Whats the origin of the wedding ring?

Question

Ie, Who started the tradition?If it was pagan,why do Jehovahs Witnessess have one but dont do xmas or birthdays??????????

Realy annoys me when jws are so vuage in answering this question,still boils down to the fact that they pick and choose what they want to believe in.

Answer 1

It has it start in Egypt the region of, JW's seen to pick out what is pagan and not what is pagan. There's no scriptural basis to make the wedding ring Christan.

Answer 2

It seems that the earliest known exchange of wedding rings was in ancient Egypt. It is not surprising then that the custom ended up in Biblical cultures.

Stories in the Bible draw heavily on the Egyptian and Babylonian stories before them. The cultures were intertwined.

So, yes, it began as Pagan... but so did much of the Bible itself.

The reason that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays, Christmas included since it is a celebration of Christ's birth, is not entirely because it is "pagan" to do so, though that is one reason.

The main reason is that the Bible has only two instances of birthday celebrations. Both were given for "non-believers". One was the Pharoah in Egypt, which resulted in the death of the baker. The other was the birthday of Herod, and that celebration involved the beheading of John the Baptist.

So, they argue that if the only record of Biblical b-days are those of men considered evil, and both celebrations resulted in the deaths of those considered innocent, then perhaps God doesn't favor the celebration of birthdays.

Answer 3

The ancient Egyptians believed that the finger on the left hand where the wedding ring is traditional worn has an artery that leads directly to the heart since the heart is really a symbol for love they felt it had some special connection I don't know the whole story but that where it came from. Jehovah's Witnesses may wear them but Adventist do not as it is unnecessary adorning of oneself

Answer 4

It goes back to the time when the groom paid a sum to the bride, as a token that he was going to provide for her from that point on.

Thus wedding rings did not only signify a sign of love, but were also linked to the bestowal of 'earnest money'.

According to the prayer book of Edward VI: after the words 'with this ring I thee wed' follow the words 'This gold and silver I give thee', at which point the groom was supposed to hand a leather purse filled with gold and silver coins to the bride. and this was a Roman practice.

The position of placing the ring on the third finger comes from the Ancient Egyptians. In fact, they believed they had discovered a vein which, starting from the third finger of the left hand, flowed straight to the heart: through this vein, so they thought, sentiments were carried.

Thus they would “tie" the third finger with a fine wire, therefore, it was meant to guarantee faithfulness. To bind and seal the union between the bride and groom. The Ancient Greek and early Roman bridegroom often gave a ring to the bride's father-a practice that was probably a survival of primitive bride purchase.

In the second century B. C., the Roman bride was presented with a gold ring. But this she wore only in public. Such a ring was much too precious to wear while tending to household duties; and so the groom gave the bride a second ring - for use in the home - which was usually made of iron and had little knobs in the form of a key. Of course, these "key" rings were weak and could open only those locks requiring very little force to turn, but their significance, in that the wearer had the right to seal up the giver's possessions, was strong.

In late Roman times - iron rings were exchanged.

Not only in England was the wedding ring considered an exchange of valuables but in most other European countries as well. However It was not until about 860 that the Christians used the ring in marriage ceremonies, and then it was not the plain circlet that we now use, but a highly decorated device, engraved with symbolical figures of doves, lyres and even of two linked hands.

Such a "Heathenish" gadget was not given a hearty reception by the Church, and for a long time its use was discouraged, though never completely abandoned. However by the 13th century brought a considerable simplification in wedding and betrothal rings, and it was considered a "symbol of the union of hearts."

In England and Ireland, the people believed so strongly in the necessity for a ring that if a groom were too poor to buy one, he rented one for the occasion. Sometimes, also, a ring was given conditionally - in Germany the groom would say that he gave you a ring provided that your father gives you a marriage dowry.

In some European countries, the wedding ring is the same as the engagement ring and changes its status through engraving and the change of the hand on which to wear it.

Among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians, the exchange of rings are not technically part of the wedding service, but rather are exchanged at the betrothal. It is always a two-ring ceremony. Traditionally, the groom's ring will be made of gold, and the bride's ring made of silver.

Answer 5

Purity ring: oftentimes very non secular mum and dad get this for his or her daughters (word there is not any parallel ceremony for his or her sons) and a few church homes even carry purity ceremonies. that is sort of creepy IMHO, because of the fact the female's father places the hoop on her finger as an indication she pledges to proceed to be a virgin until she marries (a boy for sure). My daughter needed one while she grew to become into approximately 12, yet my husband had a deeply held concept that he did no longer very own her physique, her selections or her "purity," and he does no longer do it. She grew to become into disenchanted then, yet got here to understand. She's now 17 and a Lesbian. Promise ring: often a teenage boy supplies it to a girl as an indication they are going stable and specific "pre-engaged," as in, they'll marry sooner or later if another ingredient in life does no longer get interior the way between now and then. I had one from my intense college boyfriend, and we actual concept we would possibly marry after college. I in no way heard of promise rings at any time after intense college, so i think they're the area of youngsters who're too youthful to get engaged or marry. Engagement ring: you're promised to marry somebody. oftentimes given 6 months to a 300 and sixty 5 days until now marriage to start the engagement time while the couple is making plans their wedding ceremony or making preparations to be jointly (she's shifting to the place he lives, or they start doing workplace work for the militia, etc.). If the engagement is broken, the engagement ring ought to be decrease back, yet some evaluate it an unconditional present and permit the ex to maintain it. I ensue to think of that is between the few perfect "conditional" presents -- that if the marriage does no longer ensue, the engagement ring ought to be decrease back. wedding ceremony ring: finally the adult males get to become in contact, nonetheless no longer all do. The couple exchanges rings on the marriage. "With this ring, I thee wed." that could be a promise of constancy and "continually" to one yet another.

Answer 6

There is much more on this site about Wedding Rings:
http://www.weddingringorigins.com/
Here is another site with interesting info:
http://www.tellallproductions.com/supers

True, the wedding ring has it's origins in pagan beliefs, but the Scriptures show that Jehovah was aware of the fact that the Israelites dressed themselves with nose rings, earring, etc and such.

Answer 7

I was told that cavemen used to bind their wives with chains and ropes to prevent them from running away. Then, as the wives got more used to the guy, they wouldn't run away but they would keep a link of the chain around their finger just to remind them that they are still bound to this guy.
And they use the third finger on the left hand because supposedly, that finger has a vein running from it to the heart.

Don't know if any of it is true, but it's what I've been told.

Answer 8

There are a lot of thoughts on where it came from, and no one has actually been able to pinpoint it. However, this site has an interesting compilation of ideas such as:
"A wedding ring is sort of a tourniquet worn on one's finger to stop circulation" (Anon)

http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/rings.html

Answer 9

The origin of the ring as a symbol of unity, and something that a woman can wear and show her friends, is universal. I think it has existed since unhistorical times.

Answer 10

No offense but regardless of where it comes from it really doesnt do much to a marriage. You could wear the ring all day everyday 24/7 and be the office sIut and what does the ring do? nothing. but if you really must know then maybe somebody else can provide that answer.