On What Finger Do You Wear Your Wedding Rings?
Why Is the Fourth Finger on the Left Hand the Ring Finger?
The tradition of wearing your wedding ring on the fourth finger of your left-hand dates back thousands of years. In ancient Egyptian times, people believed that a vein, called the vena amoris or vein of love, ran from the heart to the tip of the fourth finger of the left hand. To symbolize the love two people share, couples wore a wedding ring over that vein as a direct link to the heart. Actually, both hands' fingers have a vein that runs through them, so a couple can choose whichever fingers they prefer to show their commitment.
So is it a rule?
No, but in the 16th century, England's King Edward VI declared that all couples must wear their wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand. Couples in the 21st century have complete flexibility to be unique and wear their choice of engagement and wedding ring on any finger.
Before King Edward's decree, most English couples wore their wedding rings on the thumb or middle finger of the left hand. In countries such as India, Poland, Greece, and Russia, the couple wears their wedding rings on the fourth finger of the right hand. Ultimately, deciding which finger to wear your wedding ring is yours.
