 |
Why are wedding rings worn on the left hand? |
by Alli Rodenhauser (whyzz writer) >> more about the author
Did you know?
For many centuries it was only women who wore wedding rings. The tradition of men wearing one didn't gain popularity until the twentieth century — during World Ward Two soldiers, who were away from home for a long time, wanted a reminder of the family they were fighting for.
Wedding rings gain a special significance over time, and are sometimes passed from generation to generation. Ask a married relative if he or she has an interesting story about their wedding ring — you might learn something about your family you didn't know before!
The tradition of a couple wearing wedding rings to show they were married dates back to ancient Egyptian times, with the earliest documentation of a ring exchange taking place over 4,800 years ago! But while the finger a person wears his or her wedding ring on can vary depending on culture or religion, in the west it is generally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand...why is that?
The ancient Egyptians believed that a vein ran from that finger directly to the heart, and placing a ring on that finger signified that person's commitment to their partner and marriage. The Romans picked up on that tradition, nicknaming the vein the vena amoris (or, "the vein of love"), and it became popular enough to still be around today!
The ancient Egyptians believed that a vein ran from that finger directly to the heart, and placing a ring on that finger signified that person's commitment to their partner and marriage. The Romans picked up on that tradition, nicknaming the vein the vena amoris (or, "the vein of love"), and it became popular enough to still be around today!
Did you know?
For many centuries it was only women who wore wedding rings. The tradition of men wearing one didn't gain popularity until the twentieth century — during World Ward Two soldiers, who were away from home for a long time, wanted a reminder of the family they were fighting for.
Wedding rings gain a special significance over time, and are sometimes passed from generation to generation. Ask a married relative if he or she has an interesting story about their wedding ring — you might learn something about your family you didn't know before!
