Ring exchange is an old wedding tradition. Of course, over the past millennia, some details may have changed, but the meaning of this rite has remained the same.
Instruction manual
1
Initially, this custom originated in Ancient Egypt, there was a belief that the heart is directly connected by special energy lines to the ring finger of the left hand. So the ring worn on this finger, as if closes the feeling of the spouses to each other. It is believed that it was from Ancient Egypt that the tradition to wear wedding rings on the ring fingers went.
2
Among the Jews, the groom handed the bride a coin, as a guarantee that he was ready to take on all the financial affairs and cares of the future wife, we can say that he bought her from the family in this way. Over time, the coin turned into a ring, but the symbol of the ceremony remained the same.
3
The Romans presented their wives with special signet rings, which symbolized that the woman, on equal terms with her husband, was allowed to manage the household and took over part of household duties. Before the wedding, the Roman groom handed the parents of his bride the usual smooth metal ring. It symbolized the willingness of the groom to take on certain obligations and the ability to support the bride. The upper classes wore gold rings, ordinary citizens - silver, and slaves were content with iron. It should be noted that in Rome the engagement ceremony was the most important step, the wedding feast just completed a successful engagement, all the important things happened exactly during the exchange of rings. At the same time, only when Christianity came to Rome, the grooms and brides began to exchange rings directly during the wedding.
4
Rings in their closed, perfect form symbolize infinity, fidelity, continuity. Perhaps that is why they have become a symbol of marriage. During the Renaissance, and then in the nineteenth century, lovers weaved for each other rings of locks of hair, making each other priceless gifts. In the nineteenth century, such jewelry was made using precious metals, which gave them longevity.
5
In the modern world, wedding rings symbolize the vows that spouses give each other. They remain a visible reminder of the promises that people make before the altar. In Europe, girls wear two rings. The first is an engagement ring with a gem that indicates to others that her heart is occupied, it is worn on the ring finger of the left hand (which, according to the ancient Egyptians, is connected to the heart by a love vein), the second is an engagement ring without jewelry, his groom puts on his right ring finger the bride during a wedding ceremony exchanging rings.
