The Culture Of Wedding Ring And Its Meaning In Nigeria

Wedding ring signifies bond, everlasting love, togetherness till death do you part. It is the gift couple present to each other to bind their vows.

Most couples cherish the instant when they slip a ring on their partner. They look into each other eyes, knowing the fact they will be together from that day on. What most people don’t know is that this has been taking place for years and revolves around the giving of wedding rings. The implication and symbolization behind wedding rings is enormous and as complication as its own love story. I decide to write on this so that couples understand exactly why they exchange wedding rings.

The circle form which means forever, eternity, with no beginning or end, not only to Nigerians, but many other ancient cultures. The hole in the center of the ring also has its own meaning. It wasn’t just considered a space, but rather a gate way or door, leading to things and events both known and unknown. To a give woman a ring signifies never-ending and immortal love.

In Nigeria the culture of exchanging wedding rings was introduced by the missionaries. Our traditional marriages even till today do not recognize the wedding ring as a symbol of forever love. No wonder some religious group especially deeper life bible church etc do not use wedding rings. They use the bible as the gift they exchange with each other instead of a wedding ring. Their reason is based on the fact that the culture of wedding is pagan in nature and is not biblical inclined – According to then God almighty do not recognized it.

HISTORY OF WEDDING RING AND THE MEANING

As we all know the circle has always been significance from ancient culture to the present as a symbol of wholeness and perfection. Its endlessness is the perfect symbol of oneness and unity, no beginning, no end – what more could couple need than the unclouded wish to spend all time together? Some can go as far engraving romantic phrase within their wedding rings.

Early on, the caveman bound himself to his mate with a cord of woven rushes as a symbol that their spirits were one.

Ancient European Northern believed that a lover’s knot was a symbol of love, faith, and friendship. The knot was formed out of the hair of the beloved, woven into a knot that was then worn as a ring.

The roman’s also eventually adopted this tradition but with own twist. Rather than offering a ring to a woman as a symbol of love, they awarded them as a symbol of ownership. Roman men would claim their woman with the giving of a ring. Roman betrothal rings were later made of iron and called “Anulus pronubus’’.

Wedding ring came into use in Christian ceremonies about 870; even then, it was not the simple plain band as we know it today. It usually was highly decorated with engraved doves, lyres, or two linked hands. The church discouraged such ring as 'heathenish' - Believing on other gods. Around the 13th to 16th century, wedding and betrothal rings were considerably simplified, and given a more spiritual look which was very aptly expressed by a Bishop when he dubbed “symbol of the union of hearts.”

The habit of wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is based upon a Grecian fable that the artery from that finger flows directly to the heart.

The wedding ring was also used as a symbol in Egyptian culture. The wedding band is mentioned in the hieroglyphics on walls of tombs interpreted by archeologists. Egyptian bands are usually heavy metal, encrusted with precious or semi-precious stones. In contrast, the average Roman citizen is reputed to have found “ugly metal bands” to suffice.

IN CONCLUSION there is a saying that says “The more expensive the material, the more love shown to the receiver; the value of the ring also demonstrated the wealth of the giver”.

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