wedding rings

[sammmo]

why and how was the tradition of wearing a wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand started? and why do the germans wear the ring on the third finger of the right hand?

[booboo67]

In ancient times, it was believed there was a vein in the third finger of the left hand that ran directly to the heart. Thus, the ring being placed on that finger, denoted the strong connection of a heartfelt love and commitment to one another.
Traditionally, an engagement ring was worn on the left hand, and the wedding ring on the right hand. germany has probably stuck with that way

[terambulan]

The germans wear a gold band on third left as an engagement ring and when married the band is moved to the right third finger right hand.

[Octavius]

The finger that today we know as the �ring finger� was not always the finger of choice for the Wedding band. During the 1400�s, in certain European provinces, Wedding rings were worn on the fourth finger of the right hand, and later on, fashion and trend led to ladies in the 16th and 17th century wearing them on their thumbs.

The idea of the vein/heart thing (vena amoris) may well be traditional belief or legend, but sadly (for the true romantics) a myth. But a nice one. Why we really ended up with the 3rd finger nobody really seems to know, but suggestions are that it was through religious ceremony in medieval times (placing the ring on the thumb, then first finger etc etc recounting 'in the name of the father, son, holy spirit, with an Amen on the 3rd finger). Others suggest it is the weakest finger on the least used hand, and therefore just most practical.

I don't know whether that is true about Germany, but wedding rings are worn on the right hand in Norway, Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, Austria, Denmark and Latvia amongst other countries.