What do claddagh rings symbolize?
Dear Straight Dope: My wife gave me an Irish claddagh ring as a gift. These rings show two hands clasping a crowned heart. There is supposed to be a tradition as to which way the crown is to point–one way if you’re single, another way if you’re taken. We have not been able to find out which direction is correct for either circumstance. With your infinite wisdom and resources, maybe you can help us. — Michael W.
Dear Straight Dope: My wife gave me an Irish claddagh ring as a gift. These rings show two hands clasping a crowned heart. There is supposed to be a tradition as to which way the crown is to point–one way if you’re single, another way if you’re taken. We have not been able to find out which direction is correct for either circumstance. With your infinite wisdom and resources, maybe you can help us. — Michael W. White, Edison, New Jersey Well, I may not be Cecil, but I think I can help. I learned from a couple places that make claddagh rings that when you just want to wear the ring, but aren’t attached, it should be on your right hand, with the heart facing outwards (pointing to your fingertip). If you want to wear it as a friendship/engagement ring, then wear it on the same hand but with the heart inwards (just turn the thing around). For a wedding ring, or as the quote goes, “showing two hearts that have joined forever,” wear it on the left hand, heart facing inwards. STSTAFFDogster
