Engagement Ring Finger: Which One Is It and Why?

The offering of engagement rings is something that has been done since ancient times

. The whole concept of an engagement ring is centered on the traditions and religious beliefs of many countries. It is the worldwide symbol of undying love and commitment that a man makes to a woman. As it is widely known a circle represents eternity and in the olden days the Egyptians took the ring as a symbol of an everlasting bond between two persons who were planning to get married. That particular finger is thought to have veins that lead directly to the heart referred to as the vena amoris meaning vein of love by the Romans.

Traditionally, an engagement ring is offered to the female by the male as a precursor to a wedding band. It is the symbol of a formal agreement to marriage in the near future. These rings can either be bought by the male, the couple or by each for the other.

In the western culture the engagement ring finger is the fourth finger on the left hand. There are a number of reasons why this has been the finger of choice for decades. A few of these reasons will be highlighted below. On the other hand in some countries like Spain and Germany the engagement ring finger is actually the fourth finger on the right hand. It is another custom that dates back to ancient times, and which has come up out of the thought that the Latin word for right and left have different meanings. Left comes from the Latin word "sinistra" and right from the Latin word "dexter" which changed into dexterity hence the choice as the left was not considered to have a good meaning. In other cases the choice of the engagement ring finger is dependent on the person's religion. Depending on the beliefs of the particular it may be the right or the left hand that the engagement rings are worn on. Only one exception was noted in history in, specifically referring to the Monarchies in which the left hand was offered in the case where a noble of high standing was getting married to one of a lesser standing or class.

If we look to the South American Countries like Argentine for example both the males and the females use one ring which was very similar to the wedding rings the only difference being the type of precious metal that it was made out of. The engagement rings were usually silver. In other countries still both sexes wear engagement rings on the ring finger. To top it all off there are countries in which the wedding band is worn on the left hand until the official day of marriage when they would be transferred to the left hand.

Nowadays, some female wedding rings come in two parts, one being the engagement ring and the other the wedding band so one piece would be worn prior to the wedding and on the day both pieces would be worn. These pieces usually interlock.

Engagement Ring Finger: Which One Is It and Why?

By: Megan R M

POST COMMENT

How To Choose Best Engagement Rings How To Find The Best Engagement Ring For Your Male Partner Active Engagement and Social Interactions with Word Meanings Engagement Rings - Understanding the Importance of Clarity A Good Engagement Photographer The Importance of the Engagement Rings Boston Engagement Rings: What (And Who) You Need To Know To Get The Best Choosing Engagement Rings Can Be An Overwhelming Experience Antique Engagement Rings Dazzling Engagement Rings Bring Smile On Her Face Engagement Rings - Find The Perfect Ring Finding Antique Engagement Rings And Presents Engagement Rings Purchasing Guide