| Wedding rings are a must in any wedding, especially | | | | Christian wedding rings do not differ largely in meaning |
| where the Christians are concerned. It is a symbol of | | | | from the Romans' betrothal rings. Even if nowadays |
| unity with, love for and commitment to another person. | | | | the groom gives and slips on the ring to his bride |
| But do you know that these rings actually have pagan | | | | instead of the bride's family, the act means almost the |
| roots? | | | | same: a symbol of his commitment to his wife not just |
| The history of them is just like the rings themselves: it | | | | to financially support her but also to love her. Another |
| has no beginning and no end. Without an exact specific | | | | meaning for such act is that groom and the bride are |
| time as to when they came about, rings for weddings | | | | laying claim of each other. Just like what the pagans |
| were first worn by the ancient Romans. These rings, | | | | were "saying" but only this time, the bride is doing the |
| although they were merely called as "finger rings", | | | | same thing. |
| were used to "tie" or bond people not just with their | | | | Christian wedding rings have gone beyond the simple |
| own social class, but also to their marital partners. | | | | iron rings that the Romans had. It used to be that they |
| Specifically done in the betrothal ceremonies, the | | | | are either made of gold or silver and are just plain. |
| groom will give a plain iron finger ring to the bride's | | | | These days, rings can be made of other materials, too, |
| family as a symbol of his commitment to financially | | | | such as titanium and platinum. They have gone way |
| support the bride. If you are wondering why betrothal | | | | beyond the simple band since now, they have designs |
| ceremonies and not wedding ceremonies, it is because | | | | that can be intricate and have stones, such as |
| the betrothal is more elaborately celebrated than the | | | | diamonds and pearls, set on them. |
| wedding. | | | | Christian wedding rings have even gone way beyond |
| The belief of the "finger ring" or "betrothal ring" | | | | what is conventional. Lately, tattooed wedding rings |
| stemmed from a much older time when a man would | | | | have come into practice for some. Although some |
| tie cords around the waist, wrists and ankles to a | | | | conservative church leaders have a thing or two to |
| woman that he has fallen in love with to make sure | | | | say against it, these rings still say the same thing as |
| that she and her soul will be under his control. It was | | | | the usual rings: commitment and love for another |
| later on that the Christians of Rome adopted the | | | | person. You see, no matter what form they take or |
| "betrothal ring" and incorporated it in their wedding | | | | design they appear in or material they are made out |
| ceremonies. Isn't it amazing how something so pagan | | | | of, rings for weddings are all about the symbolic |
| be involved with Christianity? | | | | meaning that they come with. |