WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT RING CUSTOMS AROUND THE WORLD
It's a big, bright beautiful world - and it's all the brighter and more wonderful due to the fact that it features such a breadth and stunning array of cultures, traditions, practices and beliefs.
While engagement rings and wedding bands can be found on every continent and as a cornerstone of many religions, some of the finer details - mainly regarding which fingers are used - do vary from place to place.
We thought we would treat our customers and Braverman 'family members' to a deeper look into the various cultural practices regarding wedding bands and engagement rings. Let’s take a look into the different ways these symbolic pieces of fine jewelry are worn around the world, and examine how changing times have had an effect on the way they are worn.
Armed with this knowledge about a cornucopia of customs, you can decide for yourself whether you want to stick with your own tradition, follow another custom, or do away with such things altogether!
COMMON CUSTOMS REGARDING ENGAGEMENT RINGS
Engagement rings have been exchanged between those who plan to marry for thousands of years, and archaeological evidence suggests that the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians all exchanged rings in order to seal the deal between two families set to merge.
However, in the ancient world, while love still very much played a role in everyday life, the concept of the 'romantic' marriage was a rare one - weddings were arranges in order to smooth trade deals, diplomatic tensions or business transactions.
Today, just as in the past, a man will propose to his beloved by offering an engagement ring. While the courtly traditions of getting down on one knee may be fading, the elaborate, full-on engagement is still a trope which many like to follow, and which remains a major part in our ideas surrounding love and marriage. The engagement ring, if accepted, is slid onto the fourth finger of the left hand - the so-called ‘ring finger’, before being excitedly flashed to her friends, colleagues and anybody else who takes an interest!
WHAT IS A PROMISE RING?
One custom which is relatively commonplace in the UK, US and other western countries is that of the ‘promise ring’ - something we think is a lovely tradition. These generally symbolize the man’s commitment to his lady, and they often act as a
substitute for an engagement ring while the couple is choosing the perfect piece. Furthermore, as more and more people choose to live together instead of tying the knot, a promise ring can act as a stand-in for the wedding band itself. These fingers are typically also worn on the ring finger.
WAYS OF WEARING WEDDING RINGS
Once married, most women will continue to wear their wedding rings along with their engagement ring on the same ring finger. During the wedding ceremony, the engagement ring is put onto the third finger of the right hand, leaving the left ring finger free to accept the ultimate symbol of unity and everlasting love. Some women will only wear the wedding ring from then on, although it is more usual to see both the wedding and engagement rings side by side.
When worn together, the majority of women will put their wedding ring on first, and follow this with the engagement ring on top - following what we think is a sweet custom and belief: that the engagement ring is ‘holding’ the wedding ring in position, never allowing it to slip off or loosen.
WHERE DOES THIS CUSTOM COME FROM?
It’s widely agreed that the history of wedding ring wearing can be traced to the ancient Egyptians, although some historians will place the tradition's origins elsewhere in the Middle East. Thanks to the written records which still exist from ancient Egypt, we know that they believed the ring finger of the left hand to have special significance, due to the ‘vein of love’ which runs from this finger to the heart.
Engagement rings, however, probably originated a little later, in the time of Roman Europe. The Egyptians had no formal concept of engagement or betrothal, and did not as such have engagement rings. The Romans, however, used them as a symbol of commitment to marriage, and it was around this time that we begin to see evidence of love (in the modern sense) playing a part in marriage.
A WHOLE WORLD OF TRADITIONS
While the ring finger of the left hand is customary for rings in most parts of the world, it by no means holds a monopoly on ring-wearing! Indeed, we have done our homework, and discovered a fairly lengthy list of countries in which it is customary to use the third finger of the right hand for engagement and wedding rings.
These include: Norway, Denmark, Russia, Spain, India, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Venezuela, The Netherlands and Lithuania - and possibly others, too.
There doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut reason why these particular countries differ from the norm, and it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference which religion the bride and groom adhere to, either, as it appears to be simply a matter of national custom and culture.
Furthermore, in many of these countries (although not all of them) it also appears to be the norm that the engagement ring is worn before the wedding ring - although again, there doesn’t seem to be an obvious reason for this, nor is it obligatory.
WHAT ROLE DOES RELIGION PLAY IN THE WAY RINGS ARE WORN?
When it comes to religious variations on the way wedding and engagement rings are given and worn, there doesn’t seem to be many very solid trends. While in the past there may have been stricter rules regarding ring giving and ring wearing according to religious doctrine, these appear to have faded in time to be replaced by an emphasis on comfort and personal choice.
However, it seems that in Germany and neighboring Austria, Catholics tend to wear their rings on the right hand, while protestants prefer the left. Why? We aren't entirely sure.
In the Islamic world, especially in parts of the Middle East and South Asia, it is customary for women to wear their engagement rings on their left ring finger, and for men to wear a wedding ring on their right ring finger.
There isn't a strong tradition for wedding bands in Islamic countries (except for Iran, where the ring finger of the right hand is used), but they are becoming more commonplace as a result of globalization, and are worn on either the right or left ring finger - whichever the couple prefers.
Judaism, too, has many fascinating traditions regarding wedding and engagement rings. Jewish grooms will place a ring on their bride’s right ring finger during their wedding ceremony, and swap it for the left hand’s ring finger after the day is done.
However, the same practice is commonplace in Brazil, too, which doesn't have a sizeable Jewish population. Interestingly, in certain Jewish communities, the index finger and thumb are preferred for the rings, a unique tradition that doesn't appear to be found in any other culture, and which results in a fascinating and striking appearance.
ENGAGEMENT RINGS FOR MEN
We live in a time of increased equality between the sexes, and a breaking down of the patriarchal associations with marriage and engagement. This is something which we at think can only be a good thing - not least because it means that men’s engagement rings have rocketed in fashion over the past few years, and we believe they look great!
WHY ARE MEN WEARING ENGAGEMENT RINGS?
Wearing a man’s engagement ring is a beautiful gesture, showing that the groom-to-be is just as excited as his beloved bride. Recent reports have stated that up to 7% of men in the US are wearing their own engagement ring, and other western countries are showing similar and fast-growing trends.
When it comes to men's engagement ring styles, men haven't yet started emulating women's engagement ring fashions just yet. The majority of gentlemen out there are deciding to stick with relatively plain bands - elegant, masculine and sleek.
Celebrity endorsements have helped to spread the fashion for men’s engagement rings - many big stars have taken the decision to show their up to date with this trend - but perhaps most importantly of all, they’re highly popular with women in their lives. After all, what says ‘he’s mine!’ quite like an engagement ring on your man’s finger?
WHICH CUSTOM IS RIGHT FOR ME?
We believe that personal choice and comfort should always come first. As we have explored, there are plenty of different options out there, and whether you associate with a particular religion or culture, or none at all, you should always do what feels right for you. They’re your fingers, it’s your ring, and it’s your wedding… so, naturally, it’s your choice!