Surprisingly, weddings are one of the unchanged rites of passage through history. Nearly all of the customs we observe today are simply echoes of the past. Everything from the veil, rice, flowers, and old shoes, to bridesmaids and processionals, at one time, bore a very specific and vitally significant meaning. The wedding ring and the engagement ring is no different.

The Tradition Of The Wedding Ring:

Since the days of the early Egyptians, the circular shape of the wedding ring has symbolized undying, unending love. A primitive bride usually wore a ring of hemp or rushes, which had to be replaced often. The Romans used durable iron to symbolize the permanence of marriage. Today of course, the favorite is gold, with its lasting qualities of beauty and purity.

Why is the Ring Worn on the Third Finger, Left-hand?

In ancient times, it was believed there was a vein in the third finger of the left hand that ran directly to the heart. Thus, the ring being placed on that finger denoted the strong connection of a heartfelt love and commitment to one another. Although during times of modern day medical science, this long held belief was found not to be true, the tradition continues to this day.

Medieval bridegrooms placed the ring on three of the bride's fingers, in turn, to symbolize God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The ring then remained on the third finger and has become the customary ring finger for English-speaking cultures. In some European countries, the ring is worn on the left hand before marriage, and is moved to the right hand during the ceremony. However, in most European countries the ring is still worn on the brides left hand. A Greek Orthodox bride wears her ring on her left had before marriage, and moves it to her right hand after the ceremony.

Why an Engagement Ring?

In the early days of ``Marriage by Purchase," the betrothal ring served a twofold purpose. This twofold purpose included partial payment for the bride and was a symbol of the groom's honorable intentions. The diamond was found first in Medieval Italy, and because of its hardness, was chosen to stand for enduring love.

Nitu Kumar, has been in the wedding business for over 7 years and writes for Flower Girl Dresses. More wedding tips can be found at http://flowergirls.topcities.com.