Whats a betrothal Ring?
In ancient times, a man’s betrothed, or ‘girl’ wore a plaited band of rush, replaced each year for the duration of the engagement, to signify that she was no longer looking for a partner. Roman brides-to-be wore rings made of iron to symbolise the permanent, unending nature of marriage. During Medieval times, grooms-to-be placed the ring on three of the bride’s fingers in turn to represent the Holy Trinity — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In China, the betrothal was looked upon as a family obligation. If an engaged man died before the wedding, his intended bride was treated as his widow. The betrothal ritual also involved an exchange of gifts or property from the groom-to-be to the bride-to-be’s parents. This was not only ceremonial, but also an important part of the marriage contract because the bride’s family was losing her to another family forever, and so sought compensation. Nearly half of all betrothals or engagements occur between November and February. What’s a gimme
