When planning to propose marriage to his beloved girl, a true romantic will turn the engagement into a memorable and romantic ceremony. Mandatory attributes of the event will be flowers, heart-shaped balloons and, of course, an engagement ring.
The Legend of the Rules for Wearing an Engagement Ring
The custom of exchanging rings as symbols of love and devotion was known back in Ancient Egypt. Even then, 5 thousand years ago, when pronouncing wedding vows, men and women put gold or silver items on each other’s ring fingers.
Important! The round shape of the decoration symbolized the infinity of family happiness and the hole through which it was put on the finger played the role of a kind of portal connecting the hearts of two people.
The custom of giving jewelry on the day of engagement arose much later. The very concept of this process implies the girl’s transition from the status of lady of the heart to the title of future wife.Even if the couple had previously lived for several years under the same roof and had a common life and sometimes common children, only an engagement makes the conditional spouse the legal bride.
Important! Only the bride can have an engagement ring, while both spouses wear wedding rings.
Men who intended to get married presented their beloved women with gold rings decorated with precious stones, and if they did not mind, they accepted the gift. In case of refusal, the jewelry remained with its owner.
Important! The tradition of giving rings on proposal day came to Russia recently from Europe. For the most part, it is a tribute to fashion and does not carry any sacred meaning.
Which hand is the engagement ring worn on?
On which hand should the jewelry presented in honor of the engagement be worn is a big question for most of their lucky owners. It all depends on the nationality and religion of the bride and groom. So, in Germany, girls put an engagement ring on their right hand, and a wedding ring, on the contrary, on their left hand.
In Poland and most Slavic countries, proposal rings are usually worn in the same place as wedding rings - on the right. Most Slavs profess the Christian faith, in which it is believed that it is behind the right shoulder of every person that there is a Guardian Angel leading and protecting throughout life. Everything on the left can be associated with the unclean and his servants (which is why it is customary to spit over the left shoulder).
Important! Christians who are divorced and have buried their spouse wear wedding and engagement rings on their left hand.
Which finger is the engagement ring worn on?
The finger on which engagement and wedding rings are placed was not chosen by chance and the Ancient Egyptians are again involved in this. Having achieved unprecedented success in studying human anatomy, they knew that a large cardiac vein runs from the heart down the arm, the branch of which ends just in the ring finger. By putting a wedding ring on it, people believed that they were thereby bringing their husband or wife closer to their heart.
Interesting! Jews choose the middle one on the right hand to indicate a woman's married status. Men do not wear such accessories.
The choice of finger, as well as the hand, depends on the nationality and religion of the bride. However, sometimes adjustments can be made by the groom’s ignorance of the size, and the bride is forced to wear the jewelry on the finger on which it fits.
After the wedding: how to wear an engagement ring after marriage?
Whether or not to wear an engagement ring as a gift depends on the wishes of its owner. There are no reasons forcing a woman who has become a legal wife to hide a memorable and symbolic gift in a box. What to do with the decoration:
- Store and pass on to inheritance. It is quite possible to make a relic out of it, which at a certain point can be passed on to the children with instructions to continue the tradition with their grandchildren and so on. The downside of this option is that the beautiful and precious item will be kept in a dark box all the time.
- Wear with a “engagement ring”. This option is suitable for couples who will discuss the design of both rings in advance. It is best to purchase such a pair in one place, both at once, or have it made to order from a jeweler. Otherwise, achieving an aesthetic appearance and a combination of styles will be difficult.
- The first is on the left, the second is on the right.A ring given for engagement and placed on the ring finger of the right hand can be changed to the other hand before the ceremony or asked the groom to do this a couple of days before the celebration.
- Wear on index or middle finger. This option will especially appeal to girls whose men missed the mark with the size. It is known that the ring finger is much thinner than the index and middle fingers. Therefore, if the decoration is large, it will fit on them like a glove.
- Wear as a pendant or pendant. Some girls wear an engagement ring on a bracelet or chain that is not the right size or has become unfashionable, but continues to be a memorable item. It is best to use smooth products without precious stones or complex designs for this, as they can scratch the skin or become damaged as a result of careless handling.
One of the most dramatic ways to use engagement rings is to melt them down to create another piece of jewelry. Often, women who have become mothers give away the rings that their husband gave them on their engagement day to be altered into small earrings or a chain pendant for their daughter or son.
What happens if you take off your engagement ring before your wedding?
This issue can be viewed from several angles: traditional, superstitious and practical. Let's look at each:
- A tribute to tradition. According to custom, a girl had to remove an engagement ring placed on her finger only if she refused to accept the marriage proposal. This could be done immediately or after some time. The return of the gift before the ceremony itself became especially sad for the groom.
- Superstitious fear. Engagement and wedding rings have a lot of expectations and a lot of possibilities attached to them.Thus, endowed with the power of love between two people, they can protect the family from the evil eye and damage, envy and bad thoughts of others. Rings consecrated in the church during the wedding ceremony could not be removed and given to anyone to try on. Taken down, it could lead to quarrels and separation for the couple, even if they did not think about it.
- Practical convenience. For many girls, constantly wearing any jewelry on the body brings significant discomfort, and they take it off at night or upon returning home. This need can extend to both the engagement and the “married” ring. Will this entail any negative consequences? It all depends on the girl and what she believes in and the groom, who must correctly understand the absence of a gift in his place.
Important! Sometimes girls are forced to stop wearing jewelry due to health problems. Swelling, irritation and other dermatological problems can force you to remove the ring, either temporarily or permanently. Very often, pregnant women encounter an unpleasant phenomenon when previously suitable jewelry begins to irritate and even corrode the skin underneath.
Recommendations for choosing an engagement ring
This section is intended for men who decide to please their beloved with a beautiful ceremony and a memorable gift. The choice of the latter must be approached with all responsibility, because its further fate and the girl’s response depend on how the engagement ring will look. When purchasing a ring you need to consider:
- Its size. To prevent the decoration from getting lost or being wrapped too tightly, it must be the right size. Finding out the size of a girl’s ring finger without her guessing why this information is quite difficult. You can ask a friend or future mother-in-law for help.You can also find out the size of a finger using a sewing centimeter while the girl is sleeping.
- Metal type and shape. Unlike wedding bands, which are supposed to be gold, smooth and round, engagement jewelry can have an abstract look and be cast from any precious alloy.
- Type of stones. Those who want to surprise and please the bride need to choose jewelry inlaid with diamonds - scattered or one, but very beautiful and bright stone. It is better not to use colored stones, as they do not look so solemn and romantic.
- Your opportunities and chances. Guys should remember that the cost and size of the ring should not in any way influence the girl’s answer and decision. Loving and devoted, she will agree to become a wife in response to a proposal made with a ring made of silver or even copper. Those who chase high prices and chic are unlikely to become good wives.
There are a few more rules that apply to wearing engagement rings.:
- According to the rules of etiquette, brides who change their mind about tying the knot must return the jewelry to the young man. What he will do with him is the personal choice of every offended man.
- If the engagement is terminated by the groom, the failed bride has every right to keep the jewelry as compensation for the wasted time and nerves.
- A bride who is unfortunate enough to become a widow before her wedding must wear the gifted jewelry until she meets another man.
- A woman must return the engagement ring even in the event of an imminent divorce. In this case, the engagement ring can remain with her.
In order for a marriage proposal to become one of the most memorable and important days in the life of the future spouses, the groom needs to think through everything down to the smallest detail.A ring, no matter how expensive and precious it may be, will definitely please and fit if it is given with love to a person who reciprocates.
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