Traditions: Diamonds

This week I am going to take the time to tell you about the wedding traditions. As I am typing this, my diamond ring is sparkling in my eye, so I am going to tell you why diamonds are the typically wedding rock.

The Knot.com tells us to blame this tradition on Archduke Maximilian of Austria who started the diamond ring trend in 1477 when he presented one to his beloved Mary of Burgundy. The tradition of wearing the engagement ring and wedding band on the fourth finger of the left hand can be traced to the Egyptians, who believe the vein of love ran directly from the heart to the top of this finger.

Ring:
It is believed the Pharaohs of Egypt first used the circle, a shape with no beginning or end, as a symbol of eternity, but wearing a ring as a public pledge to honor the marriage contract did not become customary until Roman times. The earliest rings were made of iron, but gold rings set with gems were fashionable by medieval days. The most popular gems were symbolic - a red ruby was the color of the heart, a blue sapphire reflected the heavens; but most popular was the indestructible diamond.

Diamond Daze

The word "diamond" is derived from the Greek word adamas, which means "the unconquerable." As Mother Nature's hardest substance, diamonds represented invincible strength, a fitting gem for the marriage covenant. But the real pull of these sparkly stones -- which ancient Greeks believed were delicate splinters of fallen stars -- came from the powers and protection they offered the wearer. In India, where diamonds were first discovered, they were thought to be a shield from the combined forces of evil (which at that time included snakes, poison, and theft). Ancient astrologers believed diamonds promoted lasting love and warded off witchcraft and nightmares. Associated with everything from innocence to sexual power to all-encompassing protection, you can see why the diamond became the betrothal gift of choice for lads and ladies.

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