A wedding ring is a symbol of love and fidelity that young people exchange when registering a marriage. In many families, it is customary to pass on wedding rings from generation to generation. Such decorations are considered talismans that protect marriage.
Many people believe that the attribute of family ties should be worn on the ring finger, it is through it that blood vessels pass to the heart.
The finger for placing the symbol of love and fidelity in Russia is chosen taking into account traditions, religions and preferences.
Married men
Orthodox men who marry in Russia traditionally place a symbol of love and fidelity on the ring finger of their right hand. Although the left hand is closer to the heart, Orthodox married men consider the right hand to be the “correct” one.
There are no rules governing the wearing of a wedding ring, but generally Russian men try to adhere to established traditions and not particularly oppose them.
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Christians acted very wisely and, unlike other pagan beliefs, did not refute the ancient belief about the connection between the left ring finger and the heart, and in the 9th century, Pope Nicholas I legitimized this connection with a church ritual, although the use of this decoration directly in the wedding ceremony takes its toll beginning in the 4th century.
Throw it away? It seems a pity - it costs money. Give it to someone? Why push someone else’s energy and, moreover, personal troubles onto someone else. After all, your ring of happiness did not bring you... Melt down for other accessories? This is possible, of course, but aren’t you afraid that the sad experience of an unsuccessful marriage will somehow affect your current state of affairs?
The word “engagement” used to mean that rumors (news) about the upcoming wedding had been started, so the guy and the girl could publicly show each other signs of attention. To put it nicely, a marriage proposal has been made. Simply, the girl agreed to marry a specific young man.
No matter what finger the ring is on, be it thin or wide, the decoration emphasizes gestures, and at the same time tells about the personality.
Divorced men
Whether or not to wear a wedding ring after a divorce is a personal choice. Neither religion nor secular etiquette sets rules on this issue.
It happens that you want to wear a wedding attribute, even if the marriage itself has long since collapsed - it is precious, like a memory of love, or simply very beautiful. In this case, it should be changed to the ring finger of the left hand.
But if, when registering a marriage, the jewelry was put on the left hand, then during a divorce it is put on the right hand.
Another extraordinary option for a symbol of love and fidelity is possible: put it on a chain instead of a pendant. This way, men can also wear engagement jewelry.
The main condition still remains the emotional factor. How a person will react to uncomfortable questions from others about marital status.
Remember that most people are flawed, so think carefully before changing the location of the family ties attribute.
On the other hand, by putting a marriage attribute on the finger of your left hand, you seem to signal to others that you are ready for a new stage in life.
If you got divorced
Unfortunately, it happens that people get divorced, no one is immune from this, and in such a situation the wedding ring is simply removed by the ex-spouses. Whether to throw it away, put it in a pawn shop or store it, each person, of course, decides for himself. For example, men often adhere to the second option, and girls to the third, because they are more sensitive to jewelry.
You definitely shouldn’t give your product to someone, because it won’t bring happiness to anyone.
Sometimes former lovers after a divorce still continue to wear this attribute, in most cases, choosing the left hand for this.
Widowers
A man who has become a widower can continue to wear a symbol of love and fidelity. But psychologists are opposed to such behavior. After all, an invisible connection with the deceased, which a man continues to maintain by continuing to wear jewelry on his hand, can have a negative impact on his future relationships. A widower wearing a ring on his right finger is still deeply attached to his late wife and is not ready to move on.
If a man cannot completely erase his deceased wife from his memory, he can leave the wedding jewelry, changing it to his left hand.
Men's ring shape
Agree, a woman’s ring on a man’s finger will look like something out of the ordinary. For example, a stone inlaid with a floral design. Therefore, the main thing is the form.
Men choose strict geometric shapes, unless, of course, the ring is designer. In exclusive ring models, very unusual variations are possible, dictated only by the artist’s imagination.
Representatives of the IT industry also have their own unusual finger jewelry. But most often, an IT specialist’s ring has an extremely non-standard shape and can be worn, for example, on three fingers or hands at once. These guys have extremely unconventional thinking, and most of the attributes are chosen in the cyberpunk style. But it all depends on the depth of immersion in your field.
This, by the way, also applies to bikers, rockers and other representatives of various formal and informal communities. Their rings are non-standard, most often made of simple metal, and reflect status within the group.
But if you move away from non-standard solutions, then there are a lot of varieties of rings that men can wear without causing morbid curiosity.
Traditions
There are no laws or regulations governing which finger or hand men should wear their wedding rings on. There are only traditions. Accepting them or not is everyone's personal choice. Many couples wear the attribute of family ties in a way that suits them, and this does not in any way affect their feelings.
In Russia, men began to wear betrothal signs only in the 20th century. The hand and finger on which the ring is worn indicates the status of the man:
- he is married;
- single;
- widower.
In Russia, it is believed that people who get married must wear rings to signify their family ties.
What does a wedding ring symbolize?
The ring on the ring finger is not just a decoration, it symbolizes the deep feelings of the spouses, their eternal love and devotion to each other. It’s not for nothing that they say that “a wedding ring has no beginning and no end.” It is believed that this piece of jewelry symbolizes the infinity of the feelings of lovers.
Women tend to start wearing a ring on their finger as soon as possible to demonstrate their marital status to society. But many men, on the contrary, do not like to wear wedding rings. Sometimes this can indicate a man’s desire to attract the attention of women on the side.
Rings and their meaning
Slavic rings are now worn as a talisman or amulet. Rings that are inherited have special power. They are made mainly from gold, silver, and copper. It is believed that gold jewelry gives its owner wisdom, prudence, and facilitates decision-making. Silver ones carry strength, good luck, and protect against evil spirits. Copper rings attract the energy of money.
There are many different options for rings. Some carry a certain meaning.
Muslim rings must be exclusively silver. May be engraved with the inscription “Allah” or other religious text. Such rings must be removed before water procedures and before visiting the toilet. The weight of the ring should not exceed 5 grams.
The ring with a cross symbolizes the unity of all natural elements - air, water, fire, wind. Gives its owner harmony with the surrounding world.
A ring with the owner's initials shows that it belongs to its owner.A ring with a snake indicates dexterity, courage, and quick decision-making.
The lion on the ring symbolizes courage and power of its owner.
There is also a watch ring. It is a manifestation of individuality and attracts attention with its unusualness. A turtle on a ring means slowness and prudence.
The eagle ring symbolizes freedom, wisdom, and heights of vision.
A special type of ring for men is “napalok”. It is worn on the thumb and is made mainly from natural stones.
The most popular stones are onyx, agate, obsidian. They have a calm color that is not very noticeable, which harmonizes perfectly with the large size of the ring. Rings with opal, quartz, turquoise, and amethyst look exquisite.
On which finger do men of different religions wear a wedding ring?
Most often, it is religion that determines on which hand and on which finger men wear wedding rings.
Jews
Jews who respect the instructions of the Torah wear wedding rings on the index finger of their left hand. It is believed that it is not appropriate for a man to wear a sign of engagement, so only the wife ends up with a ring on her finger after the engagement. And in Jerusalem it is customary to put betrothal signs on the bride’s middle left finger.
However, after the sacred ceremony is performed, the bride is free to choose the finger on which to wear the symbol of love and fidelity.
Jews who do not follow traditions can put a symbol of love and fidelity on any finger of any hand.
Catholics and Protestants
In this circle, it is customary to give two pieces of jewelry, one of which is an engagement piece, decorated with precious stones, and the other a wedding piece - for the wedding ceremony. Most often, women in Western countries wear two of these jewelry at once, while men mostly wear one. Catholics and Protestants usually wear the ring on the finger of the left hand.
Catholics explain the choice of hand for wearing betrothal signs by saying that they cross themselves from left to right.
Muslims
The traditions of Islam generally do not provide for such attributes as wedding and engagement rings. The choice of finger to wear depends on the geography of your residence. Muslims living in a certain region wear betrothal signs on the index finger of their right hand by order of the Shah. In another region, you can choose any finger and hand for a wedding or engagement ring.
The meaning of rings on the fingers of men of different nationalities can be very different, so before making final conclusions, it is better to make sure or clarify the views and attitude towards the traditions of the man himself.
Most Muslims prefer to wear the betrothal sign on the ring finger of the right hand, as in most countries.
An interesting nuance: it is believed that men should not wear jewelry made of gold. Therefore, platinum or silver is most often used to make signs of love and fidelity.
In general, Muslims often choose attributes of family ties of a non-standard form.
Rule 4 - choose metals
Most men are content with choosing between silver or gold. The choice should be determined by what your skin tone is. Is it cold or warm?
- Wear silver if you have a cool tone. Your skin has a cool tone if veins are visible.
- Wear gold if you have warmer skin tones. In this case, your veins will not be visible.
Does your belt buckle match your jewelry?
Yes, to look as harmonious as possible, try to combine as many accessories as possible. Everything from the metal on your belt buckle, watch, and rings should be the same tone. It is not necessary to select metals precisely. Stainless steel and white gold go well together. However, try to maintain as much uniformity as possible.
What are the exceptions?
There are a number of countries in which it is traditional to wear a wedding attribute on the left hand. This tradition has nothing to do with religion.
Who wears a wedding ring on their left hand
There are several nationalities that traditionally prefer the left hand:
- Armenians;
- Azerbaijanis;
- Brazilians;
- Mexicans;
- French people;
- Slovaks and Croats;
- Japanese and Koreans.
The people of Great Britain, Cuba, Finland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Korea, Syria and the USA wear a symbol of love and fidelity on their left hand.
Women and men of European countries also wear a symbolic decoration on their left hand, choosing the index finger for it.
What to choose?
Rings are traditionally divided into:
- ordinary;
- engagement;
- rings;
- signets.
If everything is clear with rings, wedding rings are for marriage, the rest depend on circumstances and taste preferences, rings are decorated with stones and patterns, then with signets it’s a little different.
Signet rings are usually called coat of arms rings or rings with engraved initials. Moreover, previously a mirror pattern was cut out on a signet, and the impression of such a ring could literally be used as a seal, left on paper, wax, etc. correct drawing without distortion. The top of the engraving always points towards the nail.
What to choose?
The choice of signet finger says a lot:
- thumb - about the sexuality of the owner;
- middle - about its brightness;
- unnamed - about falling in love;
- jewelry on the little finger - about the creative nature of the owner.
- The index finger is the finger of fire; a signet is rarely worn on it.
Even in the 20th century, the signet was used for magical purposes. The ideologists of Nazi Germany generally attributed magical properties to it. And the Pope invariably receives a signet with a portrait of St. Peter upon taking office. Each Pope receives an individual ring, which is destroyed after his death.
Is it possible to wear an engagement ring before marriage?
It is not customary in society to wear a wedding ring on a finger until the marriage is officially registered. There is a sign - if you put rings on before marriage, it will not be strong, the couple will conflict with each other and will soon divorce. However, these are all legends.
First of all, the betrothal sign is a symbol of love and fidelity to one’s other half, which is why many men and women begin to wear it even before marriage. In addition, the presence of such an attribute helps to “weed out” unnecessary attention from the outside.
Men and women who have lived together for a long time, but do not register their marriage for certain reasons, also often wear similar jewelry and consider each other spouses.
Superstitions
Signs
According to most people, wedding accessories are magical symbols of the marital union of souls. Therefore, it is not surprising that many different signs and beliefs are associated with them. Here are some of them:
- You should not let anyone try on your jewelry , as you will thereby let someone try on your happiness.
- If your friend touches the attribute after registration , then soon she too will get married.
- You cannot use rings that you received from divorced or widowed people , because they can bring you the same fate.
- But if you use jewelry from grandparents who happily spent their entire married life together, then this, on the contrary, is good and will bring you the same luck in family relationships.
- If you drop it during the ceremony, it means bad luck in the family.
- And if you lose it , it means divorce.
- Do not put a wedding accessory on a glove , because in this case your connection with your chosen one will not be strengthened. If the image includes such a thing, then remove it first.
- It is unfortunate to acquire symbols of love at different times and in different places .
- Don't engrave the outside - it promises an uneven life.
- Do not wear rings before the wedding , as they must be together before registration, otherwise their strength will be impaired, which will lead to misunderstandings, quarrels and discord.
Why don't they film it?
- It is generally accepted that in this case the connection between husband and wife is broken , and their union will face troubles;
- others may think that you are looking for a soul mate ;
- This can offend your lover.
When are wedding rings not worn?
Men who have officially registered their marriage sometimes do not wear their wedding rings. There may be several reasonable reasons for this:
- your health condition does not allow you to wear precious jewelry;
- the ring no longer fits;
- a person rebels against traditions imposed by society;
- does not want to demonstrate that he is related by marriage.
Therefore, you should not judge whether a person is married or not only by the presence or absence of a ring on his finger.
Ancient beliefs and teachings
The tradition of decorating hands dates back to the ancient Romans. Only noble men could wear them as a symbol of supreme power, wealth and honor. Gradually the custom spread to other countries. The shape of rings and decorating stones were often given magical meaning. Let's look at the main folk beliefs:
- Protection. The circle was considered a symbol that protects a person from the attacks of evil mystical elements. A person wearing a metal circle on his hand was considered invulnerable to the forces of evil. If the ring cracked after wearing for a long time, it meant that it protected its owner from evil forces and needed to be replaced.
- Help from ancestors. Family jewelry preserves the energy of previous generations, helps a man prolong his life and attract good luck. The loss of family jewelry symbolized future troubles.
- Symbol of power and prosperity. Representatives of the upper classes decorated themselves with rings, preferring massive accessories made of precious metals with large stones. Today, this tradition has been partially preserved, but men prefer moderate-sized rings with inserts of precious stones to indicate their wealth.
- Status in society. Previously, the location of the rings was prescribed by the status of a man and carried information about his position in society.
Some peoples selected a ring according to their zodiac signs. It was believed that an astrological accessory, selected taking into account the influence of the stars, helps the owner in life’s endeavors and protects from troubles.
There are many factors that matter when choosing a ring.
Despite the tempting nature of the “language of rings,” you should not 100% trust what you see. Perhaps the guy chose an accessory and a place on his finger, guided not by personal preferences, but by following fashion or imitating an idol. In this case, the information about the person will be incorrect. In addition to the manner of wearing rings, other external manifestations of character must be taken into account.
Signs associated with wedding rings
You definitely shouldn’t believe in signs associated with marriage attributes. They say that if a piece of jewelry falls into the registry office, then the spouses will face a quick divorce. You shouldn’t bother yourself with such signs, just pick it up and forget about the unpleasant incident.
They say that you should not wear the ring of a deceased spouse. But if there is an internal need, wear this jewelry as a symbol of memory and love for the deceased half.
From all that has been said, we can conclude that a wedding ring is a mandatory attribute that emphasizes a person’s marital status. Which hand the wedding ring is worn on is determined by the religion and traditions of the country.
Rule #2 - pay attention to proportions
If you have large hands, feel free to wear larger rings. Men with smaller hands should maintain proportion by wearing smaller rings.
Likewise, if you have thin fingers, keep your bracelets thin and compact. Wide stripes will look better on men with large fingers. Just make sure you choose one that is proportional to your hands.
Simple rule: small hands, smaller rings. Big hands, big rings. Quite simple.
