2007-01-18 02:16:07 · 5 answers · asked by woodyrebel2002 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
The ancient Roman's called their engagement ring the betrothal (Truth) ring. The Romans were the first to wear the ring on the third finger of the left hand.
This surviving tradition seems to stem from the Egyptian belief that the vein from this finger leads straight to the heart. It's thought that the Romans were the first to start inscribing or engraving their rings.
The stones in the ring are meant to represent different things and the idea of a month's salary should be used to buy the ring is a symbol of social standing. The bigger the stones in the ring then the more you earn a month so the better off you are.
2007-01-18 02:22:46 · answer #1 · answered by Bagpuss 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that this is actually a very interesting question! It is amazing how much impact advertizing can have on culture....
Most people think that giving a diamond ring as a wedding promise is an ancient custom, but actually it is not. In the early 1900s, the DeBeers diamond industry (which owns 70% of the world's diamonds) began heavily advertizing its diamonds as it was becoming increasingly scientifically known that diamonds were NOT rare but actually a pretty common gemstone. If this information became public knowledge, diamond profits would have declined drastically. So the DeBeers industry marketed its diamonds as rare stones that only the rich can afford, to be given for engagements/weddings/anniversaries, and the industry even stated that they wanted to make diamonds a cultural imperative for many periods in people's lives. And obviously, they succeeded. Diamond engagement rings are now a cultural imperative worldwide.
If you would like more info, Sut Jhally, a professor at Univ of Massachussets has made some interesting documentaries on the effects of advertizing, which also talk about how diamond engagement rings became part of popular culture. I know one such documentary is entitled "Advertizing and the End of the World"
2007-01-18 13:47:38 · answer #2 · answered by 988 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From a looooooooong time ago, chinese is already giving out jade bracelets to the loved one. But it was bulky and .......... so thats why ring was invented.....
2007-01-18 10:22:07 · answer #3 · answered by jade s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when people want to recognize the married one and unmarried one, this culture looks came out. I am not sure when ?
2007-01-18 10:26:08 · answer #4 · answered by Naren 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just accept the ring, why do you want to know? those hat are supposed to know this are no more
2007-01-18 10:27:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋