The wedding ring is commonly recognized as a symbol of commitment, loyalty, and in many cases love. Although I have always known the wedding ring to be worn on the left ring finger, in my research, I have come to find that this varies across cultures. However, the ring finger (which we have aptly named), has always been the finger chosen to bear the wedding ring. This is said to date back to ancient Egypt, where the vein in this finger was thought to lead directly to the heart. Some sources date this tradition of ring gifting back to ancient Egyptian civilizations. The circular shape of the ring was meant to symbolize eternity, with no end and no beginning.

It is said that when Alexander the great conquered Egypt, the tradition of the wedding ring was passed along, and from there made its way to into Roman culture. Rather than express a symbol of affection or adoration, the wedding ring became a mark that a woman was bound to a man. The acceptance of a wedding ring was seen as legally binding, and meant that the woman was the property of the man who had given it. Originally, rings had been made of grasses and fibers, but the modification in the rings meaning meant that the ring would need to be strengthened to last longer. Metals began to be used, and over time gold became the standard for a wedding ring.

While a gold ring is most common, these rings were initially not meant for daily use, but instead to be worn in public as a symbol of a mans trust in his woman, as he bestowed her with such a valuable item. The rise of the engagement ring (associated with Italian silver), lead to the popularization of a matching golden wedding ring. It was not until 860-870 that the wedding rind was introduced into Christian wedding ceremonies. This ring would have been handed off in a traditional Catholic ceremony, and by this time (1920’s), both men and women would both receive rings.

I still wear this ring on my left ring finger, but this just happens to be the finger it fits best on. No longer a symbol of ownership or eternal love, this ring merely represents a familial connection. However, to others, the positioning of this ring still carries a lot of meaning, and I am occasionally questioned on whether I am married or not.

hitsory of the ring

My object is the wedding ring which belonged to my great-grandmother (Margaret Irene Young Lavieille). It was given to her by Emile Lavieielle on their wedding day (sometime in the year of 1922) in a traditional Catholic ceremony. My great-grandmother had passed away on Sept 19th 1932 giving birth to my grandmother, and in her passing the ring was passed on. Rather than signify a marital tie, the ring became linked to a memory of a deceased family member. My mother received it on her 16th birthday, and I was given it in much the same manner. In this way, the ring has taken on a tradition which differs from its original purpose. Thomas speaks about the wedding ring in this weeks reading, and his notion that it may sustain an intergenerational female link is very much true in this case. However, this ring has come to reinforce ones female familial ties, not in weakened moments (such as being wed off and losing ones last name), but instead in a moments of strength ( such as turning 16 and becoming a “woman").

My great-grandmothers passing remains a secret to many in my family, and thus this ring, its associations, and its passage through time have been kept secretive. The fact that it is now in my possession has instilled a strong desire to continue its legacy. It is as though I have inherited more than just a ring, but rather been exposed to a private history or secret memory. For as long as the ring has been around it has been worn on the hand of a family member. Since receiving it I have never taken it off. Despite being on “display” its history has been masked, and even those who have helped in its passage have not always known what it represents.