Marriage
- stories from ancient folklore
The Wedding Ring
The wedding ring should be worn on the fourth finger, in accordance with an ancient belief, that a small artery runs from this finger straight to the heart, hence it was considered that... | “ | this finger the properest to bear this pledge of love, that from thence it might be conveyed, as it were, to the heart. | ” |
It is regarded as unlucky by very many when the wedding-ring falls off the finger, whether from accident or forgetfulness on the part of the newly-married wife. It is also said that when a lady's wedding-ring has worn so thin as to come in pieces, she or her husband will die—in other words, that with the wearing away of the wedding-ring, so, too, married life gradually wears away, this is in direct contradiction to another country saying... | “ | As your wedding-ring wears, Your cares will wear away. | ” |
A wedding ring can be used to divine the future spouse of an unmarried person... | “ | A slice of the bride-cake, thrice drawn through the wedding-ring, and laid under the head of an unmarried man or woman, will make them dream of their future wife or husband. | ” |
The same practice is observed in the North with a piece of the groaning cheese. In Somersetshire it is said that the ring-finger stroked along any sore or wound will soon heal it. | “ | In some districts it was customary to put the wedding-ring into the drinking urn, as after serving it out, the unmarried person whose cup contains the ring will be the first of the company to get married. In a similiar way in Ireland it was a common belief that finding the ring in a piece of Michaelmas pie will ensure the possessor an early marriage. | ” |
It has been thought that a marriage lacks validity unless solemnized with a gold ring. Thus in some places, where there were many poor people who could not afford gold, it was customary for the same ring to be used for many marriages, for which purpose it remains in the custody of the priest.
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