Engagement on the right hand. Why do only Russians wear wedding rings on their right hand? Wearing a wedding ring on the left hand

Wedding ring- a bright symbol that unites loyalty, love and family values. It is an integral attribute of marriage almost all over the world.

However, in different countries it is treated differently, creating their own tradition.

In Russia, it is considered bad manners not to wear a wedding ring if you have an official second half.

Women

Russian married women choose elegant gold or graceful silver rings, usually undecorated or engraved. They are selected strictly according to the size of the ring finger of the right hand - it is on it that it is customary to wear this jewelry.

Men

Russian married men they prefer massive gold rings, which differ from women's ones in coarser lines, lack of decor and large sizes. It is customary to wear them, like women, on the right hand and on the ring finger.

Engagement ring

The tradition of giving an engagement ring has existed in Russia since ancient times. Initially, it was worn with a one-finger wedding band, but today Russian girls wear it a little differently. Some take it off after the wedding, replacing it with a wedding band, and some wear it on the index or middle finger next to the wedding band, on the right hand.

divorced women

Russian women try not to show their wedding ring after a divorce, so they don't wear it. Those who decide to keep a memory on their finger put it on the finger of their left hand “without a name”.

divorced men

Divorced Russian men love to brag about the fact that they have taken place in their lives. serious relationship, therefore, they often continue to wear wedding attributes. But always on the left hand and on the “no name” finger.

Widow women

Russian widows prefer not to take off their "engagement rings" as a sign of love and fidelity to the deceased husband. Basically, they continue to wear jewelry on the third finger of their left hand.

widower men

Male widowers from Russia take off their engagement rings after the death of their wife, but take care of her ring. Usually it is worn on a long string around the neck, like an amulet, closer to the heart.

In Belarus the same as in Russia

On the right hand - on the ring finger.

In Europe

European traditions are not far from Russian ones, therefore they have obvious similarities. But a lot depends on the particular country.

Women

Women from Europe put a wedding ring on the “no name” finger of their right hand. But the French, Italians and Germans wear it on their left hand, as a sign of proximity to the heart.

Men

All European men wear wedding paraphernalia. Most - on the right hand, and the Germans, Italians and French, like their ladies - on the ring finger of the left hand.

engagement ring

In Europe, quite often an engagement ring is worn on one finger along with a wedding ring. To do this, they even buy a special set, where the rings are created in one unique style and complement each other.

divorced women

As a sign of divorce, European girls change the jewelry on the ring finger of the opposite hand.

divorced men

Divorced men in Europe try not to wear a wedding ring. However, there are no special criteria for wearing wedding jewelry after a divorce and it remains a purely personal decision.

Widow women

Having lost a spouse, European women change the sign of marriage and fidelity to the other hand and ring finger, as in divorce.

widower men

European widowers continue to wear the ring on the hand they deem appropriate. The main thing is that on the third from the thumb, thereby showing your devotion and undying love for your spouse.

In America (USA)

In America, there are slightly different traditions of marriage and wearing rings.

Women

American women wear the engagement symbol on their left hand, on the same finger as Russian women. Their priority is large rings with large and expensive diamonds.

Men

American men prefer large rings made of gold and wear them on the ring finger of the left hand.

Engagement ring

In the United States, it is an important tradition to give your beloved an expensive, luxurious engagement finger jewelry, which she wears until the wedding. Then it is changed to an engagement ring and kept as a relic, passing it on to new generations.

divorced women

During a divorce, American women take off their wedding ring or wear it on the ring finger of their right hand.

divorced men

Divorced Americans prefer to go without a ring at all, but some still put it on the finger of their right hand adjacent to the little finger as a sign of failed family happiness.

widows

In the USA, if a wife loses her husband, she puts the wedding attribute on the finger of her right hand, at the same time putting on her husband's ring.

widowers

Widowers in the United States either wear the ring of their beloved on a string around their neck, or keep both pieces of jewelry at home. Some leave their jewelry on the ring right finger.

Jews in Israel

Jews consider marriage sacred, so they greatly honor the traditions associated with it.

Women

Jewish women wear a wedding ring on the finger of their right hand, but not on the standard finger, but on the index or middle. They love classic jewelry made of elegant gold or pure silver.

Men

Israeli men also wear a symbol of fidelity and love on the middle or index finger of the right hand. Preference is given to simple gold models.

Engagement ring

The engagement ring is simple and small in size. However, Jews almost always give their beloved a ring with precious stones. It necessarily becomes a family relic and is passed on to the new generation.

divorced women

Even after the divorce, the girls of Israel continue to wear the ring, and sometimes not only on the same finger of the left limb, but leaving the decoration on the right.

divorced men

Divorced Jews do not remove the symbol of fidelity and love, but transfer it to any of the fingers of their left hand.

Widow women

Women widows in Israel, in addition to their ring, put on the right hand and the ring of her husband. Since it is large, it is often worn on the thumb.

widower men

The widowers of Israel put this jewelry of their beloved on the little finger of their right hand so that it is next to their ring, which is not customary to remove even after the death of their spouse.

In Turkey

In Turkey to family traditions and marriage are treated strictly and with respect.

Women

Turkish women are required to walk with an inconspicuous gold or silver wedding ring on the ring or sometimes middle finger, located on the left hand.

Men

Turkish men rarely wear this wedding symbol, and if they do wear it, then on the middle or ring finger of their exclusively left hand.

engagement rings

Turks love to give their beloved luxurious and expensive engagement rings that brides wear before the wedding, and then change to wedding ring and kept as a sign of respect and true love for her husband.

Widow women

Having been widowed, girls from Turkey still wear a wedding ring, already on their right hand.

widower men

Turkish widowers who wear this jewelry usually take it off and keep it together with the wife's ring at home in one box, which symbolizes fidelity and eternal love, even in heaven.

In Asian countries

Asia differs from the rest of the world, especially in marriage traditions.

Women

In some parts of Asia, girls are given in marriage at a very young age - at 11-14 years old. They are required to wear a wedding ring, but where exactly is up to them. Many Asian women wear it on any toe of their right foot. Preference is given to refined delicate products with small precious stones.

Men

Asians also wear "wedding rings", although ethics do not oblige them. They prefer to do this on any finger of the right or left hand. The choice falls on golden massive models.

In African countries

In Africa, there are completely different laws and traditions that may seem very strange to the rest of the world.

Women

African women do not wear one wedding ring as a sign of love and fidelity to their husband. They usually wear wedding bracelets in quantities of 10 to 100 pieces. It can also be a piercing in the form of a ring, which is done on any part of the body, but especially on the face.

Men

African men wear special wedding bracelets made by their beloved. In some areas, they get facial piercings that signify that a man's heart is officially occupied.

Australia and Oceania have their attributes of marriage.

Women

Women wear rings or necklaces, symbolizing a strong marriage union.

Men

Men also wear wedding necklaces or rings, which they wear wherever they see fit.

Middle East countries

In the countries of the Middle East, rings do not have such a serious influence as among the Slavs.

Women

Women wear wedding attributes on the left, on the ring or index finger. Usually these are modest jewelry made of traditional noble metals - gold or silver.

Men

Men in the Middle East are not supposed to wear gold jewelry, especially engagement rings.

On which finger do people usually wear a wedding ring?

The most common is the ring finger, since the ancient Egyptians, who initiated the tradition of wearing wedding rings, believed that it was from this finger that a thin nerve departed, ending its journey at the very heart.

In the future, the inhabitants of the countries themselves began to choose a finger suitable for ringing. Today, in various countries of the world, newlyweds are free to decide for themselves whether and where to wear the attributes of their eternal love.

Did you dream about a golden ring? —

The custom of wearing a wedding ring is one of the most ancient. There is no single answer to the question of which hand should wear a wedding ring. To a greater extent, everything depends on religious beliefs, on traditions and on the desire of the young themselves. Since ancient times, this decoration has been considered a symbol of happiness and well-being of the young, an attribute of fidelity and a family hearth. All the same, the hand for the engagement ring determines adherence to a particular denomination.

In Russia, of all confessions, Orthodoxy prevails. It is customary for Orthodox Christians to wear a wedding ring on their right hand. Since ancient times, the right hand has been considered more powerful, strong, which is the "truth", they rely on it. They are baptized with the right hand.

Wedding rings are a necessary attribute church wedding. Since ancient times, the rite of betrothal and wedding were completely different sacraments. The young acquired special rings for these ceremonies. As a rule, the metal for making such rings was also different: the bride had to make a silver wedding ring, the groom - gold. Today, the boundaries between rituals are blurred, and newlyweds buy one pair of rings for wedding and registration. They can be made from different metals and have different designs.

It is believed that the ring as a symbol of fidelity should be smooth, without reliefs and precious stones. There is an old proverb: "as smooth as the ring is, so will be the life of the young." Today, this proverb is no longer so relevant and many consider it superstition. The newlyweds make engraving on the rings, use inclusions of precious metals. The main thing is to like the ring, it was pleasant to wear it.

However, the answer to the question of which hand is worn with an engagement ring in Russia is not limited to the above. It is customary for widows and widowers to change their wedding ring on the other hand or put two rings together on the right hand. But there is nothing reprehensible in the fact that widowers and widows refuse to wear the ring at all.

Another situation is with the wedding ring among Catholics. There left side consider closer to the heart, closer to feelings. Therefore, the wedding ring in Catholic countries is worn on the left hand. The connection of the left side with the heart is decisive when choosing the hand on which the symbol of allegiance should be worn among Catholics. They also believe in the protective function of the ring as a family amulet, passed down from generation to generation.

There are branches of religions that do not recognize wedding rings, considering it a fetish. These include, for example, the Baptists.

In addition to confessional affiliation, territorial affiliation can also become the choice of hand for wearing a ring. For example, wearing a ring on the right or left hand depends on the territory of residence of some peoples.

Muslims do not attach as much importance to rings as they do to other faiths. But wearing rings is not forbidden. Gold is worn mostly by women. Men, on the other hand, wear jewelry made of silver and copper more.

Armenians, for example, in most cases professing the Christian faith, also wear rings. But to wear a symbol of fidelity, they choose their left hand, since they got this tradition from Egypt. In addition, they are baptized from left to right, which can also be the reason for wearing the ring on the left hand.

There are other, rarer options for wearing wedding rings. For example, Jewish women wear rings on their index fingers, while Gypsies wear them on a chain around their necks. In any case, no matter how you wear your wedding ring, the main thing is what you put into this tradition. The main thing in this custom is the preservation of the well-being of the family and the hearth, and it’s not so important on which finger and which hand to wear a wedding ring.

Wedding rings are symbols of marriage. loving people they give them to each other and wear them as a sign of sincerity of intentions and devotion. According to historians, this tradition appeared among the ancient Greeks. According to another version, in Ancient Egypt. In those days, finger jewelry had a symbolic character and was not valuable. Such decorations were made from hemp or reed. In the Middle Ages, European rulers and even counts and dukes issued decrees on which finger a ring was put on.

In each country, this tradition was different. For example, in England at the end of the seventeenth century, it was customary to wear a ring on, and in Germany, knights put it on their little fingers. Wherein simple people did not adhere to strict rules regarding which finger to put on a wedding ring. Over time, the material for making rings has changed. They began to decorate with carvings, inlaid with precious stones, combine different

So, which finger is currently being worn? Now the tradition of exchanging rings has not lost its original meaning. The shape of the decoration, which has neither end nor beginning, represents endless love. Precious metals that are used to make jewelry, are considered a symbol of purity and nobility of intentions. Appearance and the design of jewelry is striking in variety. If earlier ordinary smooth rings were considered traditional wedding rings, now more and more often they choose jewelry that is complex in design and design.

A fashionable trend is the inlay of other types of metal or a combination of several of their types (for example, yellow and also a “chaotic” scattering of precious stones. Although gold traditionally symbolizes the purity and purity of a girl.

Currently, there are differences in which finger the wedding ring is worn on. So, for example, the Orthodox put it on on the right hand, because this hand is considered “correct”, more important. This tradition is followed in Central and Eastern Europe (countries of the former USSR), as well as in Germany, Spain, Norway, Austria, Greece, Georgia, India, Chile, Venezuela. In Armenia, Turkey, France, Ireland, Great Britain, Croatia, Slovenia, USA, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, Korea, Japan, Syria, Cuba, the ring is worn on the ring finger, but on the left hand. In these countries, the following judgment is adhered to: on which finger the wedding ring is put on, the one is closer to the heart.

However, not everyone shares this opinion. According to Jewish custom, the bride wears a symbol of devoted love on Incidentally, in Ancient Rus' did the same. Gypsies, according to their customs, put the ring on a chain and wear it around the neck. It is known that widowers wear jewelry on the finger of the other hand. In other words, if married people wear a ring on their right hand, then widows and widowers wear it on their left hand. The situation is more complicated when a person is divorced. Many do not wear a "reminder" of marriage at all (in the direct sense of the word), and some put a ring on their left hand after a divorce. There are no clear rules here.

Historically, in most countries of the world, wedding rings are worn on the ring finger of the right or left hand. The choice of hand depends on the country of residence and local traditions, the rules adopted for the followers of a particular religion. We offer you to order custom designed wedding rings here, but first we advise you to decide which hand you will wear them on.

Who wears wedding rings on the left hand?

The first wedding rings, which appeared in ancient Egypt, were customarily worn on the ring finger of the left hand. This is exactly what the inhabitants of most countries of the Middle East, Europe, and America are doing now. In Europe, the left hand is worn by the British, Swedes, Italians, French, Irish, Slovenian residents, as well as people of other nationalities who profess Catholicism. In North America, residents of the United States and Canada follow their example, and in South America, residents of Mexico and Brazil.

Where are wedding rings worn on the right hand?

Orthodox Christians living in Russia and the CIS countries traditionally wear wedding rings on their right hand. So do the inhabitants of Greece, Spain, Germany, most countries of Eastern Europe, as well as India, Spain, Chile, Venezuela, Colombia.

Interestingly, in Austria, it is Catholics who wear wedding paraphernalia on their right hands, in Belgium, peoples honor the traditions of the region of residence, so various options are allowed. In Holland, you can also meet those who wear a wedding decoration on their right hand, they include everyone who does not profess Catholicism.

When are the rings changed to the other hand?

Wearing a ring on the ring finger of a certain hand is a kind of demonstration of one's status. The presence of a ring may indicate not only marriage, but also that a person is only preparing to marry or is free, as he is divorced or widowed. Knowledge of the traditions of other countries and nationalities will allow you not to make a mistake in the interpretation and correctly determine the status of the person you are interested in.

So, for example, in the countries of the Middle East, during the engagement, the rings are put on the right hand, and at the time of marriage, the ring is put on the left hand. If for women, engagement rings usually differ from wedding rings in the presence of a stone, then for men it is most often the same ring.

Orthodox Christians begin to wear their rings on the left hand in case of loss of a spouse or divorce. The Jews at the time of the marriage ceremony put the ring on the right hand, and then wear it on the left.

If spouses belong to different cultures and are followers of different religions, they come to a compromise solution, choosing one way to wear rings, or follow their traditions separately.

What to look for when choosing wedding jewelry

By and large, it is not so important on which hand you plan to wear the ring. But it is worth deciding on this in advance. After all, it is important to choose a model that is convenient for you - it should not be too loose, cramped or so wide as to cause inconvenience in Everyday life. When choosing the shape and presence of jewelry, consider whether it will be worn every day or is it an option exclusively for special occasions.

If the rings are chosen and bought by the groom secretly from the bride, it is enough for him to know the size and some of her preferences, later it will not be difficult for jewelers to fit the wedding jewelry to the hand.

In preparing the article, materials from the site ringstudio.ru/ were used.

An engagement ring is a symbolic and very valuable decoration for lovers, a confirmation of family status. This accessory has a rich history. Similar jewelry was discovered by archaeologists during excavations in ancient Egypt.

Interesting! In ancient times, it was believed that the wedding ring is best worn on the left hand. They believed that on the finger without a name there was a vessel leading directly to the heart. The Egyptians believed that if you apply an ointment or cream with this finger, it will have healing powers.

Interesting facts from the history of engagement rings

The material from which the rings were made directly depended on social status: noble people preferred jewelry, while the poor made rings from simple iron. Mentions that the ring really symbolized the marriage union date back to the period BC. Among the ancient Hindus, rings served as characteristic signs of castes, and in ancient Rome there was a custom of exchanging rings. With the help of jewelry, the groom demonstrated the seriousness of his intentions and demonstrated his status in society. After marriage, the woman was obliged to wear it - a reminder that now she is the property of her husband.

Important! The Egyptians believed that rings were a symbol of union in life and after death. The hole in the ring symbolizes the gate leading to new world. This is the hope that feelings can be eternal and indestructible. People were buried with jewelry, and it was believed that removing such a ring from the deceased was tantamount to a curse.

In Rus', there was no such romantic attitude towards rings. The tradition of wearing rings after marriage appeared only at the end of the 18th century. At the same time, the "language of rings" was invented:

• On the nameless - a symbol of an indestructible union.
• The ring on the little finger confirmed that the person had no intentions of getting married.
• On the index finger - an active search for a spouse (wife).
• On the middle finger - a frivolous attitude towards marriage.

In Rus', along with the decoration, the bride was given a key, so the groom recognized her as the mistress of the house. The betrothal ceremony in Orthodox Church started in 1775. Since then, rings have also been called wedding rings.

Do you wear a ring?

Many still consider it bad manners not to wear a ring if a person is married. In fact, this is a personal choice for everyone. If you have an engagement ring, you can wear both. However, many people prefer to replace the engagement with the wedding.

Divorced people or widowers (widows) often continue to wear the accessory, but now on the other hand. You can also wear your wedding ring as an amulet on a chain.

• Women. It all depends on the religion that the woman professes. Divorced ladies often wear a wedding ring on their left hand or as a pendant on a chain. European ladies love to wear the product on the index finger. By the way, this is how it was accepted in Rus' in ancient times.
• Men. Most often, men wear a wedding ring on the ring finger, sometimes on the little finger of the right hand. In some countries (for example, Belgium) men wear a ring on any hand - there are no specific standards.
• Catholics. Historically, after the wedding, the decoration is worn on the left hand. It is believed that she is closer to the heart, and therefore marriage will be based on love and fidelity. This tradition is familiar to many countries: France, Spain, Germany, Austria, USA.
• Orthodox. It is customary to wear a ring on the right hand, as people are baptized from right to left. In addition, there is a belief that the guardian angel of a person stands precisely behind the right shoulder. Who knows, suddenly he will help save the marriage. It is believed that wearing a wedding ring on the left hand promises troubles and troubles, only widows and widows have the right to do this.
• Muslims. Most often, Muslims refuse this wedding symbolism. Firstly, it is believed that jewelry destroys the soul, and secondly, according to the Koran, men cannot wear gold - only silver. Therefore, true Muslims prefer to simply give jewelry to their wives.

wedding ring tips

• You can not give it to try on or wear to a stranger. If trying on cannot be avoided, do not hand it over personally, but lay it on the surface.
• You can’t get married with rings that were inherited from a widow (widower) or a couple who divorced - there is a risk of repeating their fate. But family heirlooms inherited from people who are happy in marriage are not forbidden to be used.
• After a divorce, it is undesirable to wear a wedding ring, because it accumulates negative energy. If a person remarries or remarries, the ring cannot be reused.
• If your ring is picked up by an outsider, hold it under running water - it is believed that water purifies negative energy.
• Previously, it was customary to make all wedding rings smooth - it was believed that then the life of the couple would be even and happy. However, no one will forbid you to choose a ring with an engraving or a stone.
• The ring must not be worn over gloves.
• If an unmarried girl touches a wedding ring at a wedding, she will soon become a bride.

The decision is up to you. Powerful symbolism, backed up by faith, works wonders, but it is quite possible to be happily married without even having rings!