Wedding Rings ? Through the Ages and for All Eternity

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.

M J Plaster is a successful author who provides information on shopping online for wedding bands, wedding rings, and more. 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.

---

How to Choose a Pearl Necklace for Your Wedding Day

The elegant beauty of a strand of pearls... Read More

Top Wedding Fitness Questions (and their answers)

As a Personal Trainer for brides-to-be, I often get asked... Read More

Tips For A Lasting Marriage

My parents gave me this advice about marriage. They have... Read More

Invitation Anatomy 101 - Optional Components II - Part 3 of 3

Almost there! This is the third lesson of my "Invitation... Read More

Unique Wedding Reception Entertainment

The typical wedding reception entertainment scheme of pretty flowers and... Read More

Caricature Entertainment: A Surefire Way to Liven Up Your Wedding Celebration

Caricature entertainment will make your wedding celebration stand out and... Read More

Jewish Wedding Traditions - The Wedding Day in a Nutshell

Many of the Jewish wedding traditions are derived from ancient... Read More

Gatlinburg Honeymoon Packages

Gatlinburg in Tennessee is the city with streets of art... Read More

How to Plan a Cheap Wedding

There's no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The... Read More

Discount Wedding Dresses ? Elegance and Style that Won?t Blow Your Budget!

If you're planning your wedding day then you'll be all... Read More

The History of the White Wedding Dress

As a youngster -- or perhaps even as an adult... Read More

5 Tips To Keep Marital Bliss Alive After You Retire!

Let's face it retirement is a time of great transition... Read More

Catering to Your Wedding

Wedding catering has always been one of the most crucial... Read More

Wedding Dresses - Frequently Asked Questions

You've gotten engaged and have set the wedding date and... Read More

Family Law

A frustrating lack of permanence plagues modern relationships. Approximately one... Read More

Engagement Rings & Celebrities

Whether we like it or not current trends in engagement... Read More

Prescription for a Happy Marriage

Prescription for a happy marriage: one cup of tea or... Read More

Marriage Counseling: What Do Wives Really Want in a Husband? Part Two

In Part One, we looked at what wives really want... Read More

The (American) Bride Wore Red

Increasing numbers of American brides are thinking about doing the... Read More

Give-and Take: Recipe for Success in Marriage?

A woman once visited a counselor to ask a question... Read More

Choosing A Wedding Photographer

The wedding day is the day that most women wait... Read More

Bridal Accessories To Complete Your Wedding Look

Bridal accessories are as necessary to complete the bridal look,... Read More

Want to Get Married in Las Vegas?

Only in Las Vegas can you find everything for your... Read More

Cheap Las Vegas Weddings

Imagine the cheapest wedding you'd like. You have to pay... Read More

Low Budget Wedding Reception

The reception alone will bust your wedding budget if you're... Read More

Wedding Music

What should you "walk down the aisle" to? Should you... Read More

2005 Mother Of Bride Dress

A 2005 mother of bride dress tends to have a... Read More

Planning Your Wedding Reception

Great deals can be found when you know how much... Read More

Your Disc Jockey Acts As A Wedding Event Planner

Give disc jockey's credit. Many of them have endured so... Read More

Writing Your Wedding Vows the Way Poets Do

Let's face it, not many of us have the kind... Read More

Marriage Counseling Tips: What to Do When Your Spouse Wont Talk

How to get a spouse's attention so that he or... Read More

A Wedding Theme Can Rescue Your Wedding from Being Another Ho-Hum-Boring Disaster

Are you a Bride-to-Be? Wonderful! Congratulations! But what's that enormous... Read More

Men?s Moissanite Wedding Rings To Beat Other Gifts Any Day

Whoever said diamonds are women's best friends, surely missed on... Read More