George Boyle
The tradition of wearing a wedding ring on the left hand dates back to ancient Egypt, where it was believed that a vein ran directly from the ring finger of the left hand to the heart. This belief was carried forward by the Romans, who called the finger the vena amoris or vein of love. In many Western countries, including the UK, the US, France, Italy, and Brazil, the wedding ring is still worn on the left hand. However, in Greece and several other countries, it is customary to wear the wedding ring on the right hand. This tradition may be rooted in the belief that the right hand is associated with blessings and power, symbolizing a closer relationship with God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Which hand is the wedding ring worn on in Greece? | Right hand |
| Which finger is the wedding ring worn on? | Ring finger |
| Which hand is the engagement ring worn on? | Left hand |
| Which finger is the engagement ring worn on? | Ring finger |
| Why is the wedding ring worn on the right hand? | The right hand is seen as a symbol of trust, loyalty, honour, blessings, and power. It is also believed to represent a closer relationship with God. |
| Which hand is the wedding ring worn on in other countries? | The wedding ring is worn on the left hand in the UK, other Commonwealth nations, Ireland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Iran, Chile, Italy, France, Sweden, and Slovenia. |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding rings are worn on the right hand in Greece
The tradition of wearing wedding rings on the right hand is observed in several countries, including Greece. In Greece, it is customary for engagement rings to be worn on the left hand, and for wedding rings to be worn on the right hand. This custom is also practised in other Orthodox Christian countries, where the wedding ring is worn on the right hand.
The tradition of wearing wedding rings on the right hand stems from Roman custom. The Latin word for left is "sinister", and the Latin word for right is "dexter", which evolved into "dexterity". Thus, the left hand was associated with negative connotations, while the right hand had positive associations. The right hand is also associated with blessings and power and represents a closer relationship with God.
In addition, some customs suggest that a devil sits on a person's left shoulder, and an angel sits on their right, so choosing the right hand symbolises siding with God. This belief is reflected in the prayers of the Orthodox wedding service, where the priest mentions God's right hand making firm the foundations of the earth. The rings are also said to symbolise God's pledge to remain with us, protect us, and support us.
The practice of wearing the wedding ring on the right hand is also becoming more popular among same-sex couples, as the right hand is seen as a symbol of trust, loyalty, and honour.
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Engagement rings are worn on the left hand
In Greece, engagement rings are worn on the left hand. This is also the case in Western countries such as the UK, other Commonwealth nations, Ireland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Iran, Chile, Italy, France, Sweden, and Slovenia. The tradition of wearing the engagement ring on the left hand relates to customs dating back to classical times. The fourth finger of the left hand was purportedly once referred to as the "vena amoris" or "vein of love". By wearing rings on this finger, couples symbolically declare their eternal love for each other.
In Greece, the wedding ring is worn on the right hand. This custom stems from the belief that the left hand is considered "unclean", as people historically used their left hand for dirty tasks and their right hand for clean ones. The right hand is also associated with blessings and power, and thus represents a closer relationship with God. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the wedding ring is worn on the right hand. This may be due to the belief that a devil sits on a person's left shoulder and an angel on their right, so choosing the right hand symbolises siding with God.
In some countries, the engagement ring is worn on the left hand before the wedding, and then moved to the right hand after the ceremony. In Greece, it is customary for the engagement ring to be worn on the left hand before the wedding, and then moved to the right hand during the ceremony.
In other cultures, the left hand is favoured for wearing wedding rings. For instance, in the Middle East, including Orthodox Christians, the wedding ring is worn on the left hand. In Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Romania, and Brazil, the ring is worn on the right hand until the wedding day, and then moved to the left hand. In most Muslim countries, exchanging wedding rings is not part of the wedding ceremony.
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The left hand was considered unclean
In Greece, wedding rings are traditionally worn on the right hand. This custom stems from Roman tradition, where the Latin word for left, "sinister", carries a negative connotation, while the Latin word for right, "dexter", evolved into "dexterity". Thus, the left hand was considered unlucky, and the right hand was seen as fortunate.
The left hand being considered unclean can be traced back to certain cultural perceptions and social norms. In many Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Taiwan, children are forced to become right-handed due to the belief that the left hand is used for tasks deemed "unclean". In these cultures, it is considered rude to use the left hand for eating, as it is reserved for personal hygiene, specifically after urination and defecation. Similarly, in the Middle East, eating with the left hand is seen as offensive or unclean due to Islamic traditions and rules derived from the Hadith and the Quran. The Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying that the devil eats and drinks with the left hand, so those who wish to be holy and clean must use the right.
The bias against left-handedness extends beyond dining etiquette. In some parts of Scotland, encountering a left-handed person at the start of a journey is considered bad luck. In Ghana, pointing, gesturing, giving, or receiving items with the left hand is frowned upon. Left-handed children in many societies were forced to write and perform other activities with their right hands, which could lead to learning disorders, dyslexia, stuttering, and other speech disorders.
While the left hand has historically been associated with uncleanliness and bad luck, these beliefs are gradually changing. A 1998 survey found that 24% of younger left-handed individuals reported attempts to switch their handedness. Swiss researchers also found that the younger age group had a higher proportion of left-handed individuals compared to the older generation, indicating a shift towards accepting left-handedness.
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The right hand is associated with blessings and power
In Greece, wedding rings are traditionally worn on the right hand. This custom stems from the belief that the right hand is associated with blessings and power.
In the Bible, the "right hand of the Lord" is used to signify divine power. For instance, in Genesis 48:13-19, Israel blesses his son Joseph by laying his right hand on Ephraim's head, even though Ephraim was the younger brother. This act of blessing with the right hand is considered more important and powerful than using the left hand.
The Maasai culture also demonstrates the significance of the right hand in bestowing blessings. Adults bestow blessings on children by reaching out their right hand and touching the child's head.
Additionally, the Latin word for "right" is "dexter," which has evolved into the word "dexterity," conveying a positive connotation. In contrast, the Latin word for "left" is "sinister," which carries a negative implication.
The association of the right hand with blessings and power has influenced wedding traditions in Greece and other countries, where the wedding ring is worn on the right hand to symbolize the sacred union of marriage.
In summary, the right hand is regarded as a source of blessings and power in various cultural and religious contexts, including biblical references and traditional customs. This belief has been incorporated into wedding traditions in Greece and other parts of the world, where wearing the wedding ring on the right hand holds symbolic significance.
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The practice may stem from the belief that a devil sits on the left shoulder
In Greece, wedding rings are traditionally worn on the right hand. This custom stems from Orthodox Christian tradition, Roman custom, and possibly from the belief that the left hand has negative connotations. In Roman custom, the Latin word for left is "sinister", which has negative associations, while the Latin word for right, "dexter", carries positive connotations.
The belief that a devil sits on the left shoulder may also influence this practice. In Greek mythology, each mortal has a pair of spirits representing good and evil that sit on their shoulders. This concept is also found in Islamic belief, where two recording angels, or Kiraman Katibin, reside on either shoulder of humans, recording their good and bad deeds. In Western culture, this idea is often depicted as a shoulder angel and a shoulder devil in popular media. The devil, representing temptation, typically sits on the left shoulder, while the angel, representing conscience, sits on the right.
In Ancient Greek philosophy, Plato writes about a similar concept in Phaedrus, where Socrates splits the soul into three parts: the charioteer, or the everyday man, a "good horse" representing self-control, and a "bad horse" representing temptation. Both horses are present at every moment, acting as a constant influence on the charioteer, similar to the shoulder angel and devil.
While the practice of wearing the wedding ring on the right hand in Greece may not be directly linked to the belief of a devil on the left shoulder, the cultural and historical associations of the left hand with negativity and evil may have influenced this tradition.
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Frequently asked questions
In Greece, the wedding ring is traditionally worn on the right hand.
The right hand is seen as a symbol of trust, loyalty, honour, and blessings. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which is the majority religion in Greece, the right hand is also associated with power and a closer relationship with God.
In Greece, engagement rings are worn on the left hand.
In Greece, it is customary to wear the engagement ring on the left hand before the wedding. After the ceremony, the ring is moved to the right hand.
No, it seems that some Greeks wear their wedding rings on the left hand, perhaps due to cultural or personal reasons.
