What is the right finger to wear a wedding ring on? Which hand is the wedding ring on?

Wedding and engagement rings- one of the most important symbols in human life. Both of them mark the beginning of a new stage in the relationship between lovers. The engagement ring indicates the seriousness of intentions, and the engagement ring confirms and translates these intentions into reality.

Engagement means that you can now officially be called the bride and groom. You have taken the first and main step towards marriage. As proof of love, the future husband gives his beloved engagement ring. On which finger should you wear it?

The groom puts the ring on the ring finger of the bride's right hand on the day of the engagement. This ring is considered a symbol of eternal love, such as it originated in the hearts and was at the very beginning of the relationship: ardent, hot and passionate. The bride wears this jewelry until the very day of the wedding or registration at the registry office.

The engagement ring is usually put away in a box and not worn, and sometimes put on simply as a decoration on any finger, but this is after the wedding.

The place where the wedding ring is worn depends largely on the circumstances and religion. In general, in the Russian Federation, a husband and wife wear their wedding rings on the ring finger of their right hand, that is, in the same place as the engagement ring.

Sometimes brides don't want to part with their engagement ring and wear it with their wedding ring, that is, two rings on one finger. But in this case, care should be taken in advance that the rings blend well with each other, are made of the same metal, or, if they are golden, of gold of the same color. Rings similar in style will be successfully harmonized on one finger.

A wedding ring in Russia can also be worn on the left hand, but only widows and widowers do this. Divorced people, of course, don't wear wedding rings at all. Many European countries profess Catholicism, where their rituals, traditions and patterns. It so happened that Catholics wear wedding rings on the ring finger of the left hand, and Orthodox - on the same finger of the right.

Traditions of wearing wedding rings among different peoples of the world

The ring finger of the right hand seems to us the most suitable place for a wedding and engagement ring. But we are just used to it, and in many other nations things are quite different. European women wear an engagement ring on their left hand., believing that she is closer to the heart. On the day of the marriage ceremony, it “moves” to the right hand, and after the wedding, both rings are often worn on the ring finger of the left hand.

Jewish ladies generally ignore the importance of the ring finger, preferring the index finger to it., and gypsies do not want to wear jewelry on their hands at all, but hang it on a chain and put it on their necks.

Oddly enough, Catholics very often themselves violate their traditions of wearing wedding rings. For example, in Austria, Spain and Norway, where the majority of the inhabitants are Catholics, the wedding ring is worn on the right hand no matter what.

Wearing wedding rings in marriage has been customary since antiquity. But, despite the prescription of this fashion, men and women who marry still have a dilemma - on which finger to wear a wedding ring.

On which finger do married girls wear their wedding ring?

One of the more popular legendary engagement ring stories is the story of Mary and Joseph being betrothed. According to legend, the carpenter put a ring on his betrothed on his left hand, but on which finger - views differ. Someone thinks that the nameless, others - the average. Famous artists often depicted the moment of betrothal in their paintings, but not all adhered to the classical version - Raphael and Perugino, for example, depicted Joseph, who strings a ring on the finger of Mary's right hand.

In the countries of the Middle Ages, there was also no agreement on these symbols of marriage - almost every ruler prescribed by decree on which finger his subjects would now wear. And the choice in this case could fall absolutely on any finger of both hands. The English of the 17th century, for example, wore this symbol of marriage on the thumb, and the Germans on the little finger.

Since the answer to the question of choosing a finger for a wedding ring remains controversial in Christianity, historians have tried to turn to other sources. In ancient Egypt, historians also did not decide on the choice of hand, however, the inhabitants of this country preferred the ring finger. By the way, in ancient Egypt, a strip of metal connected in a ring was a symbol of pure and eternal love. Wealthy Egyptians gave their beloved gold rings, and less wealthy - from copper, bronze or silver.

There is an entertaining version of the explanation of the reason why ring fingers are mainly chosen for wedding rings. According to this myth, all fingers of the hand symbolize close relatives - children, parents, brothers and sisters, and the ring fingers - spouses. If you put your palms together, pressing your fingers to each other, then all fingers, except for the ring ones, are quite easy to spread apart. This symbolizes the main idea of ​​marriage - people enter into marriage to live for each other, to serve each other. Children, parents, brothers and sisters leave the house, and only spouses remain together forever.

On which finger is a wedding ring worn today?

In modern society, the custom of stringing a wedding ring on one or another finger is predetermined by religion and place of residence. Adherents of the Catholic faith choose the ring finger of the left hand, because. It is believed that the wedding ring should be worn on the same side as the heart. And, besides, there has long been a legend that the ring finger of this hand is directly connected with the heart, a vein, or a nerve (depending on the interpretation). Orthodox put the symbol of marital fidelity on the fourth finger of the right hand, based on the idea that “right” is a relative of the word “truth”, in addition, the sign of the cross is also made with this hand.

On the right hand, the symbols of marriage bonds are worn by Germans, Indians, Norwegians, Spaniards, Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, Greeks, Venezuelans. Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Brazilians, Slovenes, Swedes, Americans, Japanese, British, Koreans, Austrians put a ring on their left hand during a wedding. At the same time, there are such nations where marriage symbols can be seen on both hands, as, for example, in Belgium.

On which finger do widows and divorcees wear their wedding ring?

There are no special rules about which finger should have a wedding ring on after the loss of a spouse or divorce. The most common option is a change of hand, i.e. if after marriage a woman wore a wedding ring on her right hand, then during the period of widowhood - on her left. For the most part, divorced people prefer to remove the wedding ring altogether so that it does not evoke painful memories.

    When a man makes a marriage proposal to a woman and at the same time gives a ring, then after that the engagement ring is put on the ring finger of the right hand. This can be understood as the woman's consent to the proposal. And after the wedding, the wedding ring is traditionally worn on the same finger of the right hand, on the ring finger.

    Traditionally, the engagement ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand (a wedding ring is put on the ring finger of the right hand). True, it is a pity that this beautiful tradition of giving an engagement ring is not always observed.

    When an offer is made, the ring is not put on. The ring is put on if the girl has given her consent. And here the question arises Which finger is worn on an engagement ring??

    The engagement ring is worn on the same finger as the engagement ring. In Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan and some other countries, the engagement ring is worn on the ring finger of the right hand. In some foreign countries, the engagement ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand. They wear an engagement ring until the wedding. On the day of marriage registration, the engagement ring is removed. On the day of the wedding, the groom puts on the bride's wedding ring on this finger.

    Whenever they make an offer i.e. offer a hand and a heart, the ring is put on the right hand on the ring finger. And on the left hand on the ring finger, the ring is usually worn by either divorced women or widows.

    When a man proposes to a woman to be with him until the end of his life, to marry him, the engagement ring is put on the ring finger of the right hand. So it turns out that the wedding and engagement rings are worn on the same finger. Maybe someone noticed when women wear two rings at once on the ring finger of their right hand. So, one of them is just an engagement ring.

    when a man proposes, he does not put on a ring, but gives it ... if the girl agrees, then she puts it on the ring finger of her right hand and wears it until the wedding, where the engagement (and this is exactly that) is replaced with a wedding ....

    In Russia, engagement rings (engagement rings, proposal ring) are worn on the ring finger on the right hand. According to some popular belief, putting a ring on the other finger or other hand is considered a bad omen and can upset a future wedding. This is not very logical, since in some other countries and cultures the ring is worn on the other finger, on the other hand, or not worn at all)).

    After the young people got married, the spouse can put both rings on one finger - the ring finger, on the right hand. By the way, it is becoming fashionable to pick up both engagement and wedding rings in a similar style, so that both of them look more harmonious on one finger.

    As far as I know, the ring is also worn on the ring finger, but only on the left hand. True, this happens during the engagement.

    The engagement ring, as well as the engagement ring, if the young people decide to buy it, are worn on the same hand and on the same finger, that is, on the right hand on the ring finger. But on the left hand on the ring finger, it is usually worn by widows or divorced.

    The engagement ring is worn on the right hand, ring finger. Exactly the same place as the engagement. As an indicator that the girl is no longer free, although not officially married. On the day of the wedding, before meeting with the groom, he is removed. Abroad, it is no longer customary to wear it, rather, to keep it as a memory. In our country, who do what much.

    At the engagement ring (when proposing to marry), the guy puts the girl on the ring finger on his right hand (they say if you remove the ring and put it on the other finger, then this is a bad omen - there will be no wedding), and wedding rings and wedding rings are also worn on the ring finger. .And the ring symbolizes the unity of the soul and love of the newlyweds.

And a wedding ring. That is why newlyweds try to find out in advance on which hand they wear a wedding ring in their homeland. A ring is more than just a beautiful piece of jewelry. First of all, it will talk about your status to people around you who meet you for the first time. A person who wants to get to know you will definitely appreciate whether there is a ring on your finger. It would be indecent to get acquainted with a married girl, so the ring is a signal that will warn a person whether to start a dialogue with you. Also, the presence of a ring is paid attention to in the circle of relatives and friends, and even when hiring. That is why you should know on which finger and on which hand the wedding ring is worn, so that people around you can read information important to them from your hands, and you feel more confident in your new status.

On the wedding portal site, you will find out which finger an engagement ring is worn on in different countries and what signs are associated with the choice of hand and finger for wedding jewelry, which young people present to each other as a sign of love and fidelity.



Wedding ring: why the ring finger?

When young people buy wedding rings, they think about why the wedding ring is worn on the right hand in some countries and on the left in others. A logical question also arises as to why the ring finger is chosen for the ringlet. There is a rather simple and beautiful explanation for this. Put your palms together as shown in the picture. The thumbs symbolize your father and mother, the index fingers - sisters and brothers, the middle finger - you, the little fingers - children, and the ring fingers - your union with a partner. The thumbs can be easily separated, because we always leave the parental home. You can also separate the index fingers of the hand from each other, because your brothers and sisters will build their lives and their families. The little fingers also detach from each other - since your children will someday leave your house. And only the ring fingers, which symbolize a strong union, cannot be opened, no matter how hard you try.


Why did the ring, and not another piece of jewelry, become the symbol of marriage? The round shape means infinity, stability and eternity, which should be inherent in the newly married couple. If you don't know how to choose an engagement ring, look for the most even, smooth and round piece of jewelry.

Which hand wears a wedding ring in different countries

Each nation has its own traditions and signs regarding the wearing of a wedding ring, as well as with regard to holding a wedding celebration. On which hand is a wedding ring traditionally worn?

Wedding rings - traditions in different countries




Wedding rings on different hands

In some cases, newlyweds may wear the wedding ring on different hands. In Christian countries, it is customary to change the ring to the other hand in case of loss of a spouse or after a divorce. Everyone will immediately understand your difficult situation, and you can avoid uncomfortable questions. Jews change the jewelry on the left hand after the betrothal ceremony. The people of the Middle East do the same. If a couple of young people have different religions and traditions regarding wedding rings, it is best to come to a common decision on which hand to wear the ring.


An engagement ring is a symbolic and very valuable decoration for lovers, a confirmation of family status. This accessory has a rich history. Similar jewelry was discovered by archaeologists during excavations in ancient Egypt.

Interesting! In ancient times, it was believed that the wedding ring is best worn on the left hand. They believed that on the finger without a name there was a vessel leading directly to the heart. The Egyptians believed that if you apply an ointment or cream with this finger, it will have healing powers.

Interesting facts from the history of engagement rings

The material from which the rings were made directly depended on social status: noble people preferred jewelry, while the poor made rings from simple iron. Mentions that the ring really symbolized the marriage union date back to the period BC. Among the ancient Hindus, rings served as characteristic signs of castes, and in ancient Rome there was a custom of exchanging rings. With the help of jewelry, the groom demonstrated the seriousness of his intentions and demonstrated his status in society. After marriage, the woman was obliged to wear it - a reminder that now she is the property of her husband.

Important! The Egyptians believed that rings were a symbol of union in life and after death. The hole in the ring symbolizes the gate leading to the new world. This is the hope that feelings can be eternal and indestructible. People were buried with jewelry, and it was believed that removing such a ring from the deceased was tantamount to a curse.

In Russia, there was no such romantic attitude towards rings. The tradition of wearing rings after marriage appeared only at the end of the 18th century. At the same time, the "language of rings" was invented:

  • On the nameless - a symbol of an indestructible union.
  • The ring on the little finger confirmed that the person had no intentions of getting married.
  • On the index finger - an active search for a spouse (wife).
  • On the middle finger - a frivolous attitude towards marriage.

In Russia, along with the decoration, the bride was given a key, so the groom recognized her as the mistress of the house. The ceremony of betrothal in the Orthodox Church began to be held in 1775. Since then, rings have also been called wedding rings.

Do you wear a ring?

Many still consider it bad manners not to wear a ring if a person is married. In fact, this is a personal choice for everyone. If you have an engagement ring, you can wear both. However, many people prefer to replace the engagement with the wedding.

Divorced people or widowers (widows) often continue to wear the accessory, but now on the other hand. You can also wear your wedding ring as an amulet on a chain.

  • Women. It all depends on the religion that the woman professes. Divorced ladies often wear a wedding ring on their left hand or as a pendant on a chain. European ladies love to wear the product on the index finger. By the way, this is how it was accepted in Russia in ancient times.
  • Men. Most often, men wear a wedding ring on the ring finger, sometimes on the little finger of the right hand. In some countries (for example, Belgium) men wear a ring on any hand - there are no specific standards.
  • Catholics. Historically, after the wedding, the decoration is worn on the left hand. It is believed that she is closer to the heart, and therefore marriage will be based on love and fidelity. This tradition is familiar to many countries: France, Spain, Germany, Austria, USA.
  • Orthodox. It is customary to wear a ring on the right hand, as people are baptized from right to left. In addition, there is a belief that the guardian angel of a person stands precisely behind the right shoulder. Who knows, suddenly he will help save the marriage. It is believed that wearing a wedding ring on the left hand promises troubles and troubles, only widows and widows have the right to do this.
  • Muslims. Most often, Muslims refuse this wedding symbolism. Firstly, it is believed that jewelry destroys the soul, and secondly, according to the Koran, men cannot wear gold - only silver. Therefore, true Muslims prefer to simply give jewelry to their wives.

wedding ring tips

  • You can not give it to try on or wear to a stranger. If trying on cannot be avoided, do not hand it over personally, but lay it on the surface.
  • You can’t get married with rings that were inherited from a widow (widower) or a couple who divorced - there is a risk of repeating their fate. But family heirlooms inherited from people who are happy in marriage are not forbidden to be used.
  • After a divorce, it is undesirable to wear a wedding ring, as it accumulates negative energy. If a person remarries or remarries, the ring cannot be reused.
  • If your ring is picked up by an outsider, hold it under running water - it is believed that water purifies negative energy.
  • Previously, it was customary to make all wedding rings smooth - it was believed that then the life of the couple would be even and happy. However, no one will forbid you to choose a ring with an engraving or a stone.
  • The ring must not be worn over gloves.
  • If an unmarried girl touches a wedding ring at a wedding, she will soon become a bride.

The decision is up to you. Powerful symbolism, backed up by faith, works wonders, but it is quite possible to be happily married without even having rings!