wedding rings

[Irina Ustinova]

I am not sure that it has any connection with the Dutch. What I know that it
is connected with Russian Orthodox belief ( in opposition to Protestants and
Catholics). And fiancees usually  wear the special ( not weddding) ring with
a diamond while widows wear the ring on the left hand.

Irena Ustinova


At 10:11 PM 10/23/98 -0400, you wrote:
>>>Does anyone know why Russians wear their wedding ring on the right hand
>>>rather than on the left hand?
>>
>>Because so do the Dutch. And we all remember Peter the Great's affinity for
>>the Dutch. The question is why do Dutch wear on the right hand rather than
>>the left. And why is there a choice of a hand or a finger anyway? Why not
>>do it arbitrarily?
>I remember hearing something about the custom of wearing the wedding ring
>on the third finger of the left hand because of the belief that that finger
>was the closest to the heart.  As has been stated previously, the Dutch may
>have switched it to the right hand to differentiate themselves.
>Donnie Sendelbach
>
>