Diamond Heart Wedding Ring, Wedding ring:left or right hand?
In Finland most of people are lutheran and have their engagement and
wedding rings on their left hand. Both male and female normally have
engagement ring (usually very simple golden ring, bride might have a
small diamond) and only bride will have (mostly diamond etc.) wedding
ring. So wedding rings are usually much more expensive than engagement
rings.
Both rings are in your left hand in your *ring finger* (Iīm not sure
is that a proper name, I meant 4th finger counting from your thumb).
And for ladies the engagement ring is nearer to your heart, I donīt
know why (maybe because you have got that first).
Here in the United States it is traditional for the bride-to-be to wear a
diamond engagement ring on the ring finger of her left hand. The wedding
ring also goes on this finger, inside the engagement ring (closer to her
heart). I haven't heard of any traditional ring for the groom-to-be
during the engagement.
According to what I have read, the tradition of the wedding and engagement
rings on the 4th finger of the left hand began in Europe(?). It was
placed here because it was believed that the artery in this finger was the
most direct route to the heart. The wedding band is placed closer to the
heart. (On the wedding day the bride switches her engagement ring to her
right hand, or doesn't wear it at all until after the ceremony.)
The only time I have heard of a groom to wear an "engagement ring" is in
traditional Germany. Supposedly the couple both wore gold bands during their
engagement.