Ancient Greek and Roman cultures agreed that the vein in the wedding ring finger, also called the healing finger, runs directly to the heart.
In the ancient art of hand reflexology, one of the areas corresponding to the heart is just under the spot where a wedding ring resides on the left, not the right, hand. Pure coincidence?
The wedding ring finger was the last touched by the priest when quoting the "Trinitarian" formula, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost."
During the period of western Barbarianism, brides were more often than not kidnapped and held captive. It is thought that the wedding ring was used at that time to tie the bride to the home of her husband-to-be, or whoever happened to be guarding her at the moment…like a leash!
The wedding ring of old was a promissory symbol. Since it represented a significant financial cost, it was something of a down payment by the groom, and deterred broken engagements (for which three years of excommunication was the punishment).
It is only recently that the custom of giving two wedding rings--an engagement and a separate wedding ring--has been widely adopted. Previously, the ring given in engagement was also used during the ceremony as the wedding ring itself.
A very practical reason for the placement of the wedding ring is the belief that it would be less likely to be broken, chipped or lost altogether if worn on the left hand.
But did you know that the wedding ring was not always worn on the left hand at all? There was a period when it was the custom to wear them on the right hand, and wealthy Elizabethans used their thumbs to display large, fancy rings!
Superstitions and customs abound around wedding rings. Anyone might feel, for example, that it was a portent of ill omen if the ring were dropped before the wedding, and even worse if it were broken or lost! But it's also generally considered bad luck to buy your wedding ring on a Friday or to wear the ring before the actual wedding ceremony takes place.
The rings, of course, take on whatever personal meaning you give them. A beautiful concept, embraced by the early Egyptians as well as ancient cultures around the globe, holds the ring to be a symbol of eternity. The ring has no beginning and no end, thus manifesting perfect love for a lifetime…and beyond.
