Mime-Version: |
1.0 (Apple Message framework v624) |
Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:56:09 -0500 |
Content-Type: |
text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed |
Content-Transfer-Encoding: |
7bit |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Okay, file this one under "trivia." But Pat's interesting comments on
European practices remind me that in my own faith tradition--Eastern
Orthodox Christian (Greek, Russian, Syrian, etc.)--there are some very
ancient and distinctive practices concerning wedding rings. To wit:
1. Both bride and bridegroom receive rings.
2. The rings are blessed and conferred in a special ceremony, the
"betrothal," that originally took place earlier than the wedding but is
now just the first part of the wedding ceremony.
3. A wedding ring is worn on the fourth (third if you don't count the
thumb) finger of the right hand.
I believe these practices date back to the Byzantine Empire. More at
http://www.ultimatewedding.com/articles/get.php?
action=getarticle&articleid=921 . It's surely safe to assume, though,
that Western European practices differed, even before the Great Schism
of 1054.
This post is almost irrelevant to VA-HIST discussions because I'm
fairly certain there were no Orthodox churches in the commonwealth
until well into the twentieth century.
--Jurretta
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
|
|
|