The Red String of Fate

Wedding rings, nowadays, seem to be an unavoidable custom when getting married.  As if weddings didn't cost enough already, rings have the tendency to burn through a sizable wad of cash.  The reason we, as unwealthy betrotheds, go along with his tradition of shiny finger adornments is, of course, because of what the rings symbolize--eternal love, commitment, and faithfulness.  Where did this tradition come from, though?  How did a simple band of metal come to represent such strong, amorous values?

The oldest record of wedding rings being used during marriage ceremonies dates back to ancient Egypt, 4800 years ago. The bands during this time, however, were not made out of metal, and the value of the material used, whether it be leather, ivory, or bone, was a demonstration of the man's wealth to his intended.  In this sense, the wedding ring was a promise of financial support, and not so much of love and affection as we see it today.

The Romans adopted their own form of the wedding band tradition by using the ring as a way of marking their bride.  Essentially, placing he ring on a woman's finger allowed the man to claim her for himself, treating her more like an object than a life partner.  This isn't like the tradition we know today either.

In Japanese culture, however, there is a myth known as the red string of fate which illustrates that the gods tie an invisible red string around the ring fingers of two individuals.  Because the string connects them together, eventually they will be pulled together and fall in love.  The westernized name for a connection like this is "soul mates."  Under this belief system, the rings were placed in the same finger as that which had the red string attached to it as a marker that the two individuals found their soulmates. The connection between them is believed to be everlasting, as it was created by the gods, and the lovers understand that they will be with no other person than their betrowthed.  This, then, seems most congruent with what wedding bands in the United Stated represent today, but it wouldn't surprise me if the underlying meanings of the ring contain bits of the Egyptian and Roman traditions as well.