The History Of The Wedding Ring
Author: Kirsten Hawkins

The use of the wedding ring as a symbol of the bond between
husband and wife is familiar to us as the concept of marriage
itself, but from where did this interesting tradition emerge?
The history of wedding rings as they are known today is
actually unclear. In an article dating from the July 1869 issue
of Appleton's Journal of popular Literature, Science, and Art,
Edward J. Wood hypothesizes that the modern (modern as of 1869)
use of wedding rings stems from the practices of ancient
Hebrews. It was customary for the family of a prospective groom
to give gifts to the potential bride and her family. The general
assumption is that it is from this tradition that the use of
wedding rings as we know them seems to have evolved.

Wedding rings are not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but
references do exist that suggest the aforementioned Hebrew
practices. Genesis 24:53 in the King James Version reads, "And
the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold,
and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her
brother and to her mother precious things," speaking of the
servant of Abraham, the father of Isaac, who was to wed
Rebekah. The wedding ring first came into use in Christian
wedding ceremonies around 870 A.D.

The tradition of wearing a wedding ring on the fourth finger of
the left hand also comes from the ancients. In ancient Greece it
was believed that an artery from that particular finger led
directly to the heart. While we now know this is pure
mythology, it does serve as a rather romantic explanation for
the tradition.

Although the concept of the wedding ring is obviously very old,
the ring was almost always worn by the bride. Double-ring
wedding ceremonies are rather new. Wedding rings for men were
almost unheard of before 1940 and increased in use about the
time of the Second World War. According to an October 1953
story in Hobbies, only about 15% of wedding ceremonies included
a ring for the groom. After the start of World War II, the
percentage jumped to 60%, and then to 70% after the start of
the Korean war. Today it is more common than not for grooms and
brides alike to wear a wedding ring.

So, why a wedding ring, as opposed to, say, a wedding bracelet
or necklace? Religious ceremonies usually include a mention by
the officiating clergyman of the ring's unending circle being
representative of both God's perfect love for humanity and the
marrying couple's undivided devotion to one another.

While the precise origin of the wedding ring is unclear and
lost to history, today we recognize the wedding ring as a
symbol of the unity of marriage. The couples of today also
generally choose their wedding rings together, thus adding to
the personal symbolism that the jewelry carries for them.
Additionally, the wedding ring serves as a social symbol in
today's world, signifying to others that this man or woman is
"spoken for."


About The Author: Kirsten Hawkins is an event planner from
Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.wedding411.net/ for more event
planning tips, strategies, and resources.

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