Wedding rings (wedding alliances)
There are endeless suppositions, speculations and theories about the origin, history and meaning of wedding rings. Nevertheless, very few rituals have spread so much around the world as the giving of wedding rings: the “wedding alliance” means to ally to someone for a lifetime. A love bondage.
Although the moment of history when this ritual began is uncertain, this is not fundamental. What really matters is what it really means or symbolizes for a couple. Wedding rings are not fundamental or necessary to develop a life in common when the project of two living together knocks at somebody´s door, but there is a high symbolical value in their exchange. A proof of it is that wedding rings are part of most of wedding ceremonies. Maybe because the ring bearer acquires a series of responsibilities and commitments when he or she changes his lifestyle from single to married, which, of course, could also accomplish without any ring at all. In my oppinion, the will of exhibiting the wedding ring in their fingers is what, in fact, shows to the world the free acceptance of a commitment of fidelity, faithfulness. A wedding ring is a symbol which by our own decision compromises us to by all means make the effort to keep faithful to our beloved (the subject of our love) day by day. Very few traditions have been kept throughout time as intact as wedding rings.
Origins of the tradition and rituals in history
There are two theories about the origin of wedding rings. The first one is that they represent links or chains that the ancient barbarians used to capture women belonging to other tribes by submitting them in order to make them their own wives. At present times, the exchange of rings does no longer express any difference or inequity between the sexes as in the old days.
We support the second theory, which is believed to be the most realistic because there are facts about it, thus, it is not only a hypothesis like the former one. This second theory refers to an exchange of rings in former weddings, which symbolized commitment between the two wedded. Probably, in those remote pagan times, there should have been some kind of sexual connotation: the action of inserting the finger in the ring, or vice versa, is a representation of sexual intercourse.
One of the most remote facts about wedding rings in history takes us back to ancient Egypt. Although this ritual might be even older, there are elements of this tradition from 2,700 BC, from the times of the Third Dynasty. Links and unions amongst Egyptian marriages were sealed by giving rings which, because of their circular shape, personified eternity, infinity, endlessness. An endless line of promises of love to one another. Those rings used to be made of fabrics, cloth, , but they could also be made of other materials such as different types of metal and even gold, according to the social level the newlyweds would belong to. Every year, Egyptian matrimonies would renew their promises of love and they would also renew their rings.
Around 1,500 BC the Hebrews had the habit of wearing wedding rings, only they would not wear them in the ring finger, but in the index one. It is believed that at those times similar rituals were performed in India, only they would wear the wedding ring in their thumbs.
During the Ptolemaic period this Egyptian ritual was adopted and adapted, and at the same time it spread throughout all the Hellenic Empire. Most probably the habit of wearing the alliance in what we call the ring finger would come from the Greek who, due to their anatomical classification, believed that the vein of love ran along this finger, communicating it directly to the human heart. The commitment of love and loyalty would exist as long as the bearer of the ring´s heart would beat, which means, “until death” (Christians say “Till death do us part”). Another innovation which is attributed to the Greek is the engraving of the name or just initial letters in the interior side of the rings, as well as the date of the event.
Later the Romans would adopt the Greek tradition, due to the fact that both peoples shared the same principles and anatomical studies. Most wedding rings would be made of iron, symbol of durability and, at the same time, it was an offering to the god Saturn. In times of the Christian Rome and along the Empire, the ritual varied from its pagan origins, reconducting the wedding ring to the Trinitarian method, that is, wearing it in the thumb; later, in the index, and finally, back to the ring finger, while praying “in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen”. That was what they called the Trinitarian method: passing the ring from one finger to another while praying in honor of the Holy Trinity. The Roman culture was the launch of development for the Christian Religion. It is only natural that throughout the years the Christians would adopt the tradition (in spite of its pagan origin) until they made it their own, although it took many centuries to be accepted and get to be part of the Catholic ritual.
The making of the alliance rings in gold was favoured by the Catholic Church, to give the wedding rings an extra economical effort: gold is more expensive than other metals, and gold would enlarge its symbolism. Also, we do not get married every day: it is, in this aspect, a way to highlight the value of marriage.
And this is how we get to the present days.