pinned to Weddings! by Rebecca Boros, curated from Tiny Facts
This popular pin annoys the crap out of me. I’m engaged and, after I’m married, I’m going to continue to wear my engagement ring on my left hand because I like it there, and I will wear my wedding band on my right hand. Who the fuck cares, right? Right!
But the sad fact is, people DO care about other people’s business and enjoy telling them so, often tying it into some belief, superstition or tradition, that isn’t necessarily based in fact. Misconceptions abound, and I have heard the same crap this pin touts about a super-special vein (called the vena amoris, by the way) that exists only in the left ring finger and runs directly to my heart, as if my other veins don’t ever make it to that holiest of holies. Bitches, please! The veins in all your fingers go to your heart.
At various times in various cultures for various beliefs/reasons, people wore their wedding rings on either hand, or a specific finger, or not at all, and still do, or don’t, sometimes because of a similar notion regarding a vena amoris. But this claim of your left ring finger harboring the most romantic vein of all, the ONLY one that goes right to your precious little heart, is false.
Another romantic notion dashed, but alas.
Here’s a different romantic notion for you – put your energy into learning to communicate with your partner rather than focusing on some supposed romanticized “tradition” that doesn’t ring true. (Ha! See what I did there?) That way, you will have a better chance of enjoying a long, happy, successful marriage.
So, wear your ring wherever it’s comfortable, and be nice to each other!
…and they lived happily ever after, amen.
Hey, um, just wanted to point out something, not to be a smart ass, but the gif at the end of your post, the bling is smack bang in the middle of the hand. Anatomy and all that.
Yes, that was the point
It doesn’t matter where it is!
Oops, gotcha! Might start wearing mine on my toe, start a new trend
Ha! Trendstarter! At least we’ll know who to credit!
I’m actually performing a wedding ceremony this afternoon, so the timing of this post is excellent. Fortunately, I wasn’t planning on saying anything about the vein in the left finger, but I know that bit is now going to be flashing through my mind during the ceremony, and the whole thing will be counted as a Pinterest Fail if I happen to blurt something out about it.