National traditions of engagement and wedding, wearing wedding jewelry in the form of rings have been formed in Ukraine. But their roots go back to ancient times. The tradition of wearing wedding rings appeared in ancient times. It is believed that its founders were the Egyptians, who wore gold rings on the ring finger of their left hand.
The choice of hand and finger was not accidental - worshipers of the god Osiris were sure that this is where the artery to the heart passed. But the Romans gave rings to their beloved girls as a sign that their heart was taken and was preparing to tie the knot. Christians only in the 9th century A.D. received a church blessing to exchange rings. At the same time, women could wear gold jewelry, and men - metal, and later - silver and gold.
Ancient Traditions and Signs of Ukrainians
The engagement followed matchmaking, inspections - this was one of the important stages preceding the wedding, the roots of which go back to history. It is at this moment that lovers declare their desire, readiness to create a family.
In Ukraine, there were certain canons and rituals. First, matchmakers were sent to the girl's house and inspections were held in the presence of her parents. During the matchmaking, which the groom must also be present, he asked the parents of his beloved for consent to the marriage and gave the girl a ring. If she took the gift, it meant she said "yes". From this moment on, the young people were officially considered brides.
According to tradition, the hands of the young people were joined on grain and bread. The betrothed bride tied embroidered towels for her wife and matchmakers or gave beautiful scarves. Those present put a wreath of flowers on their heads, and a red ribbon was woven into the girl's braid. In the Hutsul region, the bride also wore a wreath of periwinkle, smeared with honey and covered with gold pollen. She did not take it off even while sleeping. If the wreath was lost, it was considered a bad omen and family life would be difficult.
According to church canons, this period before the wedding excluded intimacy. But in some Ukrainian regions, after the engagement, the groom had the right to stay overnight at the bride's house. In this case, the future mother-in-law prepared the bed for the lovers. During the engagement, both parties discussed all issues related to the wedding, decided the financial side. It was impossible to break such an agreement - it bordered on shame and could result in serious financial problems.
Modern traditions of engagement
Nowadays, more and more young people turn to the Ukrainian traditions of their ancestors at the time of engagement. Many do this in the presence of family members or publicly in a cafe, restaurant, concert, or mass event. Such a public declaration of the desire to start a family in front of witnesses imposes obligations and speaks of the seriousness of intentions. The guy presents an engagement ring. Many invite a professional photographer to this process, capturing the first steps of starting a family.
Wedding: what wedding rings to choose
The next stage is the wedding. Usually, the man buys the wedding ring for the bride and groom. The modern jewelry industry offers a huge selection of such wedding paraphernalia - these can be paired wedding rings or made in a different design for each representative of the couple. There is always a choice of products that differ in:
- material;
- style;
- design;
- shape.
You can choose jewelry made of silver, but wedding rings are usually gold. Experts remind that these products are worn constantly and therefore it is important to consider their practicality - the metal should be of high quality, the design should not be pretentious, without unnecessary intricacies that can create inconvenience in everyday life and at work.
When choosing the size of a gold ring, it is important to take into account the physiological characteristics of a person. Some people have swollen hands, some have painful joints. Therefore, the fitting should be done in the morning. The width of the product should be convenient, wearing - comfortable.
There are popular superstitions about passing on a ring by inheritance. If the couple's family life was happy, it is believed that the young people can repeat their fate. But there are clarifications - such rings are accepted when the older members of the family celebrated a silver or even a golden wedding. But such jewelry, for all its sacredness, does not correspond to fashion trends and therefore newlyweds prefer to buy a wedding ring that each of them likes.
Usually these products are made of gold - this metal has long been associated with the sun, which was the source of light and heat. The shape of the circle is a symbol of eternity and the inviolability of the connection, when there is no way to break it. If you put two rings next to each other, you get a mathematical sign of infinity.
The price of a wedding ring made of gold is high - this metal is expensive, especially when the product is decorated with a diamond. Therefore, you should approach the choice slowly and choose the right jewelry company that offers a quality product.
Signs and prejudices
One of the prejudices says that newlyweds should not take other people's rings - this can lead to repeating the mistakes of the owners of the jewelry. Therefore, it is not customary to buy used rings and risk family well-being. A bad omen is to let relatives or friends try on your ring. It is believed that you can pass on your happiness. If the ring falls during the registration or wedding, divorce cannot be avoided. This is another sign. A bad sign is the loss of a ring, as well as its breakage.
You can listen to prejudices, fears and forecasts, or you can ignore them and rely on your feelings. Which product is better to choose, on which hand to wear a wedding ring, on which fingers - each person's individual choice.
