Wedding Rings –
Through the Ages and for All Eternity
by: M J Plaster
The exact origin of the wedding ring is
uncertain and is rife with superstition and
mythology. Papyruses dating back to the ancient
Egyptian civilization depict wedding rings, and
historians credit the land of the Pharaohs with
originating this tradition. Engagement or
betrothal rings were in use as far back as
prehistoric times, but the wedding ring is a
relatively new tradition, and unlike the
engagement ring, is steeped in religious ritual.
In ancient times, accepting a wedding ring
constituted a legally binding agreement between
husband and wife. The wife became property of
the husband, a holding of sorts. It also
represented protection to the wife—a protection
against challengers seizing her legal and
rightful position in a power grab.
Early Egyptian wedding rings were simple
circular bands, crudely crafted from indigenous
materials such as hemp and reeds. The lifespan
of the average wedding ring was approximately
one year. It's a safe bet that the average
marriage outlasted the average wedding band,
since the eternal circle signified eternal love
and devotion. The circle also represented the
joining of two halves to create a whole. The
hole in the center symbolized the gateway to the
unknown—the future. Wedding bands of ivory,
leather, and other sturdy materials were crafted
by those who desired a more permanent token of
eternity.
Metals replaced the earlier hemp and reed
wedding bands. The early Romans moved to lead,
while other civilizations chose brass and
copper. Eventually, gold emerged as the metal of
choice. In fact, early Irish couples insisted on
gold, as any other material was thought to bring
bad luck at best, and constitute an illegal
marriage at worst. For couples unable to afford
gold wedding bands, gold wedding rings were
secured for the service and returned immediately
afterward.
Early crude designs were adorned with
semiprecious metals in an attempt to disguise
the handiwork. The color of the stones also held
significance. The red ruby signified the heart,
the blue sapphire signified the skies and the
heavens, and the rare diamond's indestructible
nature signified the indestructible bond of
marriage.
Fit played an equally important role in the
realm of superstition surrounding the wedding
ring. The fit had to be perfect. Too loose a fit
would lead to a sloppy marriage, carelessness,
and even cause the couple to grow apart. Too
tight a fit would doom the couple to a
suffocating, painful marriage.
In ancient times, wedding bands occupied the
third finger on the left hand just as they do
today. The significance of the third finger was
the belief that the vein in the third finger,
the "vena amoris," led directly to the heart.
This was a thought propagated by the Egyptians
and adopted as truth by the ancient Greeks and
Romans, until later disproved.
Even after the discovery that there was no vena
amoris, the custom of wearing the wedding band
on the third finger survived. Early Christian
marriages included a ritual that landed the
wedding band on the third finger: As the priest
recited, "In the name of the Father, the Son,
and the holy Ghost," he took the ring and
touched the thumb, the first finger, and then
the second finger. When he said, "Amen," he
placed the ring on the third finger, sealing the
marriage. The wedding band has occupied the
third finger into the 21st century, except for a
short period during the Elizabethan era, when
whimsy decreed that the wedding ring reside on
the thumb.
Double-ring ceremonies gained popularity during
World War II as young soldiers shipped off to
war. The token of the marriage contract took on
new sentimentality during those troubling times,
and that custom remains intact today. Ceremonies
differ, vows are often unique, but the tradition
of the wedding band has survived through the
ages, and probably will—for all eternity.
About The Author
M J Plaster is a successful author who provides
information on shopping online for
http://www.jewelry-4-u.net/engagement-rings.htm,
http://www.jewelry-4-u.net/wedding-rings.htm,
and http://www.jewelry-4-u.net/wedding-bands.htm.
M J Plaster has been a commercial freelance
writer for almost two decades, most recently
specializing in home and garden, the low-carb
lifestyle, investing, and anything that defines
la dolce vita. |
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