he can give it to his bride.
On which hand is it worn in Russia?
The custom of wearing an engagement ring came to Russia from Hollywood back in the Soviet period. On which finger do you wear an engagement ring?
Tradition
In Slavic countries, including Russia, it is customary to wear jewelry on the right hand , just like a wedding ring on the ring finger.
Most often, engagement rings are worn constantly either by ladies who are divorced or by widows. For others, there is no need, because after the wedding the decoration is usually replaced with the wedding one.
Practicality
On which hand do Orthodox Christians wear an engagement ring? Many people leave the engagement ring on the ring finger of the right hand even after the wedding , trying not only to emphasize the value of family traditions and the immutability of marriage, but also for reasons of practicality. In its original place, the ring does not interfere with work and everyday chores.
Engagement story
In ancient Rome, a man who wanted to prove his desire to get married gave his beloved coins or a ring, iron or gold. Then the most important aspect was the conclusion of a contract between the parents of both partners. This was proof of the safety of the promises.
In addition, this document recorded unwanted behavior of the future spouse after the engagement. If the bride violated one of the clauses of the contract, this led to a break in the engagement. In Jewish culture, engagement was considered completely unromantic.
There it was made a form of financial relations between the fathers of future spouses. Girls and gentlemen did not have the opportunity to choose a person with whom they would share their lives. Feelings did not matter at all, but financial and social status was an important element. The choice of a suitable partner for his son was made by the father, not the future husband.
The Jewish wedding ceremony is very different from others. The ring is placed on the index finger, and not one, but two massive rings. But it is not customary to wear them every day, only on the wedding day. In Ancient Egypt, there was also a tradition of giving wedding rings. The Egyptians believed that the “artery of love” to the heart ran through the ring finger.
Abroad
Which finger is the ring placed on when getting engaged abroad? In the countries of the European continent and in the USA, the ring is put on and worn on the left hand, on the same ring finger.
Germany has its own characteristics. Which hand do the Germans put the engagement ring on? First on the left, and after the wedding ceremony they change to the right.
Interestingly, not all nations wear a ring on their hand . For example, among gypsies it is customary to wear this jewelry on a chain around the neck. And among Orthodox Jews, like the Germans, the symbol of engagement is placed on the left hand, and after the wedding it is transferred to the right, making room for the engagement party.
Advice! It is recommended to wear the ring constantly until the wedding. But in the morning, before the wedding ceremony, you need to take it off, because according to tradition, the bride should not have any rings on her hands, except for the wedding ring.
Bottom line
On the day of the engagement or the day before, the groom gives the bride a ring, thus expressing his intention to get married. Before the wedding, the ring is worn on the ring finger of the hand on which the symbol of marriage will later be worn. On the day of the wedding ceremony, the girl changes the jewelry to another finger or hides it in a box to wear for the occasion.
Some people believe in the superstition that wearing betrothal jewelry leads to widowhood and the jewelry is not worn again, but is passed on to a son or grandson. If the wedding did not happen due to the fault of the bride, then the ring is usually returned, and when the groom does, the girl can keep the jewelry for herself. We wish you to find a ring that your beloved will be happy to wear for the rest of her life!
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Signs
In our country, engagement is not obligatory , so everyone is free to choose the traditions that suit him best:
- The engagement ring can be removed only occasionally , for example, so as not to lose it in the pool;
- The loss of such a ring is considered a bad sign in all religions. If the newlyweds manage to lose their engagement ring, their marriage will likely be doomed as well;
- Constantly wearing jewelry is considered a good sign. For this reason, brides have always taken care of the relic. We tried not to allow the ring to come into contact with water for a long time, and kept a vigilant eye so as not to lose it;
- not to show off our decorations too much .
What to choose?
Having figured out where the engagement ring is placed, it will be useful for newly minted grooms to know what kind of ring to give to the bride?
Everyone will give the exact answer on their own, but you should focus on the taste of the bride, her style and the degree of solemnity of the moment . You should not purchase jewelry with huge stones if the bride is a slender girl with thin fingers. A massive ring will not suit an elegant girl. And vice versa, if the chosen one is tall and rich in shape, then the modest symbol will be lost on her hands.
Advice! Choose an engagement ring based on the bride's personal preferences by examining her everyday jewelry preferences.
Decoration size
The size of a ring can tell a lot about its owner. If you decide to give it to your significant other, you should pay attention to the size of what she already has.
Modest, sophisticated and balanced natures prefer small, thin rings, but large ones can speak of a passionate and impulsive character.
Unlike men, the fairer sex can choose jewelry regardless of the size of their hands—both small rings and massive rings look equally good on thin women’s hands.
After the wedding
After the wedding, when the traditional feast and fun competitions are left behind, the young wife faces the question: Where do they wear the engagement ring after the wedding? There are no exact rules on this matter. If the jewelry is expensive (both emotionally and materially), then you can wear it on your other hand or next to your wedding band. If you follow Russian customs, the engagement ring should be put into a box immediately after the wedding and stored along with other jewelry.
It is welcome to inherit the ring to a daughter and/or granddaughter , who will eventually give the family heirloom to their children.
If you believe the wisdom, then a bride who continues to wear an engagement ring after the wedding runs the risk of soon becoming a widow. But whether you accept it or not is a personal matter for everyone.
What to do with an engagement ring after a breakup from your ex?
It happens that some time passes from the time of engagement and the couple breaks up. So what should you do with your engagement ring?
- If the guy initiates the breakup, then the girl keeps the ring
- If the bride refused to get married , the ring must be returned to her ex.
If you do not want to get married, then the ring will need to be returned.
Next, sell the jewelry, donate it, melt it down and order a new jewelry. The most important thing is not to store it at home, much less wear it. The symbol of your ended relationship should not block the path to a happy future. So very soon you will enter into a new relationship, where there will be happy emotions, new rings, and a successful marriage.
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