a Mulets, talismans and all kinds of amulets originate from time immemorial. Throughout the history of mankind, ceremonial and ritual objects have been inseparable from man. They accompanied him not only on everything life path, but also followed him to the afterlife, which is confirmed by numerous archaeological excavations of ancient burials.
Over time, ritual and ceremonial items, talismans, amulets and amulets have evolved into jewelry, with which the counters of jewelry stores and jewelry boutiques are packed to overflowing. However, some of the modern jewelry still has retained its ritual and ceremonial purpose. And wedding rings one of those pieces of jewelry.
Wedding rings, which all modern couples have, are not just a symbol of marriage, they are associated with a huge number of folk traditions and believe. And although scientists have not yet come to a consensus about the origin of the tradition of wearing wedding rings, their sacred meaning has remained unchanged for many centuries.
An ancient Greek legend says that people began to wear wedding rings on the finger, which is located next to the little finger, because during an anatomical autopsy human body, found that it was from the ring finger that the thinnest nerve went directly to the heart itself. It is for this very reason that they began to wear wedding rings on the ring finger, because. it is directly connected to the heart by nerve endings.
The ancient Slavs believed that the ring finger connects them with Yarila, the solar deity, which is why they put on a wedding ring. Among the Slavs, smooth rings were considered powerful family amulets, since, in their opinion, any ornament or pattern on the ring destroyed its magical power.
During the marriage ceremony, the newlyweds exchanged wedding rings: the groom put a gold ring on the ring finger of his bride, which symbolized the male solar energy of Yarila, and the bride put on her narrowed silver ring, symbolizing the female lunar energy. Like the sun and moon, husband and wife should help each other and create in their family an atmosphere of pace, peace and mutual love.
Like many other amulets, the Slavs passed on wedding rings from generation to generation, from father to eldest son, from mother to daughter. And the more generations saw wedding rings, the greater was their magical power. Removing a wedding ring from the ring finger was considered a bad sign, because. then the ring lost its protective power.
The Slavs believed that in addition to the amulet, the wedding ring on the ring finger blocked the flow of external energy coming to the heart from the outside, closing the love between husband and wife.
Now, just like in the old days, the newlyweds choose wedding rings together, however, it is the groom who must pay for them. Thus, he does not violate the tribute to traditions and demonstrates to the bride's relatives that he is able and ready to provide for his family.
Since ancient times, rings have been treated as objects with special properties. Many traditions, signs, superstitions and rituals are associated with them. Slavic peoples applied various symbols to them, turning ordinary jewelry into powerful amulets. Rings in the Slavic style are relevant in the modern world.
Magic power
In ancient times, people believed that the fingertips were conductors of magical energy. If you run your hands through the air in a certain order or conditionally outline some symbols, you can create an energy or protective field. Rings on the fingers can multiply the power of such rituals.
Rings were worn as amulets. They were accepted to be inherited. The older the decoration, the stronger it magical properties. When the jewel passed through many generations, the memory of its first owner was erased. The descendants created various legends, according to which their family jewel had an unearthly creation.
The amulet acquired its magical properties only when it was created with one's own hand. If it was not possible to make jewelry by ourselves, then it was made to order from talented craftsmen. But then the product had to go through a series of rituals to endow it with favorable magical energy. For this, various conspiracies and prayers were uttered.
Since ancient times, in various cultures, rings have been an indicator of a person's status. The rich and influential representatives of the family wore massive rings with precious stones on their fingers. Princes and the highest nobility wore rings with family coats of arms. They served as seals that sealed the most important treaties.
Symbols
The magical property of the ring was determined depending on which symbol was depicted on it.
Phoenix
The Phoenix bird is a mythological character that can burn to the ground and be reborn again. Accordingly, his image symbolizes rebirth and a new better life. The amulet with the Phoenix bird brings good luck and self-confidence.
Tree of Life
The protective ring Tree of Life protects against illness and poverty. Rings with this symbol are complemented by the image of two cornucopias. The product provides its owner with health and material well-being for many years. The tree of life is also able to protect against evil magic and the spells of sorcerers.
Kolovrat
On the Kolovrat amulets, the movement of the heavenly body is symbolically depicted. The man with the Kolovrat ring falls under the protection of Svarog, Khors and Dazhdbog. The owner of the ring is endowed with strength that allows him to withstand life's difficulties. The energy of this symbol is able to develop courage and creative thinking.
Kolovrat rings can be supplemented with a symbol of longevity - the Serpentine. Such rings are decorated in the center with a green stone, which enhances the protective properties of the jewelry. Kolovrat-Zmeevik endows good health and extraordinary strength. They protect wealth, bring success.
Griffin
Lions with wings and the head of an eagle - Griffins - protectors and guardians of wealth. The image of these creatures on the rings brings prosperity to the house. This amulet is able not only to store money, but also to increase it.
Valkyrie
The image on the amulets of the warrior Valkyrie allows you to achieve success in business. The amulet brings wealth, protects it from theft and fraud. In order to increase the magical properties of the ring, runes of wealth - Fehu are applied to it.
Veles
In ancient Slavic mythology, Veles is the patron Agriculture. Its symbolism on the rings brings good luck, wealth, gives its owner wisdom and initiates into the secrets of life. The totem animals of Veles were considered a bull, a wolf and a bear. Rings with images of these animals develop mental abilities, improve intuition, which allows you to protect yourself from the scams of scammers.
Life Force
Our ancestors respected agricultural products, because only it gave them life. Images of bread and ears of corn have always occupied a special place in folk symbols. The amulet with the image of sprouted grain is called the Power of Life. This is a very powerful amulet that can give everything you need - health, well-being and prosperity. Healers liked to wear such rings, as the product increased their strength.
Svarozhich
If it is necessary to direct a person to the right way of life, then the Svarozhich amulet ring is perfect for him. A ring with the symbols of a fiery deity is able to get rid of addictions and help you competently make vital decisions. The amulet endows its owner with willpower, does not allow one to stoop to alcoholism and drug addiction.
Fern flower
According to beliefs, the color of the fern destroys any dark spell. It is symbolically depicted as an eight-pointed swastika. Such a ring makes its owner invulnerable to bad influence. The fern flower is also able to cope with ailments or alleviate the course of especially serious illnesses.
Burdock
Unconditional success brings the Burdock ring. It helps luck "cling" to a person, like thorns of a burdock. This plant is able to survive even under the most adverse weather conditions. Accordingly, his symbol endows life energy one who puts such a ring on his finger.
Women's amulets
In most cases, amulets were not divided into male and female. However, the fair sex, as the successors of the family, needed their personal talismans. For the manufacture of rings with Slavic symbols, no specific technique was designated. A twisted, lamellar or wicker ring could become an amulet.
Alive
One of these female amulets is the symbol of Zhiva, the goddess of life and fertility. It gives warmth, harmony, relieves bad thoughts, relieves stress. For a woman, there is nothing better than an amulet that gives life energy.
Lada
Another symbol intended exclusively for women's rings is the star of Lada, the goddess of spring and plowing, the patroness of lovers and marriage. Such decoration helps to cope with anger, make a wise decision, find harmony and balance. It will help unmarried girls to find a worthy betrothed.
Makosh
The central figure in ancient Slavic mythology among female patrons is Makosh. Her symbol on amulets helps women keep the family hearth. The ring brings joy, reveals talents and develops intuition.
Temple rings
Temporal rings were the traditional decoration of ancient Slavic women. They were attached to the headdress on both sides, hanging at the temples, which is why they got their name. They were a powerful amulet for young Slavs who were to continue the race. Young beauties needed additional protection in order to protect themselves from the evil eye and negative impact envious rivals.
A marriage proposal is one of the most romantic and memorable moments in the history of a young couple. On which finger to wear an engagement ring, which is a symbol of the seriousness of the intentions of the future husband? Different cultures have different traditions in this regard.
On which finger to wear an engagement ring?
Wearing a ring handed by the groom is a symbol that the girl is not free and plans to marry her chosen one soon. Immediately after the marriage proposal, the bride-to-be puts a ring on her finger if she accepts the marriage proposal.
Which hand is the ring worn on?
Each country has its own traditions associated with wedding rituals. When watching Western films and TV shows, it is clear that a girl who agrees to get married puts a ring on the ring finger of her left hand. In the Slavic tradition, wear engagement and wedding rings on the right hand.
In Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, wearing a wedding ring on the left hand means that a woman is divorced or widowed. To avoid confusion, it is better to put the engagement ring on the same hand, which after a short time will be decorated with a wedding ring.
The question of which finger to wear an engagement ring on is equivalent in both Western and Slavic culture. The ring is worn on the ring finger.
History of custom
Like many other rituals, a significant sign of engagement between the young has its own history. The most famous versions of the appearance of the custom:
- Eastern. The tradition started in ancient egypt. The decoration was supposed to be made of gold and symbolized the loyalty and love of the young. At that time, it was believed that wearing a ring on a certain finger had its own meaning. The ring finger corresponded to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, so wearing a ring on it symbolized love and imminent marriage.
- Slavic. In pagan times it was believed that ring finger patronizes Yarilo, the god of the Sun and the patron of life on the whole earth. The engagement ring among the Slavs had to be necessarily smooth - it was believed that ornaments and curls interfere with the sacred action of the deity. The female ring was cast from gold - the "male" metal. The girl, on the other hand, handed over to her future husband a silver jewelry, personifying the female essence. According to the beliefs of the Slavs, the combination of two principles in one family gave rise to harmony and love.
What rings are given for engagement?
Unlike an engagement ring, an engagement ring does not have to be smooth and have simple form. On the contrary, the presence of precious and semi precious stones, ornament or curls from metal are welcome. The classic version of the engagement ring is one large stone surrounded by small ones on a smooth rim.
Of course, there are no strict rules for the form of this precious gift - you can choose any metal, any shape and any stones. The best choice is to take into account the tastes of the future bride. Even if a girl does not wear rings, by her choice of clothes, accessories and other additions, you can guess which ring she will like.
What stones can be in an engagement ring?
Engagement is traditionally considered to be a major step in adult life. That is why it is not customary to save money when choosing engagement jewelry. Classic stones in the ring:
- diamond;
Also, semi-precious stones are often used:
Most often you can find options from gold of various shades (white, lemon, pink), but other metals are also popular: silver, platinum, tungsten, titanium.
If the future groom is short of money, he can stop at the budget version of the engagement ring. But if there are no problems with finances, you should not skimp - the girl will certainly appreciate the grand gesture.
How is an engagement ring worn before and after marriage?
In Russia, it is customary to wear one wedding ring after the wedding, removing the engagement ring from the finger. But traditions tend to change and now the bride has the following options:
- Before the wedding, wear an engagement ring, and after the wedding, take it off and wear a wedding band.
- Wear both jewelry at the same time. They are usually worn on one finger.
- Wear your engagement ring as a separate accessory for special occasions. This option is most relevant when the value of a piece of jewelry or its heirloom is significant.
In the West, one can often come across the tradition of giving rings to the younger generation of one's family for engagement. This is a very touching custom that promotes the closeness of generations.
Another wonderful custom is that the groom himself participates in the design of the jewelry. In this case, the ring becomes valuable not only because of the number of precious stones, but also because of the personal contribution of the future husband.
If you plan to wear both rings together after the wedding, you should make sure that they match. Despite the fact that in modern fashion there are no strict rules for combining jewelry with each other, rings of a similar design and the same shade of gold will look more effective.
Can you take off your engagement ring?
Traditions are quite unanimous about this - if a girl takes off her ring, she doubts her choice of a future husband. All folk signs say that love will be strong, and family happiness cloudless only when it is constantly worn.
Whether to follow folk beliefs or do what is more convenient - it's up to your family to decide. After all, a strong marriage union is much more than jewelry and the rules for wearing it.
When studying the paganism of the ancient Slavs, while elucidating the roots and depths of folk memory throughout the first millennium of our era, academic archaeologist B. A. Rybakov investigated the emergence of religious and mythological ideas. He carefully studied folk amulets, and paganism in urban life, as well as rituals and festivities. Slavic wedding rings are described by him very briefly. Although the rings found in the burials are given some space.
What were the real rings?
As academician B.A. Rybakov writes, these smallest pieces of jewelry show the idea of the macrocosm, which should protect the microcosm of the girl. which is applied to Slavic wedding rings is three crosses or three suns, or two crosses and a sun in the middle. This technique shows the movement of the heavenly body from dawn to the middle of the day and from noon, its highest point (which the pagans revered), to sunset. These were the wedding rings found in burials. The venerable scientist says nothing more about rings.
Here is a photograph of real Slavic rings from the 13th-19th centuries.
Wedding amulets of the ancient Slavs
B. A. Rybakov describes the most complete set of amulets as follows:
- Quietly sitting bird (is it in the nest?).
- Two spoons.
- Sawtooth object (jaws of a predator).
- Key.
Their meaning is as follows: a bird builds a family nest, spoons intended for a couple express a wish to be full, and if wider, they mean well-being in general. The symbolism of the key is the safety of the family's property. The jaw of a predator is an ancient amulet that drives away all evil from a person. Slavic wedding rings with a wedding man are not mentioned by scientists. The term "svadebnik" is missing from his two-volume study. One has to come to the conclusion that this is a mythology created already in our time. She is, of course, beautiful, but in fact, quite far from the truth.
Mythology of the 21st century
Lack of faith - fluctuations from monotheism to polytheism - in these days is replaced by the creation of marvelous fairy tales. This does not mean that they should not exist. Let them be, but taking them seriously is the height of naivety. So are Slavic wedding rings. Let them exist.
Jewelers make them exceptionally beautiful, patterned. And if you remember Buddhism, it assumes that each person exists in his own world. And if he believes in it, then it means that he has a place. If you believe in Slavic wedding rings as amulets, then perhaps they will become them. It's like a placebo effect. We drink, as we were told, medicine, but in fact something useless, but it works, and the person feels better for a while.
What do fairy tales say today?
Modern myth-makers have a rich imagination, certain knowledge of history, which they twist as they please, and knowledge of archetypes according to Jung. Therefore, in their tales it is difficult to distinguish between truth and harmless fiction. For example, they write that patterns were not applied to Slavic wedding rings. The wedding man is a special symbol - a powerful amulet. It was required to preserve love (and in ancient times love marriages, we recall, were rare, they were concluded mainly by calculation), and the interaction of childbirth, and harmony in the marriage union. Here is a photo in front of you - a ring with a wedding man, consisting of open eights.
The number eight resembles the sign of infinity, which, according to the authors, should mean the immutability of the ongoing processes. But the lack of change is stagnation and stagnation. Is it good? Shouldn't young people be active, energetic and open to change, actively influencing the surrounding reality? In other words, to promote progress and self-development.
What else can be found in myths?
Some suggest giving Slavic wedding rings to single people raising children in order to preserve family energy. Other authors, on the contrary, are categorically against such a gift, since a person will forever remain alone, a person should not unite with loneliness. It's just a question of what you yourself will believe, what kind of world you will create for yourself after such a wedding gift.
This leads to the simplest thought - "yes, fairy tales are everything!". Such rings and a wedding man in themselves do not represent anything significant, but only reveal our subconscious.
Conclusion
You can and should give beautiful wedding rings with and without symbols. But give it great value not worth it. The main thing is pure and kind relations, an internal connection, which in the family is united by a single goal. Then life will flow quite harmoniously.
From time immemorial, people have believed in the magical properties of various symbols. On their basis, amulets, talismans, amulets were created, which called for certain forces to help people in trouble, protect, or.
Ancient people kept wisdom and knowledge in legends, myths, fairy tales. These seemingly children's stories reflect the life and beliefs of our ancestors. The key subject of many fairy tales is the ring. Later it began to be used as an ordinary decoration, but initially it carried a deeper meaning. Our ancestors believed in the magical power of this item, and their knowledge will help you choose the right charm rings.
ancient traditions
The ring is the embodiment of the circle, which, together with the cross, is one of the most common signs. It is found in many world cultures and movements ranging from the Ancient East, Egypt, Ancient Greece, and ending with Kabbalah, alchemy and even modern religions.
The power of the circle has great power
Among the Slavs, the stake symbol denoted solar energy, the infinity of life. The closing line symbolized the completeness and unity of everything in the world. By circling the object in a circle, it was possible to protect it; not a single evil force is capable of breaking such a border. Remember, this is how the hero of Gogol's Viy defended himself.
The amulet ring on the finger performed the same functions. It could give strength, confidence, protect from disease and damage. AT folk tales the ring can make a person inventive, invincible. A ring is a magical item that grants wishes, makes its owner lucky, changes his fate, the main thing is to find your own.
Individual approach
Slavic amulets were not made for everyone at once. They were made for a specific person, charging the object so that personal energy multiplied. For a ring to be protective and beneficial, it must match the wearer's personality. To do this, it was necessary to know the name of the future owner of the amulet, date of birth, zodiac sign.
According to tradition, each person was given two names. The first was whispered in the ear immediately after birth. Only his parents and the man himself knew about him. The second was publicized, often unsightly or repulsive. It was believed that evil spirits and death itself will not be able to come to the soul if they do not know the real name of the victim.
The secret name was written on the inside of the amulet ring
The secret name was placed on the back of the amulet ring. So, it helped the owner, and was securely hidden from the devil. The Slavic amulet ring was a personal item, people believed that if you give it to others, you can bring trouble on yourself. The outer side of the ring was decorated with runes and symbols of mystical significance. For example, for a warrior on such a talisman they depicted a sign of courage, for a mother - a sign of the guardian of the family.
Material for mascots
The value of the amulet ring is determined by each of its details. The materials from which it is made can enhance the spirit of a person and the properties of each other, or, on the contrary, they can repel, sowing negativity. It is important to know how they are combined with each other, and most importantly with the person who wears them.
Charm rings made of bones carried the spirit of the animal
In ancient times, people used everything for jewelry, including animal bones. They believed that the spirit of the animal is preserved in them, and the owner of the amulet ring made of bone acquires the best qualities of this animal. Now it is popular to use wood, precious and semi-precious stones, metals for the manufacture of amulets.
Male energy is carried by warm, yellow metals, which are associated with the Sun. Light metals have female lunar energy. For the exchange of energies, women, as a rule, wore gold and copper, and silver rings were intended for men. The symbols on the amulet ring also often referred to either male or female.
Stone inlay complemented the power of the amulet ring very well.
An important element of the amulet ring was a stone. Previously, they differed in the direction of their action. Some controlled power, others relationships, others were responsible for material well-being, the fourth strengthened health.