WHY AND WHEREFORE:

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 200, 7 January 1942, Page 5

WHY AND WHEREFORE:

* WEDDING RINGS OF ROMAN ORIGIN

The custom of wearing wedding ring appears to have taken its rise among the Romans. Before the celebration of their nuptials, there was a meeting of friends at the house of the woman's father, to settle articles of the marriage contract, when it was agreed that the dowry should be paid "Mown on the wedding day or soon after. On this occasion there was commonly a feast, at the conclusion of which the man gave to the woman as a pledge, a ring, which she put on the fourth finger of her left hand, because it was believed that a nerve reached thence to the heart, and a day was then named for the marriage. The Fourth Finger There is a common error which supposes that an artery runs from the fourth finger on the left hand to the heart. It is said by Swinburn and others, that therefore it becomes the Avedding finger. The priesthood kept up this idea by still retaining it as the Avedding finger, but the custom is really associated with the doctrine of the Trinity; for, in the ancient ritual of English marriages, the ring Avas, placed by the husband on the top of the thumb of the left hand, Avith the Avords. "Hn the name of the Father"; he then removed it to the forefinger, saying, "In the name of the Son"; then to the' middle finger, adding, ''And of the Holy Ghost"; finally, he left it as roav. on the fourth finger, Avith the closing Avords, "Amen" (So be it).