Some traditions and cultures of wedding rings

The custom of exchanging wedding ring is almost common in almost every culture. It is either done during the engagement or during the wedding. The spouse wears it as a symbol of marital commitment to fidelity. It is a type of jewelry that is to be worn for a lifetime to prove the life long commitment for the beloved. Not only in western countries but also in eastern countries exchange of rings is considered as commitment for lifetime. In certain countries wedding ring is worn on the base of the left ring finger. In other countries this is worn on the right ring finger. Today wedding band is gaining much more popularity among young couples.

From the pages of history we learn that wedding ring is wedding ring was used as the mark of marriage of two souls. Not only in western countries, but also from the ancient history of India we can find examples of this ritual or custom before wedding. Usually plain golden band or ring used as a wedding ring. The popularity of gold in this case is dependent on the fact that gold is durable, easier to afford and for daily usage. It is also because of that the gold can be cleaned easily that the use of gold ring is so popular. Moreover in eastern countries gold is thought to be an auspicious metal and thus has its popularity. Women are generally found to wear narrow bands or rings and men, broader bands or rings.

Here follows some historical background and some beliefs on the shape of the wedding ring. In France and mostly in French speaking countries a design of three interwoven rings is quite popular. These three interwoven rings stand for Christian virtues of ‘faith’, ‘hope’ and ‘love’. Here the word ‘love’ indicates a particular type of perfect disinterested love synonymous to the Greek word ‘agape’. This pattern slides off quickly because the rings flow over each other. Women in Greek and Anatolian, which consist of most of modern turkey, wear and receive puzzle wedding rings. These are nothing but sets of interlocking metal bands. And the idea is that the bride must arrange them in order to form a single ring out of them. Traditionally men were to give this type of ring as a test of their womens monogamy. With the time passing this ritual has become obsolete as any intellectual women can solve the ring puzzle with little bit of practice and little effort.

In North America and in European countries it is seen that women wear two different rings on the same finger. Those are a plain wedding band and an engagement ring. They buy such rings as a pair of bands designed to fit together. And moreover it is also seen that women who are married for a long time wears three rings on their finger, from hand to tip of finger. They are serially a wedding band, an engagement ring, and an eternity ring. This pattern of wearing rings is very common in the United Kingdom. Engraving wedding rings are also hot favorite among couples of United States. Celtic designs are engraved or embossed with a Celtic knot design, which symbolizes oneness and continuity. The Russian three interlocking rings are bands of rose, made up of yellow and white gold and worn on the right hand.