History Lesson: The Significance of the Wedding Band
Why is the wedding band such a strong symbol of love and commitment? Couples spend months of income and time researching and shopping for the perfect stone, the perfect metal, and the perfect design. It is the one piece of jewelry that you will wear for the rest of your life, and while the appearance your wedding ring is crucial, the meaning behind the piece is what really holds the value. Understanding the history behind the wedding ring can help offer a little insight into why, for thousands of years, brides and grooms across the planet have made this the critical token of their everlasting bond.
The earliest known use of wedding rings dates back about 4800 years to ancient Egypt, and was likely made of a woven material. The Egyptians saw the circle as a symbol of eternity, worshiped in much the same way as the sun. The never-ending shape was used to signify eternal love, and the space in the center alluded to a passageway to a life of unknown and known events.
The Greeks and Romans adopted the Egyptian tradition of not only wearing the ring, but like the Egyptians, doing so on the third finger of the left hand. It was believed that the vena amoris, Latin for the “vein of love,” began in this finger and lead directly to the heart.
The Romans forged their wedding rings from iron to symbolize strength, and the act of the groom offering the ring to the bride, and her acceptance of the ring, was considered to be a legally binding contract between the couple. At this time grooms declared permanent ownership of their brides with the band, and only women wore a ring. It was not until modern times that men joined in the tradition and began to wear a wedding ring as well.
The iron rings rusted easily, so they were eventually traded in for silver and gold. In addition to being more beautiful, it was also believed that when a man gifted a wedding ring made of valuable gold and gemstones to his soon to be wife, he was declaring that he trusted her with his property.
In the early 1900s, jewelry designers pushed the concept of men wearing wedding rings in an effort to boost sales, but with the economy affected by World War One and the Great Depression, the tradition was slow to catch on. It was not until World War Two, when men spent long periods of time away from their wives and the American economy began to recover, that both the bride and groom would wear a ring. Many soldiers did so to signify their marriage and in declaration of their commitment to their spouse from overseas.
While there have been some slight deviations from the original practice of a bride and groom exchanging rings, much of the tradition the ancient Egyptians began has remained the same. Almost 5,000 years later, the wedding ring continues to symbolize eternal love, trust, and commitment between couples.
This handwoven gold ring is reminiscent of the original ancient Egyptian style
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