How wedding rings were worn in different eras in different countries
An engagement ring is a symbol of marriage in most countries of the world. Many believe that the tradition of exchanging rings originates in Christianity. But scientists have found out that this is not the case. Archaeological excavations have shown that some couples wore these ornaments as early as the 4th millennium BC. And the arrival of Christianity simply made wedding rings a mandatory attribute of the wedding ceremony. However, in different countries in different eras they were worn in different ways.
Nowadays, wedding rings are traditionally worn on the ring finger. It turns out that the first ornaments of this type, made from hemp and sedge stems, also decorated the ring fingers of the ancients. Egyptologists found descriptions of this tradition in Egyptian written sources that appeared 6 thousand years ago.
There are many hypotheses why this particular finger was chosen. The most common one says that it was in him that the mummification masters found a vein directly connected to the heart. Therefore, the ring finger is still connected with the heart. The version is very controversial, but creepy and very romantic.
Ancient scientists Plutarch and Appian also wrote in their writings about the "vein of love". The Egyptian tradition was adopted in ancient Greece and Rome. Only rings were already made of metals, including precious ones. In Rome, on the wedding day, not only the bride, but also her parents received a ring from the groom. A simple, iron ring was ordered for the betrothed's relatives.
In Christian culture, an engagement ring is also worn on the ring finger. No one mentions the "heart vein" anymore, but there are other explanations. It was believed that the right hand symbolizes faith and wisdom. They are baptized with it, bless, greet each other and perform the most accurate work.
In England in the early Middle Ages, everyone wore a ring on the middle finger of the right hand. A little later, brides began to put rings on the middle finger of their left hand. At that time, it was believed that it symbolized submission to her husband.
Then, for some reason, everyone believed that Joseph put Mary's ring on this finger. There was not a word about this in the Gospel, but not everyone could read it because of the poor literacy of the population. Preachers could very freely handle the primary sources, because only a few could refute their words
In ancient Russia, during the wedding, the bride and groom wore a ring on their index finger. But this was only before the adoption of Christianity. With the advent of Orthodoxy, they switched to the Greek manner and began using ring fingers. The Jews did not know wedding rings before the conquest of their country by the Romans. The groom gave the bride a coin as a sign that he was obligated to provide her financially.
The Romans brought the Jews the fashion for rings, but there was no strict rule for wearing them. Most often they decorated the index and ring finger, but sometimes the thumb. Today, in Judaism, they fasten the marriage bonds with a ring on the ring finger, as is practiced by Christians.
In England, for 15-17 centuries, there was a fashion for wearing an engagement ring on the thumb. It's hard to say what this is related to, but there are some assumptions. Historians believe that the rest of the fingers were occupied with other rings and rings, precious. It was at this time that it was customary to determine a person's status by the jewelry on his hands.
In 1680, the British scientist and theologian Henry Swinber in his "Treatise on the Spouse" advised not to change Roman traditions and wear wedding rings only on the ring finger. He recalled the ancient belief that connected this finger with the human heart.
Wedding rings can be worn not only by people, but also by fish. However, it does not lead to anything good.