1. Wedding and Engagement Rings: Customs From Around the World
1. Most people in the United States, England, France and Canada wear
their engagement rings on their right hand, because of the old tradition that a
vein in the fourth finger of the right hand ran directly to the heart. But in plenty of
other countries, including Germany, Russia, India and Norway, brides wear their
engagement rings and wedding bands on the left hand instead.
2. In years gone by, the exchange of the wedding ring at the wedding ceremony was
a part of an economic commitment, not a symbol of love and devotion. Men gave
their brides engagement rings to show her family that they were financially able to
support her. In fact, the wedding ring was initially given along with a purse full of
gold coins, a visible sign of the groom’s commitment to support his bride and
provide for her needs.
3. Although the sight of a man wearing a wedding ring is common these days, the
popularity of double-ring ceremonies traces back only until the Great Depression of
the 1930’s. When World War Two broke out, women gave their husbands wedding
rings to symbolize their unbroken connection even as the men went off to war. By
the late 1940’s, 80% of men wore wedding rings, although no male version of the
engagement ring ever became popular in the US.
4. Engagement rings don’t always have to be worn on the finger. In the Hindu
tradition, women are given toe rings, called bichiya, as engagement rings. In West
Bengal, women are given iron bangle bracelets, often plated in silver or gold.
These untraditional engagement rings can be quite beautiful and ornately
decorated, much like the Western style of engagement ring. However, in modern
days, many Hindu men give their brides both the traditional engagement ring and a
Western-style one.
5. In Romania, there is a beautiful custom that celebrates long-lasting marriages. On
their silver anniversary, the twenty-fifth, couples exchange silver anniversary
bands that they wear along with their gold wedding rings. It is a simple but lovely
way to commemorate not only the commitment to the marriage, but the beauty of
having spent their lives together.

2. 6. Although the tradition of exchanging engagement rings and wedding bands seems
like just a tradition, it is actually referred to in the wedding ceremonies of several
religions. The ceremonial statements of the marriage ceremony in the Roman
Catholic, Jewish and Church of England marriage liturgies all refer to the wedding
ring, while the Eastern Orthodox ceremony indicates that the groom gestures with
the ring before placing on the bride’s hand.
7. The Claddagh is a uniquely Irish ring that can be used as an engagement ring, a
wedding ring, or just as a gesture of friendship. The way in which it is worn,
whether it is worn on the right or left hand, and which direction it faces, lets
people know whether it is an engagement ring or wedding band. Its design,
featuring a pair of clasped hands, a heart and a crown, represents friendship, love
and loyalty, making it perfect for an engagement ring with real symbolic value.
The Claddagh ring was first produced in Ireland in the 17th century, and legends
about its mysterious origins and protective powers.
8. The last decade or two has seen the rise of a new form of engagement ring in
American culture: the promise ring. Often exchanged by couples who are serious
about each other but too young for marriage, this pre-engagement ring traces its
roots back to the poesy and scribbling rings of the 16th and 17th century, which
were also used by young couples to show their love and devotion to each other.

3. Unlike engagement rings, promise rings usually do not have large center diamonds,
but are often set with smaller stones.
9. Legally speaking, in the United States an engagement ring is considered a
conditional gift, making it an exception to the general rule that gifts cannot be
taken back by the giver. Regardless of who initiates the break-up, in the US a man
is allowed to take the engagement ring back in the case of a broken engagement,
unless it was given on a nationally-recognized gift-giving occasion, such as
Valentine’s Day. In England, however, if the man initiates the break-up, he may
not be able to take back the ring.
10. In the Nordic tradition, both men and women exchange and wear engagement
rings. These engagement rings generally take the form of simple gold bands. More
recently, however, more women have begun to initiate proposals, leading to a
drastic increase in the popularity of men’s wedding bands. These bands are more
ornate and complex, featuring loose diamonds,gemstones and other design
elements, although they tend to have a lower profile and a more subtle look
than women’s engagement rings.
http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/jewelry/10-facts-about-weddings-and-
engagement-rings-from-around-the-world-877.htm