Wedding Bands: Left Hand's History

The tradition of wearing a wedding band on the left hand dates back to ancient times. Ancient Egyptians believed that a vein called the 'vena amoris' or 'vein of love' ran directly from the tip of the left ring finger to the heart. The Romans continued this tradition, believing that wearing a ring on this finger symbolised eternal love and passion. Although science has since proven that every finger has veins running to the heart, the romantic notion remains, and the tradition has persisted for thousands of years.

Ancient Egyptians believed a vein ran from the left ring finger to the heart

The tradition of wearing wedding bands on the left hand can be traced back to ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians believed that a vein, the vena amoris or the "vein of love", ran directly from the tip of the left ring finger to the heart. This belief was first described by Macrobius in 395–423 AD, before the circulatory system was even known. In his work of fiction, Saturnalia VII, 13, Macrobius refers to the connection between the ring finger and the heart, implying that the vena amoris had more of a magical than physical significance.

The tradition of wearing a ring on the vena amoris was thought to symbolise eternal love and the eternal nature of romantic union. The endless circle of the ring represented the unending nature of the bond, while the open centre was meant to be a doorway to the unknown future. The ancient Egyptians believed that a diamond ring worn on this finger could ignite eternal love.

The belief in the vena amoris was later cited in Western cultures as the reason for placing the engagement ring and/or wedding ring on the fourth finger, or "ring finger", of the left hand. This tradition was later assimilated by the Greeks after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC. In early Rome, the use of metal rings began to take over from materials like hemp, leather, bone, and ivory. Gold and silver rings were given on rare occasions as a sign of trust.

The phrase "vena amoris" was first used by Henry Swinburne, an English ecclesiastical lawyer, in his work "A Treatise of Espousal or Matrimonial Contracts", published posthumously in 1686. Although he cites an Egyptian connection, no earlier mention of the vein can be found. In the 17th century, Dutch physician Lemnius claimed that pinching the ring finger could revive fainted women, as it was joined to "the fountain of life".

While science has since proven that every finger has veins connected to the heart, the romantic notion of the vena amoris has persisted, and many people around the world continue to wear their wedding bands on their left ring fingers.

The Romans called this the 'Vena Amoris' or 'vein of love'

The tradition of wearing wedding rings on the left hand dates back to Ancient Egypt. It was believed that a vein, the vena amoris, ran directly from the ring finger on the left hand to the heart. The Romans called this the Vena Amoris or vein of love. They believed that the heart is the centre of our emotions, and wearing a ring on this finger symbolised an eternal connection as a couple.

The Romans continued the tradition of wearing the wedding ring on the left hand, and it was they who popularised the idea of metal rings. Early Roman betrothal rings were made of iron as a symbol of permanency, and they are believed to be the first civilisation to engrave wedding rings.

The tradition of wearing a wedding ring on the left hand spread throughout Europe, and today, it is still common practice in many Western countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Mexico, and South Africa.

The vena amoris belief held strong, even though science has since proven that every finger has veins running to the heart. The romantic notion remains, and the circular shape of the ring continues to symbolise the eternal nature of romantic unions.

Some countries, such as Colombia, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Germany, wear their wedding bands on the right hand and then transfer it to the left after completing their vows. In other countries, such as India, the left hand is considered unclean, and so wedding rings are worn on the right hand.

The left hand is considered unclean in some cultures

The wedding band is traditionally worn on the left hand's ring finger in many Western cultures, including those in Europe, the UK, the USA, and Canada. However, in some cultures, the left hand is considered unclean, and this belief has influenced wedding ring placement.

In some societies, the left hand has been associated with uncleanliness due to its use for personal hygiene after toilet activities. This practice, derived from hadith sources in Islam, has been adopted by Muslims and some societies in Nepal and India. The left hand is used for cleaning oneself with water after defecation, while the right hand is reserved for eating and social interactions. This custom has led to the perception of the left hand as the "'unclean' hand."

In India, couples opt to wear their wedding rings on the right hand due to the cultural belief that the left hand is deemed unlucky. Similarly, Orthodox Christians also traditionally wear their wedding bands on their right hands because of the Latin word "sinister," which means "on the left side," carrying evil connotations. Additionally, several European nations, such as Norway, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, and Spain, favor wearing wedding rings on the right hand as it is the hand traditionally used for oaths and vows, symbolizing honour and trust.

The perception of the left hand as unclean has led to varying wedding ring placement traditions across cultures, with some choosing to wear their wedding bands on the right hand instead of the left to align with their cultural and religious beliefs.

The Latin word 'sinister' means 'left' and is associated with evil

The Latin word 'sinistra' and its derivative 'sinister' in English initially meant 'left' or 'left-handed'. However, by the Classical Latin era, the word had taken on additional meanings of evil and unlucky. This evolution of meaning can be traced back to the ancient Romans, who believed that omens seen on the left side foretold bad things to come. This association between the left side and ill omen was also present in ancient Greek and Latin divination practices, where birds flying on the left side were considered a bad omen.

The preference for the right hand and the negative connotations of the left are also reflected in the Latin word 'dexter', meaning 'right', which carries positive connotations of skill and correctness. This linguistic bias against the left side and left-handedness is deeply entrenched in English and many other languages.

In the context of wedding bands, the tradition of wearing them on the left hand may be influenced by these historical associations. In Western cultures, engagement and wedding rings are typically worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. However, in some cultures, such as India, the left hand is considered unlucky, and couples opt to wear their wedding rings on the right hand instead.

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the right hand is associated with blessings and power

The wedding ring is traditionally worn on the left hand in most Western countries. However, in many countries, including those with Eastern Orthodox Christian traditions, the wedding ring is worn on the right hand. This practice may be due to the belief that the right hand is associated with blessings and power, symbolising a closer relationship with God.

The right hand is seen as a source of blessing and power in Orthodox Christian iconography. In icons, Christ is often depicted with his right hand raised, giving a blessing, and his left hand holding a book, which may represent the Gospels or "the book of life" from the book of Revelations. This symbolism suggests that Christ has something important to say, and that his message is a source of blessing and spiritual authority.

The right hand is also associated with directness of influence, as a blessing can only be received from a person and not from a book. This idea of direct influence is further emphasised by the fact that the right hand is seen as the centre, while the left hand represents the periphery. In the context of the Pantocrator icon, where Christ is represented as a judge and ruler, the right hand symbolises his authority and power as Lord of Lords.

Additionally, in some Eastern Orthodox traditions, it is believed that a devil sits on a person's left shoulder, while an angel sits on their right. Therefore, wearing the wedding ring on the right hand could represent siding with God and choosing the path of blessings and power.

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