The wedding ring is a symbol of love and devotion, and has been for centuries. Eighteenth century author Samuel Johnson referred to the wedding ring as "a circular instrument placed upon the noses of hogs and the fingers of women to restrain them and bring them into subjection." Thankfully, not everyone shares his view. The wedding ring is circular because it represents eternity. Like time, a circle has no beginning and no end. Circles have some level of importance in all religions.
The wedding band is thought by some to have originated in Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptian men would place rings on the fingers of their wives, letting this be a sign that they were confident their wives were able to care for their houses. Back then, rings were generally made out of twisted reeds, hemp, and rushes, braided into rings. These woven rings usually had to be replaced every year or so because they would become worn. Later, the Egyptians started creating rings from ivory, leather, and bone. These circles were thought to represent immortal and never-ending love. Ancient Egyptians believed that there was a vein or nerve that ran from the ring finger to the heart and by placing a ring on this finger, that affection would not escape through the tip of the finger.
Roman brides were given two rings in second century B.C. One ring was to be worn when doing household duties, and the more expensive ring was to be worn in public. The Romans agreed with the Egyptians that there was a vein that ran from the ring finger to the heart, but the rings were mostly given as a token of ownership instead of a token of love. When Roman men gave a woman a ring, it was usually to ‘claim’ them, and meant the woman was no longer free.
Asians and Arabs used a complex puzzle ring sometimes, which was given to the wives of wealthy Middle Eastern men to be worn while their husband was away. These rings would collapse if taken off the finger, and only someone with great skill and knowledge would know how to ‘fix’ the ring. These were worn so the husband would be able to tell if the woman had taken the ring off and been disloyal while he was away.
Hindus in some parts of India wear a toe ring instead of a ring on the finger, buy increasingly they are paired with a ring on the finger also now. In Eastern parts of India, the woman wears a bangle.
During Colonial times, Americans used a thimble instead of a ring. Puritan women were given a thimble as a token of a man’s love. Sometimes the woman would remove the bottom of the thimble to form a ring-type piece of jewelry once they were married.
Although not used in Christian ceremonies until about 870, the ring was used by Hebrews in biblical times. There is no reference in the Bible about the requirement of a wedding ring for Christians. There are many references to other types of rings in the Bible, but these were given as a token of fidelity, privilege, authority or adoption. In the Middle Ages, the wedding ring was introduced into Catholic ceremonies. The groom would slide the ring up then down the bride's thumb, then first finger, then middle finger, then the ring finger, all while saying " In the name of the Father, the Son, and The Holy Ghost".
After the Catholics, the Protestants eventually started using the ring in their ceremonies. In 1549, the Protestants changed the wedding ring finger to the left hand.
Assyrians, Celts of Ireland, and Eskimos are known for not wearing wedding rings. In Japan in the 1800's, women painted their teeth black to show to the public that they were married.
In Irish Folklore, it was bad luck to have a ring not made of gold. The Claddagh ring is the wedding ring that is worn by Irish women. This ring is a heart topped by a crown that is held by two hands. If the woman wears the ring on her right hand with the heart facing the tip of her finger, it means she is single. If she wears the ring with the heart facing her, then she is engaged. If the ring is worn on the left hand then it signifies that she is married.
In Europe, if a gold ring was not available, one was borrowed for the ceremony but returned afterwards. Other superstitions in some cultures were that if the ring was not an exact fit, then the marriage was doomed. A ring too tight was thought to lead to jealousy, and a ring too loose was thought to lead to careless acts. In some European countries, the ring is worn on the left hand until marriage, when it is then worn on the right. Ancient Northern Europeans thought that a lover's knot was a symbol of friendship, faith, and love. Hair from the beloved was woven into a knot and worn as a ring. In some European countries, the engagement ring doubles as the wedding band, the only change is that the engagement band is inscribed with usually a date and the couple's name.
Scandinavian women sometimes wear three rings, a ring for engagement, a ring for marriage, and another for motherhood.
Hawaiian couples wear detailed engraved rings decorated with their spouses name in antique fonts.
Jewish brides have a wedding ring placed on their first finger, or index finger, so that it is on the finger as they point to the Torah and read. After the ceremony, the ring is then placed on the ring finger.
There are many speculations about how the 'ring' finger on the left hand was chosen for the wearing of the wedding ring. One thought is that because most people are right handed, the ring would be less susceptible to damage if worn on the left hand. During the reign of George I of England, wedding rings were placed on the ring finger during the ceremony, but afterwards were generally worn on the thumb. Louisa of Prussia used her pinky finger of her right hand to wear her wedding ring. Greece, Colombia, Venezuela, Russia, Spain, Germany, India, Poland and Slovakia use the right hand for wedding rings.
In current times, it is more popular for the groom to also wear a wedding band. There are many varieties and styles of wedding band. Some wedding bands are sold in sets hat can include the engagement ring and the band for the groom. Tattooed wedding bands are becoming more popular, although because this is permanent, a lot of thought should be given before having this done. Because of the fact that wedding celebrations and rings have been around for so long, there are many fun facts, myths and folklore associated with the wedding ceremony itself, from the rings to the bouquet. Here is a condensed list of things you probably did not know!
Veil: The sheer veil commonly worn today was not always that way. The veil was used to hide the bride from would-be abductors. Later it was thought that if the bride’s face was concealed, it rendered her more valuable. Other cultures thought the veil represented virginity and youth. Veils were often seen as a sign of submissiveness to the groom. In Ancient Rome, a full-length veil was also used as the bride’s burial shroud. The veil was also believed to protect the groom, his family, and all those that attended a ceremony from the bride’s possible psychic powers.
Cake: The wedding cake was broken over the brides head in Ancient Rome, which was performed to bring fertility and abundance to the bride. Other cultures have dropped flour, cake, or wheat on the bride’s head and then would eat the crumbs, which were thought to bring good luck. Dry crackers were given to every guest in early British weddings to take home. Each guest brought small cakes to pile on a table in Medieval times, and the couple would attempt to kiss over them. If the bride and groom could successfully kiss over the large stack of cakes, it symbolized prosperity. Thankfully, a baker finally decided to use icing to put all the cakes together, which is why we have a tiered wedding cake now. Wedding cakes now come in many colors and shapes, but were once only white inside and out. Couples usually freeze the top portion of their wedding cake to freeze and thaw on their first anniversary and share with each other.
Dress: Brides did not always wear white wedding gowns traditionally. Most brides would wear their Sunday best to the ceremony until the 18th century. In Middle age Europe, red was a favorite color for wedding dresses. All colors had symbolism: constancy was represented by the color blue, and youth was represented by the color green. White was the symbol of purity, and as years passed, became the favorable color for a wedding dress, even if it was not the first marriage. Bridesmaids used to wear the same type of dress as the bride in some cultures, which was meant to ‘trick’ any would-be abductors of the bride. A spider found in the dress of a bride is considered good luck to the English. Brides and grooms used to cross-dress in Denmark on the wedding day to confuse evil spirits. In Ancient times, guests would tear off pieces of the bride’s dress to bring themselves good luck, which is why we throw the garter and bouquet now. The tradition of not allowing the groom to see the bride in the wedding dress until the ceremony came from when marriages were arranged, for fear that if there groom saw the bride, he might flee.
Gloves: A cube of sugar tucked into the bride’s gloves was thought by Greeks to sweeten the union. In Ancient times, pairs of gloves were given out after ceremonies to all of the guests.
Shoes: In Sweden, the bride places a gold coin from her mother and a silver coin from her father in each shoe, which is thought to ensure she will never do without. In some cultures, it was considered lucky for the bride to wear old shoes. It is a tradition in Hindu and Indian weddings for the bride’s sisters to steal the groom’s shoes and only give them back in exchange for money or gold and silver rings.
Honeymoon: Brides were taken by capture in the first weddings. The groom would take her away somewhere hidden from villagers. They stayed away for one moon phase, drinking mead, which is a wine drink that is made from honey. This is where the term ‘honeymoon’ came from.
Kiss: In Ancient times, some cultures required the newlywed couple to consummate their marriage in front of several witnesses. Thankfully, this was toned down later so that only a kiss was required. Many cultures believed that with the first kiss, the couples exchanged spirits and souls. In Ancient Rome, a kiss sealed a contract between the man and woman. If before the wedding one of the engaged pair died, the other could keep any gifts if they had already kissed. The kiss now represents affection and love for each other. Traditionally, guests will make sounds with glasses to encourage a kiss between the bride and groom. This sound was thought to ward off evil spirits in ancient times. Kissing in public is considered unusual in Japanese culture and is frowned upon. The wedding kiss is seen across most cultures.
Throwing Rice: This ritual originated with the Chinese and Hindus, because in these cultures, rice is considered a symbol of fruitfulness. Rice throwing has been replaced by birdseed throwing in today’s cultures, because the uncooked rice can be harmful to birds. For Czech weddings, peas are thrown. In Tudor times, shoes were thrown at the newlyweds because it was thought to bring luck and fertility. This may be why we have the tradition of tying shoes to the back of the newlywed’s car now. Ancient Hebrew and Egyptian fathers would sometimes give the groom one of the bride’s old shoes, and the groom would tap her on the head with the shoe, which symbolized his acceptance of his new responsibility.
Bouquet: The bouquet consisted of a mix of garlic and herbs for Ancient Romans and Greeks. The herbs were thought to ensure a fruitful union, and the garlic was supposed to ward off evil spirits. To keep the bride’s temper sweet, sugar was sprinkled on her bouquet in Ancient Poland. In Sweden, the bouquets were made from the strongest smelling flowers to ward off trolls.
Wedding Day: Wednesday is considered the best day to marry in English tradition. Tuesday is for health, and Monday is for wealth. Saturday is the unluckiest day for weddings in English folklore, although it is the most popular day to get married now. According to Hindu tradition, rain on your wedding day is considered very good luck. In Morocco, women take milk baths the day of their wedding to purify themselves. Other beliefs from different cultures were that if a cat sneezed the day before the wedding, it was a sign of good luck, and if you saw a rainbow or a black cat on your wedding day, it was good luck. It was considered lucky to kiss a chimney sweep on your wedding day in Great Britain, because it was thought he possessed special powers to sweep away evil spirits. Sunday is not a day for wedding ceremonies for most Catholic churches. It was once thought that if a bride looked at herself in a mirror on her wedding day, that she would lose part of herself. The entire month of January is considered an unlucky month to wed in China. Any dates with an eight in them are also considered lucky in China.
Groom: The tradition of the groom carrying his bride across the threshold stems from a belief that his protected her from evil spirits lurking below. Egyptian men pinch their bride on her wedding day for good luck. In some cultures, the wedding was thought to be doomed if the groom dropped the wedding ring. In the United States, there is no law that says the bride must take the groom’s name. The reason the bride stood to the groom’s left, was so that the groom could have his sword hand ready in case another man would try to abduct the bride before the ceremony was completed. In Italy, the groom would carry a piece of iron, called a talisman, in his pocket on his wedding day, which was thought to ward off misfortune.
Other Wedding Customs: In Korea, after a wedding, the groom’s friends take off his socks, tie his ankles together, and beat the soles of his feet with a type of dried fish, believed to make him stronger for his wedding night. Koreans also believe that if the groom is smiling a lot at his wedding, his first child will be female. In Scotland, the bride-to-be has her feet washed by a group of people on the night before her wedding. ‘Blackening the Bride’ is also a tradition in Scotland, where friends and family members kidnap the bride and pour smelly substances on her and parade her through town for all to see. In Germany, newlyweds must work together to saw a log in half. In Italy, when a wedding ceremony was over, the couple would shatter a vase, and the number of pieces of the vase would represent the number of happy years they would have together as man and wife. In Ireland, the bride’s feet had to remain on the floor during the ceremonial dance. If her feet left the floor, the Fairies could sweep her away. It is also bad luck for the brides or grooms to sing at their own wedding. The Best Man in wedding ceremonies was originally intended to assist the groom in fighting off angry relatives or abductors. Egyptian brides do not have to cook for the first week of marriage, her family does the cooking. Welsh men would carve wooden spoons which the bride-to-be would wear around her neck, symbolizing her engagement. This is where the term ’spooning’ originated from. African traditions of some tribes included the woman setting out on foot with her belongings to travel to the groom’s home. The bride’s father would spit on her before she left for good luck, and once she finally arrived at the groom’s house, the women of his family would yell insults at her. The spitting and yelling is considered good luck. In some African tribes, the marriage isn’t considered official until two children are born. The Amish plant extra celery when a wedding is in the future. Indians may hold a coconut over the bride and groom’s heads while circling them three times, which is thought to ward off evil.