It is high time to get to the wedding ceremony. The wedding guests are sitting forward. The bride and groom are on the spotlight reaching out to the wedding rings that are on the ring cushion. If you need info related Red and Green Make WHAT Color? (Unexpected Color Results Revealed).
Which hand should they put the ring on?
It is a situation even more frequent than you may imagine. It is not only because during the ceremony, couples are in a mirror image. The fact is that, the answer to the question wedding ring right or left is situated in a place where you live, some kind of culture, and what is significant to you.
Which Hand Do Americans Wear Wedding Rings On?
The Left Hand Tradition in the USA
In America, the majority of the population put the wedding rings on the left hand. This is what you will find at almost all a wedding ceremony in this country.
The engagement rings and wedding rings are placed on the ring finger of the left hand. This is such a common tradition that majority of the Americans do not even question it. If you want to read about Film Review: It Ends With Us – A Romance That Stumbles Into Dangerous Territory visit this page.
There are, however, exceptions. There are other families with other cultural wedding practices. The others make personal or religious choices to use the right hand. Nevertheless, the left hand position of the wedding ring is the most common position of the wedding ring among American couples.
Why Do We Wear Wedding Rings on the Left Hand?
The Ancient “Vena Amoris” Legend
The legend of the left hand wedding ring is actually very romantic. It has its origin in ancient Egypt and ancient Greece.
The ancient people had a belief in the so-called veina amoris. This is translated to mean vein of love. They believed that this special vein was an extension of the ring finger of the left hand straight to the heart.
Due to this conviction they would adorn this finger with a loyalty ring that was referred to as a fede ring. It was regarded as the most relevant place to represent a symbol of love.
This is the interesting part, We now know that there is no such vein. This is simply a myth that has been discovered to be false by modern medicine.
However the custom remained. Why? The emotional symbolism is still strong because of this. The left hand has a physical proximity to the heart. Such love symbolism still appeals to couples nowadays.
How This Tradition Came to America
British traditions had a serious impact on the American wedding practices. With the first settlers, religion and practices were brought in the Western part of Europe.
The United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain, among other countries, use the left hand tradition of wearing wedding rings. The left hand became common in this land as well since these cultures dictated American society.
This is the reason why the United States is not alone in this tradition among most of the western nations. It belongs to our European culture.
Countries Where Wedding Rings Go on the Right Hand
The Right Hand Tradition Explained
Not all nations adhere to the left hand rule. As a matter of fact, most locations would like full right hand wedding ring placement.
Wearing of wedding rings on the right hand is the traditional meaning of wedding rings in Germany, Austria, Poland, Norway, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Lithuania. This practice is also practiced in Holland (the Netherlands).
In the USA, you may find this tradition in the community which is closely related to these nations. The cultural tradition of wedding in the family is respected by first and second-generation immigrants.
Why the Right in Part of the World?
A vein of love was also believed in by the Germanic tribes. But they believed it was on the right hand; not the left. This ideology affected Germany and Austria and the neighbors.
The other theory is that of Reformation. Some Protestants desired to be different when Protestantism separated with Catholicism. Putting the wedding ring on the right hand was a form of protest to the Catholic practices.
The Bible also plays a role. In the book of exodus, it is stated in scripture that the right hand is the good and the left is the bad.
It is interesting to note that this is reflected in the German language. Such words as rechtsens (lawful), aufrichtig (honest), gerecht (fair) derive their meaning out of recht (right) and are associated with positive character. In the meantime, such words as link (sneaky), gelinkt (tricked) are associated with negative meanings.
Wedding Ring Right or Left: What Does Tradition Say?
Religious Perspectives on Wedding Ring Placement
The choice of hand of wedding rings is normally influenced by religious beliefs.
The left hand is one that catholicism has always favored. This is in line with the ancient Egypt and ancient Greece traditions that played role in shaping the early Christianity practices.
Protestantism is denominationally different. There are those who observe the left hand rule. Other people use the right hand, particularly in Germany and Northern Europe.
Right hand is the usual hand used in the ceremony of the Eastern Orthodox churches. This is according to Biblical ties of right hand to good and blessing.
Jewish customs are unique. The wedding ceremony also involves wearing the ring on the right hand. However, lots of couples take it to the left hand later on particularly in America.
Cultural Heritage and Family Traditions
When your parents or grandparents are in a country that observes the right hand wedding ring tradition, you may find yourself being inclined to respect their tradition. This is particularly widespread in American families with a new immigrant background.
The question is many couples have to answer: Do we act according to the American traditions or family traditions?
The answer is personal. There are couples who compromise. One of the partners could put on his or her ring on the left hand, the other on the right. This respects the cultural traditions of wedding.
Modern Wedding Ring Trends: Right, Left, or Somewhere Else?
Breaking Traditional Rules
The rigorous traditions which formerly were obligatory are becoming non-commitmental. The contemporary American society is focused on the individual choice rather than strict traditions.
There are those who put their wedding rings as a necklace. This is good with individuals in some careers. An example is the inability of healthcare workers to wear a ring during work. The same is with athletes and individuals who use their hands.
It is quite legitimate to have professional reasons and sporting reasons. It does not matter whether it is on your finger or on your neck, your wedding ring can be something that illustrates love and commitment.
Same-Sex Couples and Wedding Ring Traditions
LGBTQ+ couples tend to invent their own customs in the absence of the pressure of doing things the way they have always been done. Some choose matching hands. Others individually choose what is right.
This freedom is beautiful. It demonstrates that marriage is not a formula that one has to follow but the commitment of two individuals.
Practical Considerations: Choosing Right or Left Hand
Which Hand Do You Use More?
Do you use your right hand or your left hand? Your hand of dominance will suffer more. It collides with objects at a higher rate. When you clean or wash dishes it is more often in water.
This is the reason why some individuals wear their wedding ring on the non-dominant hand. It will minimize the chances of being ruined and the ring will be cleaner.
Some of them desire it on their dominant hand since they observe it more frequently. They have to be reminded of their marriage every time they write, type or gesture.
Consider your work too. Do you touch things with your hands, which can hurt the ring? This would be a consideration when choosing the hand to place your wedding ring.
Engagement Ring and Wedding Ring Coordination
In American culture, the engagement and the wedding ring are put on the left hand.
Wedding ceremonies involve transfer of engagement rings to the right hand during the ceremony. Once the vows have been exchanged between the bride and groom, the engagement ring is returned to the left hand, just above the wedding band.
In such a manner, the wedding band would be closest to the heart. The metaphorical meaning is that marriage is first, which physically reaches the heart.
There are also individuals who like wearing the rings in other hands. A ring in each hand can be more comfortable. It also provides a space to shine to all the rings.
Ring Sizing and Finger Differences
You do not have the same right and left hands. The ring finger on the hand which is your major one is usually a little bigger. The difference in thickness of the fingers may be small, but it is significant in the comfort and fit.
The same ring may be tight or loose on the right hand. Making the sizing wrong is aggravating and may cost a lot to rectify.
Have it professionally sized to the hand in which you will actually be wearing the ring. This gives it a lifetime fit that is comfortable on the first day.
What’s Right for You? Making Your Decision
Questions to Ask Yourself as a Couple
The decision of whether to use right or left hand lies in personal sense. These are the questions to consider:
Are you of such cultural background? In case your families are good in traditions, think whether you would like to respect them.
What has your parents and grandparents done? The traditions of the family are usually emotional.
Are you adherent to a specific religion? Religion could lead you in a certain direction.
Is there any work consideration? Consider your occupation and your life. Which of these hands is more practical?
What do you think is the symbolism that appeals to you? Is the idea of the left hand closer to the heart attractive to you? Or does the good hand symbolism of goodness have more sense?
What simply feels right? Sometimes the answer is just intuitive.
There’s No Wrong Answer The wedding ring is a sign of love, faithfulness, togetherness, and devotion. The symbolism of that does not change depending on which hand one it is on.
The point is the everlasting love and devotion you have. The hand is no more than a physical detail.
The contemporary marriage is a matter of two individuals making a choice. It is your choice of how to show it. Be it tradition or being an individual, whatever is your choice, it is all good.
Wedding Ring Etiquette: Common Questions Answered
Can You Switch Your Wedding Ring from Left to Right?
Yes, absolutely.
There are those who switch hands on the hand they wear the rings after years of marriage. Reasons vary. Perhaps the ring no longer fits into the original hand very well. Perhaps they have learned alternative cultural ways of wedding ceremonies later in their life.
What If Partners Want to Wear Rings on Different Hands?
This is quite permissible. It is marriage and yet you are individuals. One of the partners may adhere to the right hand wedding ring tradition of the family they belong to and the other one may adhere to the left hand wedding ring tradition of the Americans.
Do Widows and Widowers Move Their Rings?
When one of the spouses die, many individuals change the position of their wedding ring towards the right hand.
It is a matter of choice, which is related to grief and recovery. There are those who just leave it on the left hand always. Others move it right away. Some wait months or years.
No time schedule, no need. Every individual copes with loss in a different manner. It is also a powerful emotional symbolism, notwithstanding the hand of which the ring is on.
Your Wedding Ring, Your Choice
In America, it is the left hand that is conventional. The majority of the weddings that you will attend will include couples who put rings on their left index fingers. This is in line with centuries-old Western culture of weddings.
However, the updated version of the question of; what is the correct side to wear a wedding ring is just this, what feels comfortable to you.
Wedding ring is a sign of eternal love and devotion. It is an epitome of harmony and faithfulness between couples. Placement is not beyond that meaning.
Other couples respect their culture by giving importance to the right hand. There are others who use the left hand as an American tradition. There are those who put on the rings as a necklace due to professional reasons. These are all passable decisions. If you need more interested info like that visit quick guider.
The most important thing? Discuss this with your fiancee before purchasing rings. Talk about your cultural wedding practices, religious beliefs and your personal tastes. Take into account such practical considerations as comfort and fit.
After that select the hand on which you have the most symbolic meaning.
Your marriage is unique. Your wedding ring, that of yours may be.
You just have to remember: When you have chosen, you have to be sized into the right hand. Those are real differences in the thickness of fingers. You desire a fit to last all your life comfortably the moment you say I do.