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The Origin Of Wedding Rings? - Romance - Nairaland

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The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by flyKUDE(m): 9:52pm On Mar 29, 2007
just was in an arguement the other day as to where the origin of putting on ring by the groom on the brides finger and vice versa, someone said it has a pagan origin as it not found anywhere in the bible.what is your view on this?
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by cuteass1(f): 10:00pm On Mar 29, 2007
Though i'm not very sure of the origin, but i know why the inventor put it into origin

as we all know, a circle goes round and round, and is never ending

so i guess the intention was that a marriage just like a ring(circle) was supposed to be unending. so the ring symbolises the infinity of the marriage cheesy

but then
this has not always been the case, because many marriages don't last as long as death do them path which actually is supposed to be the end

this could now owe to the fact that they also say

a circle even though has no ending can be broken, so can the ring and so can a marriage, and when a circle is broken, it can be mended depending on circumstances

guess thats why we got some couples that even after seperating they get back to each other while for some the circle is forever broken cry cry

I've never come across any ring story in the bible, i've always thought it was invented by the white man to symbolize an unending bond/love/marriage between two people
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by Orikinla(m): 2:22am On Mar 30, 2007
Wedding with rings are not biblical.

We don't wed with rings in our R.C.C.G parish.

Rings are just tokens to me.

Exchanging precious copies of the Holy Bible serve a better purpose.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by irefunke(f): 2:44am On Mar 30, 2007
It could be a white man's idea.
And example of using ring in the bible during betrothal was when Abraham asked his servants to look for a wife for Isaac in his own lineage.He gave them a lot of gifts to give to the would be wife and a ring for signet of love.And immediately the woman at the welll fed their carmel bla bla bla she was given a ring as a seal to the new found love.It could be from there.If I get other examples I will pass them across.
The muslims too use a wedding ring,but I cant remember the reason why they use ring.Cos some don't use it does not mean those that use ring are sinners or not spiritual.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by texazzpete(m): 9:12am On Mar 30, 2007
I absolutely hate it when peeps say something is wrong just because it isn't in the Bible. . . the other day i read an editorial saying that titles like 'Pastor' and 'Priest' are unGodly because they aren't used in the Bible. . .
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by lakside20(m): 9:28am On Mar 30, 2007
my own opinion is that i think the ring is there to always remind the couples that they are into a convenant with someone already and i think the inventor is one smart person that didnt need a reference before making out such idea and dont also forget that not eveything that God has approved is in the bible,God also sends message to the world through people so i guess Gods decision in sending the (Ring)message is through the inventor not the bible this time.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by richylaw(m): 9:49am On Mar 30, 2007
Well the history or idea of using the ring starts from the ancient egyptian culture . As you may be aware of the importance of the queen to the Pharaoh and Egypt as a whole, she takes over power when her husband is not availabe and as well assist when he is there. This invariably shows what power and position the egyptian queen also have. This means trust , dependability and loyalty to her husband . To seal a convenant of loyalty the idea of ring emanated, this is because it is round with no begining or end. This is a strong symbolic object though, but the real use of this ring is to link the vow to the heart, From anatomical observation , It's been stated that the wedding ring finger has a vein that runs straight to your heart ( doctors in the land please disprove me). In summary the pharaoh gives ring to the queen to seal a convenant of loyalty to his reign and this is put on the finger that links straight to her heart. Quite phylosophycal in nature but I think that was the genesis of ring exchange and vows between two lovers. I will still find time to package my references to this and mail to naira land
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by Beline(f): 10:00am On Mar 30, 2007
Orikinla:

Wedding with rings are not biblical.

We don't wed with rings in our R.C.C.G parish.

Rings are just tokens to me.

Exchanging precious copies of the Holy Bible serve a better purpose.

I attended many wedding in RCCG in different parish and all the couples used ring, I think what you are trying to said is that the use of ring is not compulsory which is applicable to many churches.

We should stop criticizing some ideas base on the fact that they are not written in the Bible

@topic
The use of ring is a physical symbol that reminds you that you are in convenant with somebody and  to others that you belong to someone lol
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by richylaw(m): 11:04am On Mar 30, 2007
Well , here are some further history of wedding ring. This article is quite voluminous but I have tried to use a color highlight to indicate some specific area of concern. Enjoy your reading.

The Wedding Ring

A brief history of wedding rings from a mid Victorian perspective. This article first appeared in Appleton's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art in July of 1869.]
From a recent work, by Edward J. Wood, on "The Wedding-Day in All Ages and Countries," we glean a few interesting facts in reference to the wedding-ring. The use of the ring, both in betrothal and marriage, seems to be of very old date. Among the ancient Hebrews the selection of a bride, always made by the parents of the lover, was followed by an espousal, which was confirmed by oaths and accompanied by presents. These gifts were probably the origin of the gift of the ring.
In the first meeting of the servant of Isaac and Rebekah, he seeks her favor by the present of a massive earring and two bracelets. After the consent of her parents, there were more costly gifts - "jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment." In later days, it was the custom for the bridegroom to place a ring upon the finger of the intended bride. It is not certain how early this custom began. There is no mention in the Bible of betrothal finger-rings; but, in Genesis xli. 42, a ring is mentioned as a token of fidelity or friendship, and, in Luke xv. 22, of adoption.

No reference to rings was made by the Talmudists, and these is an opinion that they were not used in the Mosaic days, but came in at a later period as an economical substitute for dowry-money. The modern Jews still attach more moment to the breaking of glass, not as a bond of union, but a suggestion that the union is irrevocable, as the damage to the crystal; also as a suggestion of the frailty of life, and a portent of the punishment of infidelity.

"Whatever may be the fact as to the use of marriage-rings in the Bible days," says the author, "monkish legends relate that Joseph and Mary used one, and moreover, that it was of onyx or amethyst. It was said to have been discovered in the year 996, when it was given by a jeweller from Jerusalem to a lapidary of Clusium, who had been sent to Rome by the wife of a marquis of Etruria, to make purchases for her. The jeweller told the lapidary of the preciousness of the relic; but he despised it, and kept it for several years among other articles of inferior value. However, a miracle revealed to him its genuineness; and it was placed in a church, where it worked many curative wonders. In 1473, it was deposited with some Franciscans at Clusium, from whom it was stolen; and ultimately it found its way to Perusia, where a church was built for it, and it still performed miracles; but they were, as Hone says, trifling in comparison with its miraculous powers of multiplying itself. It existed in different churchs in Europe at the same time, and, each ring being as genuine as the others, it was paid the same honors by the devout."

In modern Greece there are two rings used - gold for the bridegroom, and silver for the bride - which are frequently interchanged by the two in token of union and of domestic equality, the higher value of the ring of the husband, however, still marking his superiority.

In the time of Pliny, an iron ring was sent as a pledge to the intended bride. These iron rings were set with adamants, the hardness and durability of both iron and stone signifying the perpetuity of the contract. Juvenal states that, during the imperial period, the man gave a gold ring in token of his fidelity to his betrothed, and that she wore it as now, on the finger next to the small one. Tertullian speaks of them in his day. Isidore says that women wore only this ring, or not more than two, at most. Some nuptial rings were of brass, and some of copper. The plain circle was not the only form of wedding-ring, as some were carved in devices, such as a key, to signify the domestic authority of the wife.

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Italians used betrothal-rings, which were generally of silver, inlaid with niello. The bezel was oval or circular, and the shoulders of the hoop formed sleeves from which issued hands that clasped. The medieval Italians esteemed the diamond for espousal-rings, from its supposed power of maintaining concord between husband and wife.

The Irish peasantry have a general impression that marriage without a gold ring is not legal. In former days, girls in the mountain-regions were often married at twelve and thirteen. The women thought that bracelets of hair, given to the husband, were charms of certain efficacy in love.

Near the Loch of Stennis, in the Orkneys, are two large circles, sacred to the sun and moon. Only one hundred years ago, a maiden, who wished to be married, performed alone the circuit of stones dedicated to the moon, and the intended husband traversed the circle of the sun. Then the pair met at the stone of Odin, and, joining their hands through the matrimonial ring or hole in the stone, plighted their faith, and became man and wife. A divorce was more simple, as the pair had only to go to church, and go out at different doors.

Among the Anglo-Normans, the ring was always worn on the middle finger of the right hand, while in the latter part of the seventeenth century the wedding-ring was often worn on the thumb. The Quakers reject the ring as a remnant of Pagan superstition, and in the time of the Commonwealth the Puritans endeavored to abolish it for the same reason.

Although a ring is absolutely necessary in a Church-of-England marriage, it may be of any metal, and of any size. Some years since, a ring of brass was used at Worcester at a wedding before the registrar, who was threatened with proceedings for not compelling a gold to be employed. A story is told of two paupers, who came to the church and requested to be married with the church-key, as the parochial authorities had not furnished them with a ring. The clerk, feeling some delicacy about using the key, fetched an old curtain ring from his own house, and with that article the marriage was celebrated. The church-key was used in lieu of a wedding-ring at a church near Colchester, early in the present century; and that was not a solitary instance within the past one hundred years in England. The Duke of Hamilton was married at May Fair with a bed-curtain ring. Notes and Queries for October, 1860 relates that a ring of leather, cut transversely from a finger of the bridegroom's glove, was used as a substitute for the wedding-ring on one occasion. A clergyman unjustifiably stopped a wedding in India, because the bridegroom offered a diamond ring instead of the kind generally in use.

In Iceland, the betrothal and the marriage were both confirmed by money, and the ring seemed little needed in evidence where value received for the maiden was supposed to be paid in cash. It was used there, however; but could hardly be called a finger-ring, being variously formed of bone, jet, stone, gold and silver, and sometimes it was so wide as to allow the palm of the hand to be passed through it. In the solemnization of betrothal, the bridegroom passed four fingers and his palm through one of these rings, and in this manner he received the hand of his bride.

Wearing the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is due to the belief of the ancients that a vein of that finger ran directly to the heart, and that the nuptial sign was thus joined to the seat of life. The fact that the soft metal is less worn or injured on the finger of that hand may have much to do with it. It is said, however, that the ring originally worn among the Anglo-Normans on the right hand of the bride was changed to the left, or inferior hand, in token of subjection. The particular finger is also said to be favored from an old custom of placing the ring on the first finger in the name of the Father, on the second in the name of the Son, and on the third in the name of the Holy Ghost. This usage probably grew up at the time of the Arian controversy.

One of the earliest and prettiest forms of betrothing-rings was the gemmal ring, once used by the Anglo-Saxons, and probably derived from the French or Normans. It was of two or three links, fastened on a hinge, and joining in one ring. Sometimes, when the two flat sides and the central ribbon joined, there were male and females hands to clasp at the union. A heart above these signified love, fidelity, union. At betrothal, the man and woman were often actually linked by a finger in each end of the three-hooped chain, and then, severing them, each kept the part held, and the witness the third, until all became the property of the bride of marriage. A gemmal ring of nine interlaced loops still exists. These often had posy verses upon the flat inner surface.

Fictitious rings of rushes were once used in England to delude girls into a mock marriage. A bishop of Salisbury, in 1217, put a stop to the sport by declaring the rush-ring contract legal. An old writer says: "Well, 'twas a good worlde, when such simplicitie was used, sayes the old women of our time; when a ring of a rush would tie as much love as a gimmon of golde."


The word diamond comes from Greek origin. The Greek word "adamas" means unconquerable, and aptly describes the strength and value of the diamond. But the tradition behind wearing a diamond wedding ring has other historic roots based in Egypt.

2. Have you ever wondered why wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand? In ancient Egypt, people believed there was a special vein in the body. This vein, known as the "vena amoris" or vein of love, connected the left ring finger directly to the heart. For this reason Egyptians felt that wearing a ring on this finger was the ultimate symbol of undying love.

It wasn't until the late 1800s that the diamond wedding ring grew in popularity. Even though the tradition of offering a diamond ring began in the 1400s, diamonds were not readily accessible. In 1870, African diamond mines made it possible for the public to share in the splendor.


3. Wedding Ring
It is hard to predict the exact origin of the wedding ring. Its origin is rather uncertain and is rife with superstition and mythology. Papyruses which dated back to the ancient Egyptian civilization depict wedding rings. Historians have rather confirmed that the tradition of wedding rings originated from the land of the Pharaohs. Engagement or betrothal rings were used in the pre-historic times but the wedding ring is relatively a new tradition.

In ancient times, accepting a wedding ring carried a lot of meaning. The wedding ring was accepted as a binding agreement between the husband and the wife. The wife rather became the private property of the husband, a holding of sorts. And the wedding ring also represented protection to the wife.

The early Egyptian wedding rings were circular bands, which were simple to look at and were crudely crafted from indigenous materials such as hemp and reeds. Since the eternal circle signified eternal love and devotion so it was in the form of a circular band. The circle also represented the joining of two halves to create a whole. These wedding rings had a very short lifespan approximately one year. But someone who desired a more permanent token of eternity crafted such rings of ivory, leather and other sturdy materials.

Later on metals replaced the earlier hemp and reed wedding rings. It is said that the Romans moved to lead, while the other civilization preferred brass and copper wedding rings. Gold became a metal of choice. The early Irish couples insisted on gold wedding rings as the other metals were considered to bring in bad luck and rather constitute an illegal marriage. But couples who were unable to afford a gold wedding ring went for other metals.


The earlier designs of a wedding ring were crude and were adorned with semiprecious metals in an attempt to disguise the handiwork but the color of the stones had lot significance. For instance a wedding ring with a red ruby signified the heart, the ring with a blue sapphire signifies the skies and the heaven, and the rarest diamond signified the indestructible bond of marriage.

There was a superstition that the fit of the wedding ring had to be perfect. It was believed that a loose fitted wedding ring would lead to a sloppy marriage, and even cause the couples to break apart. If the ring was too fit it would doom the couple to a suffocating and painful marriage.

In ancient times wedding ring was worn in the ring finger on the left hand as it is worn today. The significance of the ring finger or the third finger is that, the vein in this finger is connected directly to the heart. This thought was propagated by the Egyptians and was adopted as truth by the Greeks and the Romans and is believed by lovers till date.

Early Christian marriages had a ritual to wear the wedding ring in the third finger, as the priest recited ?in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?, he would take the ring and touch the thumb, the first finger and then the second finger. And while uttering ?Amen?, he would then place the ring on the third finger, which sealed the marriage. Even today this practice of wearing the ring in the third finger is still prevalent. But there was a short period during the Elizabethan era, when wedding ring resided on the thumb. During the World War II, double ring ceremonies gained popularity as the young soldiers shipped off to war.

Not Just a Piece of Jewelry

Wedding rings are not just pieces of jewelry but they are symbol of eternal love, romance and devotion to each other. From the comfort point of view since wedding rings are to be worn for the rest of your life, you should select a wedding ring that should not only be gorgeous and beautiful but also comfortable, trendy and go well with your style statement.

Also it is upon your choice to decide whether you want identical rings for yourself and your beloved or if the bride and groom will have different rings. Then you have to decide about the material and the style. These days it is not that you have to go with the yellow gold wedding ring but you can also go for beautiful titanium, platinum and white gold rings. The white rings are in fashion because they can go with any outfit even after marriage. Celtic wedding rings, solitaire diamond wedding rings, and other gemstone rings are also in fashion these days. But if you are really looking for a unique and top quality wedding ring that would indeed look great for a long time you can at best go for a platinum wedding ring. A platinum ring does not glitter as much as gold rings, which make it, look very chic.

White gold ring is another popular choice with modern couples. Lot of people prefer the brilliance of a white gold wedding ring, so white gold solitaires are very fashionable now. Titanium rings also look great for wedding and engagement. It looks similar to white gold, but feels much lighter and is also less expensive.

Also you and your beloved may wear the wedding ring the rest of your lives but ring fashions can change. And it is prudent on your part to select a ring that best suits your personality.

http://popular.ebay.com/ns/Jewelry-Watches/Diamond+Wedding+Ring.html
http://www.brajeshwar.com/info/wedding_ring.html
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by fadenike(f): 12:23pm On Mar 30, 2007
i commend your effort on this educative search.
welldone.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by flyKUDE(m): 12:58pm On Mar 30, 2007
na wa oh richylaw, most educating,
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by flyKUDE(m): 1:06pm On Mar 30, 2007
I absolutely hate it when peeps say something is wrong just because it isn't in the Bible. . . the other day i read an editorial saying that titles like 'Pastor' and 'Priest' are unGodly because they aren't used in the Bible. . . 


no one said its ungodly just because its not in the bible, but because some where saying its kinda compulsory,thats why.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by user86666(m): 2:26pm On Mar 30, 2007
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by samyyoung1(m): 3:45pm On Mar 30, 2007
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by Coleslove: 8:04pm On Mar 30, 2007
Anyone ever heard about Branding in Agriculture? You know like making a Tag for your live stocks, placing it on the ears (e.g Cows, Sheeps and so on) in order to identify them and allow people know they rightfully belong to you. Now this is the same idea being applied here. Man just thinking of how he/she could mark his fellow man and woman, in order to make others know they were his decided to introduce Facial marks, Tatoos, Rings and so on. Now rings are being used distinctively between couples or two individuals to signify their attachment or ownership of each other and that is why most wedding rings are alike. Conviniently ring was chosen cos it was easier to wear, carry and obvious enough for others to know. Well, nairaland would not permit me more chalk board i would have gone on and on.

Ring is not Basically for wedding, but just for identification of property. lol
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by saints2(f): 2:00pm On Mar 31, 2007
Thanks for this topic am loaded already cheesy
God Bless you All.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by richylaw(m): 5:26pm On Apr 02, 2007
@ flykude and fadenike , thank you for the compliments - knowledge is power

All in all I think the use of ring in marriage is a symbollic event that emanated from a societal stage on which culture and religion were both mixed together and may forever be as far as the world exists
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by osegwu(m): 9:07am On Apr 03, 2007
Really?
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by Maneater1(f): 10:18am On Apr 03, 2007
I dont care where it came from, i just want a big arse rock on my finger. grin grin shocked
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by richylaw(m): 4:36pm On Apr 03, 2007
@ osegwu

Really? YES REALLY!
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by woleilori(m): 11:52am On Apr 04, 2007
THE WEDDING RING IS GOOD, BUT THE MIND IS THE ULTIMATE IN MARRIAGE.

IT IS ONE OF SUCH THINGS THAT WE INHERITED FROM OUR FORE FATHERS
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by jovymbs: 10:25am On Jun 30, 2010
I’m not sure about the origin of wedding ring, but I do quite know that it is a symbol of love and eternity. Thanks to My Wedding Jewelry. I treasure it the most!

[img]http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-48416461361537_2110_6764713[/img]
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by Pweety4me(f): 10:30am On Jun 30, 2010
^That's beautiful smiley
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by queeneve: 8:09pm On Jun 30, 2010
My fiance and I's church advise people to use bibles or watches as a token of marriage identification. I am all for simple love token such as rings, watches, necklaces, his or her items, and whatever that symbolizes the union.

Do not let anyone tell you what you should do for your union symbolism. It should be the couple's decision not the
audience,

We got each other nice simple rings nothing major,
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by minute(f): 9:14pm On Jun 30, 2010
It seems that the earliest known exchange of wedding rings was

in ancient Egypt.It is not surprising that the culture ended up in the

biblical cultures. Stories in the Bible draw heavily on the Egyptian and

Babylonian stories before them.The cultures were intertwined.

So,yes it began as Pagan . . . . . but so did much of the Bible itself. undecided undecided undecided
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by luap: 10:41pm On Jun 30, 2010
Men are not impressed by getting a wedding ring. Women, way over rated, like a bunch of flock of chickens gobbling in chicken language between eachother about the wedding or engagement ring. It is ridiculous!!!

I ended up getting a pink diamond for my wife. It was a painful experience. Do you know how hard it is to find a natural pink diamond? Good luck. I hated the experience, but in the end it paid off. See I am so lucky to have the privilege at giving away a diamond ring. right? I am still confused.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by Nobody: 6:20am On Jul 01, 2010
Pweety4me:

^That's beautiful smiley
do u like that?
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by onstelly(f): 9:53am On Jul 01, 2010
Orikinla:

Wedding with rings are not biblical.

We don't wed with rings in our R.C.C.G parish.

Rings are just tokens to me.

Exchanging precious copies of the Holy Bible serve a better purpose.
And i bet exchanging percious bible copies are biblical.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by jovymbs: 9:50am On Aug 27, 2010
As far as I know, a wedding ring originated in Egypt. I'm not sure though! When you say wedding rings, I remember purchasing my wedding ring from my-wedding-jewelry.com. They really have a cool collection!
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by omofat: 10:42am On Aug 27, 2010
Orikinla:

Wedding with rings are not biblical.

We don't wed with rings in our R.C.C.G parish.

Rings are just tokens to me.

Exchanging precious copies of the Holy Bible serve a better purpose.

And exchanging the Holy Bible is biblical abi? - apply little thought before posting naw sad
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by pappy4real(m): 11:44am On Aug 27, 2010
Orikinla:

Wedding with rings are not biblical.

We don't wed with rings in our R.C.C.G parish.

Rings are just tokens to me.

Exchanging precious copies of the Holy Bible serve a better purpose.

PLS THINK PROPERLY BEFORE WRITING AND CONFIRM UR TALKS B4 POSTING. IVE NEVER ATTENDED ANY WEDDING LIKE THAT.
Re: The Origin Of Wedding Rings? by KrissKs: 10:05pm On Oct 05, 2010
I dont wear a wedding band, and neither does my wife. She also doesnt have my last name. All the religious(and non-religious) reasons for them aside, to me they are nothing but a sign of ownership. A rancher puts a brand on an animal so others know it belongs to him. In my opinion, a person puts a ring on a another person for the same reason. We live in a society thats obsessed with the idea of ownership. I dont own my wife, and she doesnt owm me, and I dont need a piece of gold to tie her to me. A ring is not a symble of never ending love, its nothing but a piece of jewelry.

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