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Clinton News-Record, 1983-02-16, Page 27win One of the most enduring and beautiful traditions associated with engagement and marriage is the giving of a ring. Today, most brides receive two rings from their fiances — one at the time of the ;s trothal and one at the w....'ding ceremony itself. It seems likely that the betrothal ring originated as a replacement for dowry money — naturally enough, considering the ancient Roman custom of giving a ring to sea an agreement,. While this act was binding in most cultures, the Vikings gave rings not to ratify the bargain, but to com- memorate it, much as we do today. Of course, fashions in engagement rings change with the times — their form is as dependent upon current tastes and values as their meaning is immutable and unchanging. The colour ,of roses has meaning If you're planning to use roses for floral decorations or for your wedding bouquet, keep in mind that the color of a rose has meaning as well as beauty to it. An orange rose, for in- stance, denotes enthusiasm while a pink rose represents perfect happiness. White roses indicate purity, while tea roses stand for fond memories. A yellow rose represents joyfulness and a red rose stands for courage. Beautiful roses can add so much to your wedding day, especially when they are chosen for their meaning. The Perfect Gift 1 COUNTRY PICTURES Weddings ❑ Portraits REASONABLE RATES Contact Ross Smith R.R. No. hayfield 482-1295 Anyone wishing Blyth Ladies Auxiliary to cuter. Please Phones 523=4352 Or 523-4584 1 FOR ALL YOUR "CATERING" NEEDS Large er Sewell BANQUETS *WEDDINGS ETC. CALL: JOYCE COOK 482=7783 i o t ri Diamond -1 d i ,s„ The diamond engagement rang, today's darling, has been around for quite a long time. It goes back, in fact, to the 15th century, when the Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented his betrothed, Mary of Burgun- dy, with a golden ring decorated with a diamond - studded M, his initial, on top. Interestingly enough, prior to that time, the diamond was a gem worn by men, not women. One type of betrothal ring, which originated in France, was caped a Regard ring. Its name Stems from the fact that in it were set several gems — Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond — the first letters of whose names formed an acrostic of the word "regard." In the same tradi- tion, sometimes the initials of the names of the stones cos en spelled out the name of the bride-to-be. Another distinctive betrothal ring is the gemel or girammnel ring, which Martin Luther is commonly con- sidered to have introduced, four centuries ago. The gemel ring was a dou- ble or triple ring. When clos- ed, two bands of the double ring would apI.'ar to .' one — a most apt metaphor for the oneness of man and wife. It was traditional to separate the intertwined rings at the time of the betrothal, which was solem- nized over a Bible with a witness present. In the case of the triple gemel ring, the man and woman being betrothed would separate the upper and lower rings from the middle one, which the witness would take. At the time of the wedding, the three portions of the ring BRIDES EDITION '833 PAGE 5 would be reunited. The rung wo d then be used for the wedding ceremony, and worn afterwards by e bride. Which brings us to the wedding ring itself. This band represented the essen- tial unity of the married cou- ple — a meaning which was perfectly symbolized by its circular foram. Though silver rin _ were most common prior to the 19th century, gold, the purest metal, 7redoaninates today. Wedding rings are customarily worn on the fourth finger of the left hand — this, because the ancients believe that there was a vein which ran to this finger directly from the heart, the seat of feeling in the human body. According to With this Ring, by Elizabeth Laverack (Elm Tree Books), a fascinating compilation of information on the history of many aspects of marriage, it is generally accepted that the wding ring originated in the ancient Egyptian custom of placing a piece of ring -money (in use prior to the introduction of coins) on the bride's finger as an in- dication that her newly - wedded husband was endow- ing her with his wealth. In a ton=rallel fashion, the ancient Romans gave their brides key -rings. The presentation of a key -ring would occur after the man had lifted his bride over the threshhold of her new home, and was symbolic of the trust her husband placed in her, and of the fact that she would share his worldly possessions from that tirne on. The Anglo-Saxons favored golden rings which were worn upon the third finger; in Medieval times, a saint might ;u - represented on the wedding ring — this gave it the ,r -ewer to ward off ills. In the Tudor e . riod in England, wedding rings were frequently richly embellish . + with pr op stones which boasted mystical significance. For instance, the emerald represented s: ce and piness; the end, fai , the ruby, , ,. rry; the sap- phire, hope; and so on. One fashion that gained favor in 18th century England was the poesy ring. Inside, there would be an in- scription which reflected the deepest feelings of the newly anaa-ri:",,t couple. One interesting wrinkle in wedding ring lore — in Ireland, in the 1. ,;I Is, if a man didn't have enough money to buy a wedding ring for his bride, he would rent one for use during the wedding Tuns E® page 6 e "The Store that Sages You More" INET! TOGA ONE-STOP SEWING CENTRE FA WEICS—R@ !d© GOODS—ANG SEWING MACHINES Open MON.-THURrS. 9 A.M.-3 P.M. FRIDAY 9 A.M.-9 P.M. SATURDAY 9 A.M.-3 P.M. 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