WEDDING TRADITIONS: Why we wear a Wedding Ring on the 4th left hand finger?
Why a Ring?
The circle was the symbol of eternity, with no beginning or end, since the beginning of the humanity from most of the very ancient cultures. The hole in the center of the ring also had significance. It wasn’t just considered a space, but rather a gateway, or door; leading to things and events both known and unknown. To give a woman a ring signifies never-ending and immortal love.
Why that Finger?
Wedding rings through different stages in history have been worn on different fingers, including the thumb, and on both the left and right hands.
According to a tradition believed to have been derived from the Romans, the wedding ring is worn on the left hand 4th finger because there was thought to be a vein in that finger, referred to as the ‘Vena Amoris’ or the ‘Vein of Love’ said to be directly connected to the heart.
A more practically based theory is that the soft metal (traditionally gold for wedding rings) is less worn or injured on the finger of the left hand, due to most of the world being right handed…
But we prefer to believe to the first most romantic idea! ;)
