Last updated on October 9, 2019
As you probably already know, wedding rings are a huge part of modern wedding ceremonies that take place all across the world, but you know what? These traditions date back to ancient Egypt, so keep on reading to find out more about the history of wedding rings through time. Check it out and enjoy it!
Wedding rings: The first exchange ever
Did you know that the first recorded evidence of what we can consider a custom of exchanging wedding rings originates from ancient Egypt? That’s right, this practice was recorded more than 3,000 years ago, and it was found in some ancient scrolls that depict couples presenting each other with braided rings made from hemp or reeds. However, these materials didn’t last long, which is why they started to replace them with bands made from bone, leather, or ivory. The value of the ring demonstrated the net worth of the giver – the more expensive the material, the more love was being shown. As the circle has no ending, Egyptians believed that the rings symbolized eternal love.
Wedding rings in ancient Rome
The origin of today’s metal wedding rings dates back to ancient Rome, where the grooms would present their brides with an iron ring. This type of durable material was chosen because it symbolized strength and permanence, and it is also believed that Romans were the first who had their rings engraved. Similarly to the Greeks, Romans, too, placed the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand. It is because they thought that the finger contained the vena amoris, also known as the vein of love. The wedding ring symbolizes the union of two people and identifies them as a couple, which is a belief that still holds.
Wedding rings in the Renaissance
During the Renaissance, in the 16th and 17th centuries, gimmel rings were extremely popular. Such rings consisted of two interlocking parts, and the future bride and groom each would wear one part after the engagement. Later on, during the wedding, the groom would place his ring on the bride’s finger in order to reunite the set. On the other hand, husbands gave their wives thimbles instead of rings in Puritan Colonial America simply because the jewelry was seen as inappropriate. However, women would usually remove the top of the thimble to create a ring.
Wedding rings today
Even though it was traditional only for women to wear a wedding ring, the circumstances have started to change during World War II. This is particularly true for the United States, where a large number of servicemen wore their wedding rings as a sign of commitment. They also wore wedding rings to remember their wives while being overseas, and this tradition spread among civilians later on, too. Apart from wedding bands, engagement rings have become extremely popular as well. Gentlemen often have a quite difficult task when it comes to picking the right one, but you know what? There is a fantastic engagement ring offer with a bunch of astonishing pieces any lady would love to get, so don’t wait any longer and check them out yourself!
Why are wedding rings so important?
Yes, wedding rings have had so many connotations throughout history, and even though the opinions are divided, we can definitely say that these present a romantic act of mutual love. In fact, wedding rings are often perceived as a symbol of love that has grown over the years and will continue to grow in the future. The majority of people also believe that a wedding ring symbolizes the love that will last a lifetime, which is exactly why it remained such a powerful part of modern wedding ceremonies.
As you can see, wedding rings have always been an essential part of wedding traditions, and that’s simply because they symbolize love and the connection between two people in the best possible way. Even though there are some alternatives to wedding rings, such as matching tattoos or different pieces of jewelry, we can freely say that wedding rings are still going strong, and reasons for that are more than good, right?
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