The Seven Circles Of Commitment: Exploring The Modern Significance Of Wedding Rings

The act of circling at weddings is a tradition that is both dramatic and tender. In Jewish weddings, the bride circles the groom seven times, symbolising the creation of a new family. The number seven is considered magic in Jewish tradition, as it represents completeness and perfection. The seven circles also represent the seven wedding blessings, the seven days of the Earth's creation, and the seven times Joshua walked around the ancient city of Jericho. The circular shape of wedding rings symbolises eternity and total commitment, with no beginning and no end.

The seven circles represent the seven wedding blessings

The seven circles also recall the seven times Joshua walked around the ancient city of Jericho before the walls fell and the Israelites captured it. In this way, the bride walking around the groom seven times symbolises the fall of any walls between them and the unification of their souls.

The seven circuits also symbolise that the union is for the sake of God, who dwells in the "seven heavens". The number seven represents a seven-fold bond that marriage will establish between the couple and their families.

The seven circles also correspond to the seven wedding blessings and demonstrate that the groom is the centre of the bride's life. This also symbolises her protective care of her husband.

The seven circuits symbolise that the couple is about to set up a home and begin a "full life", reflecting the symbolism of the number seven.

The bride circling the groom symbolises the creation of a new Jewish family

The bride circling the groom is a common tradition in many Jewish weddings, particularly in the Ashkenazi tradition. The bride circles the groom three or seven times under the chuppah, which is a canopy that symbolises the creation of a Jewish home. The circling of the groom by the bride is known as "hakafot" in Hebrew and is one of several public affirmations performed to attest to one's consent to be married.

Secondly, the choreography of the seven circuits symbolises the delineation of a private world within the outer world. The groom, as the "conqueror" who takes the initiative to create the union, is initially the centre of the new Jewish home. The bride, as the "foundation of the home", circles him to symbolise that she is founding a lasting edifice that will be complete until the end of time. Once the seven circuits are completed, the bride stands beside the groom in the centre of the circle, symbolising that they are now the centre of their new home, surrounded by the protective walls the wife has created around their metaphysical home.

Thirdly, the bride circling the groom is also seen as the bride creating a "wall of protection" around the groom, symbolising her protective care of her husband. This also recalls the story of the ancient city of Jericho, which fell after Joshua walked around it seven times, allowing the Israelites to capture it. Similarly, after the bride circles the groom seven times, the walls between them will fall, and their souls will be united.

In recent times, some couples have updated this custom to reflect modern relationships and the concept of equality. For instance, the bride circles the groom three times, the groom circles the bride three times, and then they circle each other once, demonstrating give and take, compromise, and unity in their relationship.

The number seven represents the completion of the seven-day process in which the earth was created

The number seven is considered lucky in Western culture and is often seen as highly symbolic. In numerology, seven is a spiritual number, being the sum of the spiritual three and the material four.

The number seven is also associated with the completion of the seven-day process in which the earth was created, as recounted in the Bible's book of Genesis. This creation story holds significant meaning for many religious groups, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

The first three days of creation solve the problem of formlessness: God gives form to his creation by separating light from darkness, sky from ocean, and land from waters. The next three days parallel the first three and solve the problem of emptiness: God fills the forms he has given. The fourth day fills the first day with the sun, moon, and stars. The fifth day fills the second day with birds and fish. The sixth day fills the land with animals, plants, and humankind.

The seventh day, however, breaks from this pattern. Unlike the first six days, it has no end and is wholly different, representing divine rest and holiness. According to the Bible, God's creation of the world in seven days signifies that he is making a covenant with his creation, seeking an intimate relationship with humankind.

The number seven also appears in wedding ceremonies across multiple cultures and religions. In Hindu weddings, the Saptapadi involves the bride and groom taking seven steps, representing the seven principles and promises they make to each other. In Jewish weddings, the bride circles the groom seven times, demonstrating that the groom is the centre of her life and establishing a sevenfold bond between the couple and their families. Seven blessings are also bestowed upon the couple during the ceremony. In Islamic weddings, seven married women touch the bride's wedding outfit and bless her with a happy marriage.

The seven circuits symbolise the bride's protective care of her husband

In Jewish wedding tradition, the bride circles the groom seven times, symbolising the bride's protective care of her husband. This custom is called "circling" or "hakafot" in Hebrew.

The number seven is considered "magic" in Jewish tradition. According to the Torah, God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, making seven a symbol of completeness and perfection.

The choreography of the seven circuits goes as follows: The groom, as the "conqueror", takes his place under the chuppah first, symbolising his role as the initiator of the union and the centre of their new Jewish home. The bride then circles the groom seven times, symbolising the creation of their own private world within the outer world, with her husband at its centre.

After completing the seven circuits, the bride stands beside her husband in the centre of the circle, indicating that once the preparations for building their home are complete, both husband and wife form its foundation, surrounded by the protective walls the wife has created around their metaphysical home.

The seven circuits also symbolise the bride's role as the "foundation of the home", establishing a lasting union that will be complete until the end of time. This act demonstrates the bride's protective care for her husband, as she symbolically creates a safe and sacred space for their new life together.

The seven circles represent a seven-fold bond established between the couple and their families

The seven circles also correspond to the seven wedding blessings, demonstrating the centrality of the relationship to both individuals. This act symbolises the breaking down of barriers between the couple and their families, creating a sacred space that affirms their love and commitment. The number seven holds spiritual significance in the Jewish religion, representing the completion of the seven-day process of Earth's creation.

The circling ritual is often performed by the bride, but some couples choose to make it egalitarian, with each partner circling the other. During the ceremony, the couple's mothers may also participate to symbolise the closeness of the families. This act reflects the belief that marriage is a union of two complementary parts, with the couple coming together to build a harmonious and balanced home.

The seven circles also symbolise the completion of a cycle, reflecting the infinite nature of love and commitment in a marriage. This ritual is a powerful way to visually represent the strength and endurance of the bond being forged between the couple and their families. It is a dramatic and tender act that publicly affirms the couple's love and consent to be married.

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