The history of the emergence of wedding rings
Wedding rings first appeared in ancient Egypt, as evidenced by numerous archeological finds, there is a set of gold rings in the tombs of the pharaohs. According to tradition, the ring is worn on the middle finger of his left hand, because, according to ancient wisdom, passed through Vienna, leading directly to the heart. The round shape of the ring symbolizes eternal love and fidelity. Betrothal ceremony was considered more important than the wedding, which was seen only as a successful completion of the engagement.
The Hebrews did without an engagement ring, the groom gave the bride a coin as a sign of its willingness to ensure its future. In ancient Rome, the presence of metal in the ring meant the inviolability of the marriage tie. Long before the wedding, the man gave darling iron ring, and after - a ring of gold. At the end of the 2nd century BC there was a tradition of exchanging wedding rings bronze, in the 3rd century gold ring of steel, and in the 4th century were first used at the wedding ceremony. The Italians, the author of numerous innovations in art and design, in the Middle Ages began to make wedding rings, decorated brilliantami- symbol of purity and strength of the bonds of marriage.
Mandatory attribute in the wedding ritual Christians rings were only about 900 years. According to the Christian canon, wedding rings should be simple, without any frills. In Orthodoxy decided to wear a wedding ring on his right hand, and in Catholicism - on the left. In pre-Christian times, along with a wedding ring future husband handed the bride a key sign that it belongs to the obligation to farm her husband.
According to the church charter of the 15th century the groom was supposed to wear an iron ring, symbolizing his power, and the bride - gold, means its tenderness and purity. Since 1775, according to the requirements of the church, as a sign of the benefits of male and duties of the wife to obey her husband, metal rings for men was gold, and the female was silver or iron.
Nowadays almost forgotten the so-called "language of the Rings", which existed since ancient times, when using a ring worn by a certain finger, others provide information on the status of its owner. Thus, the ring on the little finger meant that its owner is free, but marriage is not yet ready, the ring on the ring finger to symbolize the presence of a lover or beloved. Middle finger, ring decorated, distinguishes man experienced in love affairs, and the ring is worn on the index finger, meant finding a future life partner.
In Russia, a silver ring on his right hand were marriageable girls, the ring is on the right meant that the girl was betrothed. A gold ring on his right hand were married, on the left hand - divorced. Two rings on her left hand, and your husband were widows.
Belief says that after the wedding ring should be worn without removing because, "if to cool ring - cools and love", "if the ring is lost - will be lost and love."