If you are about to get married and you are shopping for wedding rings, you'll find that you are taking part in a tradition that is hundreds of years old. When you go to slide the ring on to the finger of your betrothed, you are becoming part of a ritual that has marked marriages back through time and all over the world.
The Egyptians were the first civilization (as far as we know) to use wedding rings as a part of their wedding ceremonies. Ancient Egyptians wore wedding rings made from materials which were readily available to them. Less affluent people would use wedding bands woven of hemp or those made of leather or bone. The more well off would have rings carved from ivory or made of precious metals. However, these wedding rings were generally given as gifts on the occasion of a wedding and were not built to last more than a couple of years, unlike wedding bands as we know them today.
There were many different kinds of wedding rings in use even in antiquity. The plain gold bands which we are familiar with have been around for a long time, but in Greece and Turkey puzzle rings were a common choice and French women have traditionally received wedding bands which are composed of three interwoven bands.
The way that wedding rings have been worn has changed over time. While it is now customary to wear ones wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand, Russian brides once wore their rings on the third finger of the right hand instead. In England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, women wore their wedding rings on their thumbs. While tradition hold that wedding rings are worn on the left hands ring finger due to the presence of a vein there which goes straight to the heart, this is not actually the case (though it makes a wonderful story).
Take some time to think about what your wedding ring means and what kind of history or tradition you want to adhere to. You may be interested in the plain gold bands, or perhaps you are more interested in the rings styled after the ancient Celtic knotwork designs. Some prefer the Anatolian puzzle ring designs, while others are more interested in rings that have been interwoven together, making the slide over one another. No matter what choice you make, you'll find that you have plenty of options in front of you, and a long history to back you up! - 15437
The Egyptians were the first civilization (as far as we know) to use wedding rings as a part of their wedding ceremonies. Ancient Egyptians wore wedding rings made from materials which were readily available to them. Less affluent people would use wedding bands woven of hemp or those made of leather or bone. The more well off would have rings carved from ivory or made of precious metals. However, these wedding rings were generally given as gifts on the occasion of a wedding and were not built to last more than a couple of years, unlike wedding bands as we know them today.
There were many different kinds of wedding rings in use even in antiquity. The plain gold bands which we are familiar with have been around for a long time, but in Greece and Turkey puzzle rings were a common choice and French women have traditionally received wedding bands which are composed of three interwoven bands.
The way that wedding rings have been worn has changed over time. While it is now customary to wear ones wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand, Russian brides once wore their rings on the third finger of the right hand instead. In England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, women wore their wedding rings on their thumbs. While tradition hold that wedding rings are worn on the left hands ring finger due to the presence of a vein there which goes straight to the heart, this is not actually the case (though it makes a wonderful story).
Take some time to think about what your wedding ring means and what kind of history or tradition you want to adhere to. You may be interested in the plain gold bands, or perhaps you are more interested in the rings styled after the ancient Celtic knotwork designs. Some prefer the Anatolian puzzle ring designs, while others are more interested in rings that have been interwoven together, making the slide over one another. No matter what choice you make, you'll find that you have plenty of options in front of you, and a long history to back you up! - 15437
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