Why does the wedding ring go on the third finger of the left hand? I am left-handed: is it socially acceptable to have the wedding band on my right hand?
- BREWER'S Dictionary of Phrase & Fable states: "Aulus Gellius tells us that Appianus asserts in his Egyptian books that a very delicate nerve runs from the fourth finger of the left hand to the heart, on which account this finger is used for the marriage ring." And further, in the Roman Catholic Church, the thumb and first two fingers represent the Trinity, and the next finger "is the husband's, to whom the woman owes allegiance next to God. The left hand is chosen to show that the woman is to be subject to the man." One could therefore assume it was socially acceptable for a man to wear this ring on the right hand, but not a woman.
Bob Harper, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
- MY WIFE and I have worn our matching wedding rings on the third finger of the right hand for 30 years and no one has remarked upon it.
Peter Shield, Woodthorpe, Nottingham.
- I COME from Poland where it has always been the tradition to wear one's wedding ring on the third finger of the right hand, for both the husband and the wife, presumably because the right hand is considered more important. If I am not mistaken, a similar tradition can be observed in some other European countries. My husband and I got married in Poland and that is why we wear our rings on the right hands' third fingers. As we now live in England, people frequently ask whether these are wedding rings and why they are on the "wrong" hand!
Zofia Ashmore, Welling, Kent (zashmore@rcpsych.ac.uk)
- Maybe it stems from ancient Rome, where people used to have rings on all 5 fingersof their hand .There even was a rhyme thatsaid what type of peoplehad their ring on which fingerStarting with the thumb itwent as follows :miles, mercator -stultus, maritus, amator !( soldier, merchant, idiot, married, lover)
Uwe Junge, Niebuell, Germany
- Yes, it's fine. In all my years only aged aunts have commented. Being left handed, wearing a ring on my left hand gives me blisters and sores when ironing, hoovering, etc. I firmly believe this is why right handed people wear their rings on the left!
Carol, Hemel UK
