Which finger?
The strangest 'argument' I've had so far was with a couple of girlfriends, who claims that the engagement ring goes on the middle finger.
Whyyy? So I can give the finger to the guys who've missed out, while showing it off?? tsk*grins*
Everywhere I've researched even before the 'argument', shows that it goes on the left hand's ring (fourth) finger between the pinky and middle finger. Although in some cultures, the engagement and marriage rings are put on the right hand's ring finger. Apparently the Chinese Malaysians wear the wedding bands on their right hands.
In Western tradition, an engagement ring is a ring worn by a woman on her left-hand ring finger indicating her engagement to be married. By modern convention, the ring is usually presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective bride while or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage.
Similar traditions purportedly date to classical times, dating back from an early usage reportedly referring to the fourth finger of the left hand as containing the vena amoris or "vein of love".
~Engagement Ring, Wikipedia
Anyway, Lee put the ring on my left ring finger. So it stays there.
Comments
Well, while my bf and I (still bf, in chinese, we are only married by law. Not married by custom. :p) registered for marriage in Tien Hou Temple, he were told to put the ring on my right hand.
In chinese, there's a say "Men left, women right".. I guess that is how it comes from. :)
Sarah | May 21, 2007 6:17 PM
western cultures identify married women by the stacking of two rings on the left fourth finger - one ring=engaged two ring=married. ALthough lately there has been couples of opt for a very ornate wedding ring with bala blings to save costs.
I think engagement rings are not traditionally done in the asian culture - you do not really do the whole down on one knee awwww proposal - it is usually more of a discussion between families. Well, what happened with my cousins and friends anyway,it is seen as a natural if not nessacary progression.But they still wore their wedding bands on the same finger as the western culture.
BUT I did remember watching on Wah Lai Toi once the middle finger culture,so maybe it is a chinese culture after all. my parents wore theirs on the fourth finger of their left hands though.
sourrain | May 22, 2007 10:42 PM
funny bit is, the girlfriend who said middle finger, put her engagement ring on left hand ring finger.
in any case, my family don't follow chinese customs. i'm just curious about it tho - why middle finger?
zona marie | May 23, 2007 3:59 PM
i've never heard this middle finger thing lar. in anycase, like u, ted put the ring on my left hand so there it shall remain. in fact, i've even seen wedding bands on the right hand as well but i think it kind of looks wrong. but like what sarah mentioned, must be some chinese thing la.
Yvy | May 25, 2007 5:13 PM
omg... you're engaged! congrats!
cindy aka sippingsoda | May 26, 2007 3:07 PM
thanks Cindy. long time! ^_^
zona marie | June 1, 2007 2:36 AM