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Both the Old and New Testaments mention rings but not as a way to
mark betrothals or marriage. The early rings mentioned in the Bible were
signet rings, which were symbols of authority, dignity, and social status. They
were first introduced by the Romans and later adopted by Jews and Christians.
Historically, signet rings were used to seal contracts, as in the book of
Genesis, when Pharaoh gave his signet ring to Joseph as a symbol of
authority. In Esther, Ahausuerus gave a signet ring to Haman to seal a
royal decree. And in the book of Luke in the New Testament, the
father gave his prodigal son a signet ring as a symbol of dignity. Since money
often changed hands at early betrothal ceremonies, the signet ring was an
appropriate symbol of a business transaction.
Early Christian Betrothal (Wedding) Rings
Though the New Testament doesn’t mention betrothal rings,
archeological evidence indicates that Christians began to use them in the latter
part of the second century. The earliest Christian betrothal rings found in the
Roman catacombs, dating from AD 200, were bronze or iron but rarely were rings
made of gold. Like the Romans, Christians used the ring at betrothal ceremonies,
which were much more elaborate than weddings.
Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians
Traditions vary widely from one religion to another. For Eastern Orthodox and
Eastern Catholic Christians, the exchange of rings takes place when a couple is
betrothed, not when they are married. This may be the origin of the double-ring
ceremony; though, in the past, the groom’s ring was gold, while the bride’s was
silver. More recently, however, some faiths have moved the betrothal ceremony to
just before the wedding. In these faiths, marriage is symbolized by placing gold
crowns or wreaths on the heads of the bride and groom, in addition to exchanging
wedding bands. Thus, weddings are often known as crowning ceremonies.
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