Wedding rings are a very important part of wedding traditions. The origins of these symbols of marriage go back further than we can imagine, and their history is rich in various customs and superstitions. Even for those who do not believe in superstitions, it can be very interesting to learn what our ancestors believed and what customs accompanied wedding rings throughout their long history.
Your wedding ring can predict your future
You've probably heard many superstitions about how people try to predict the sex of their baby. But have you ever heard the superstition that if an expectant mother holds a wedding ring above her belly button, she can predict the baby's sex based on how the ring moves? Are you curious?
So, if the ring moves back and forth, it means a boy will be born, and if it spins in a circle, it means a girl will be born. However, this is not the only superstition. If a woman is unmarried, by hanging her wedding ring in her hair above a glass, she can find out how many years will have to pass before she gets married! Are you wondering how the ring will show this? The answer is simple – you just need to count how many times the ring touches the edge of the glass, and you will know how many years you will have to wait.
Can I try on a ring before the wedding?
Today, it is not only customary, but also necessary to try on the chosen wedding rings before the wedding - after all, how else will the future newlyweds know whether wedding rings are right for them . However, there is another superstition that is not only unusual, but also very impractical. It is said that if newlyweds try on their wedding rings before the wedding ceremony, they may be in trouble. Fortunately, in our time, only a few people follow this superstition.
On the other hand, those who want to follow this superstition should also be aware of another superstition that is the opposite of the latter. It is said that if a tight wedding ring is chosen, it will symbolize that one of the spouses will be “pressed” by the other or there will be a lot of jealousy in the couple’s relationship. And if the ring is loose, the marriage may also be in danger. So, if you want to follow any of these superstitions, the latter seems much more practical, as it allows you to choose wedding rings of the right size for the couple.
The healing powers of the wedding ring
You've probably heard that wedding rings have healing properties? Back in the 19th century, the Irish believed that a wedding ring could help a wound heal more easily - all they had to do was rub it with their ring. They also believed that a wedding ring could help cure warts by piercing them with a gooseberry thorn with a wedding ring hooked on it. In England, it was believed that a wedding ring could help clear up an infection by rubbing it on sore eyes. And this is far from an exhaustive list of the healing powers of the wedding ring that people believed in back then. We can only be glad that we have high-level medicine today!
Is it bad to drop wedding rings?
Even if you are not superstitious, you have probably wondered more than once what the wedding rings that fell during the wedding ceremony could mean. Fortunately, superstitious people can rest assured - if wedding rings accidentally fall during the wedding ceremony, it can be both a good and a bad sign. So, everyone has the opportunity to choose which option is more acceptable to them and believe in it! Some people believe that dropping a ring on the ground can drive away evil spirits, but others believe that this is a bad sign.