Ring on the ring finger: the history of the tradition

Wedding ring – a symbol of love and devotion of spouses. Depending on the origin of the lovers, this jewelry is worn on the ring finger of the right or left hand. Despite differences in cultures, it is still customary to “ring” just the ring finger. Why did it happen that for several thousand years the choice falls on him? Find out in the article about the history of engagement rings and  about why it is customary to wear a wedding ring on the ring finger.

Wedding ring on the ring finger: the history of the origin of the tradition

Reed wedding rings in Egypt

The first wedding rings appeared about 5000 thousand years ago in Egypt. Today it is customary to exchange mainly exquisite wedding rings made of yellow and white gold, but originally this symbol of love was woven from reeds that grew on the banks of the Nile.

The Egyptians were the first to wear a wedding ring on their ring finger. Their choice fell on him due to the fact that the doctors of ancient civilization, having studied the structure of the human body, found that only through a certain thinnest nerve leads from this finger to the heart. In addition, the ring finger was hardly used during the performance of any work, so the wedding ring could in no way interfere with daily activities.

“Language of the Rings” in Ancient Greece

In ancient Greece, the so-called "language of rings" arose, which was widely used by men until the beginning of the last century. In this way, the representatives of the stronger sex reported basic information about their personal lives.

A wedding ring on the ring finger testified to the presence of a wife, lover or bride. The ring on the index finger was a signal that the man was actively looking for a future wife.

The ring, flaunted on the middle finger of a man, was a sign of his success on the love front and testified that he was not averse to having a mistress. If the ring adorned the little finger, its owner was lonely, but did not seek to build a relationship.

Slavic customs

In pagan times, wedding rings were made smooth, as it was believed that patterns could destroy magical properties. The husband gave his wife a ring of gold, which carried the male energy of the sun. The wife presented her husband with a ring made of silver, which gave him part of the female lunar energy. The more generations in the family wore wedding rings, the more precious they were considered.

There is evidence that in Ancient Rus' a wedding ring was worn on the index finger, as is customary among Jews today. After the introduction of Orthodox traditions, the wedding ring was worn only on the ring finger.

Wedding ring – symbol of love and fidelity. Even in ancient times, a sacred meaning was put into the jewelry on the ring finger and it was believed that the rings have a special energy and are able to protect marriage. Be that as it may, the exchange of wedding rings – a special tradition that survives thousands of years later, because marriage – it is the union of two loving hearts.