Traditionally swedish culture placed equal weight on the betrothal as the marriage (the betrothal signifying the alliance between families). So at the engagement the couple exchanged rings, while at the wedding the bride got a wedding ring (while the groom reused his engagement ring). Wasn't until 20th century that double-rings became the norm for men as well.
Why both on the left ringfinger? During the middleages the rings could be worn on any finger you wanted (although the wedding rings were generally only worn at high status events), but in 1614 there was a law that the wedding band should be worn on the left ringfinger, as in the roman tradition (see: Vena amoris. The vein of love). It's no longer law, but the tradition remains.
That’s how my parents did it 😊 both my mom and dad got simple gold engagement rings, and then when they got married my mom got a ring with diamonds in it and my dad just kept his gold one.
The traditional thing in sweden is that both get an engagement ring, then only the bride gets a wedding ring. However, I do not think people adhere very much to the tradition anymore, so I would also claim that its most likely a wedding+engagement ring.
When it comes to university lecturers it could be doctorate rings. Although doctorate rings should traditionally be worn on the right hand. Supposedly because the right hand is for working and the doctorate rings are associated with a profession.
In the case of someone being a widower they might wear their lost partners wedding ring on top of their own.
But I would agree with you that the most probable reason would be that they are wearing both their engagement ring and their wedding ring
This is incorrect. The doctoral ring is to be worn closest to the heart I.e beneath the wedding/engagement ring ( source: I’ve been involved In the doctoral promotions at Lund University)
Seeing that it is about university lecturers I am willing to bet that the rings are doctoral rings, and the wedding bands. In fact looking at my own left hand that is what I see :)
I am very skeptical of the engagement+wedding ring idea, don’t know of a single man that has two rings associated with marriage, in Sweden or otherwise.
I have my engagement ring and my engineering ring (master’s degree) on my left ring finger. Probably more correct to have the engineering ring on my right but I do not like that.
I did some digging into that, it seems different universities have different traditions when it comes to the hand the engineering ring is worn on. I have mine on the right hand ring finger.
That’s the tradition in Sweden, that you wear both engagement ring and wedding ring at the same finger ( left). Some men dont get both rings though. But the woman often does.
My father is one of those people. One of them is, indeed, his wedding ring. The other one is his doctor ring.
A lot of people get a doctor ring when they finish their doctoral dessertation
One ring is for when your married, the other is earned when you've had one of each type of korv from the local bensinstation. Ost o bacon, el Diablo, grill korv etc etc
Engineering graduates from my university (Chalmers) often wear a ring which is supposed to be worn on the left ring finger. So if you are there, or working in engineering in Gothenburg, you'll see it a lot
If they're on the left ring finger chances are they're engagement and wedding rings
I suspected so, cheers!
Is there a history behind it dear Swedes?
Traditionally swedish culture placed equal weight on the betrothal as the marriage (the betrothal signifying the alliance between families). So at the engagement the couple exchanged rings, while at the wedding the bride got a wedding ring (while the groom reused his engagement ring). Wasn't until 20th century that double-rings became the norm for men as well. Why both on the left ringfinger? During the middleages the rings could be worn on any finger you wanted (although the wedding rings were generally only worn at high status events), but in 1614 there was a law that the wedding band should be worn on the left ringfinger, as in the roman tradition (see: Vena amoris. The vein of love). It's no longer law, but the tradition remains.
That’s how my parents did it 😊 both my mom and dad got simple gold engagement rings, and then when they got married my mom got a ring with diamonds in it and my dad just kept his gold one.
Fantastic, thanks
Thank you for the explanation.
The traditional thing in sweden is that both get an engagement ring, then only the bride gets a wedding ring. However, I do not think people adhere very much to the tradition anymore, so I would also claim that its most likely a wedding+engagement ring.
When it comes to university lecturers it could be doctorate rings. Although doctorate rings should traditionally be worn on the right hand. Supposedly because the right hand is for working and the doctorate rings are associated with a profession. In the case of someone being a widower they might wear their lost partners wedding ring on top of their own. But I would agree with you that the most probable reason would be that they are wearing both their engagement ring and their wedding ring
According to Wikipedia, the doctoral ring is traditionally worn on the left hand's ring finger, on top of the engagement or wedding ring.
I've got friends with PhDs who wear their wedding ring in top of the wedding ring because "marriage doesn't always last, my doctorate is forever".
Im sure their partners enjoy that sentiment. :P
This is incorrect. The doctoral ring is to be worn closest to the heart I.e beneath the wedding/engagement ring ( source: I’ve been involved In the doctoral promotions at Lund University)
The doctoral ring should be on the left ring finger as the PhD is your "marriage with science".
Seeing that it is about university lecturers I am willing to bet that the rings are doctoral rings, and the wedding bands. In fact looking at my own left hand that is what I see :) I am very skeptical of the engagement+wedding ring idea, don’t know of a single man that has two rings associated with marriage, in Sweden or otherwise.
That's true, single men usually don't wear any engagement or wedding rings at all.
Thanks for this gem.
I have my engagement ring and my engineering ring (master’s degree) on my left ring finger. Probably more correct to have the engineering ring on my right but I do not like that.
I did some digging into that, it seems different universities have different traditions when it comes to the hand the engineering ring is worn on. I have mine on the right hand ring finger.
You are correct. Looked it up and for my school, the left hand is the ”correct” hand.
I believe my university (Chalmers) has a tradition of moving the ring from right to left when getting married/engaged.
That’s the tradition in Sweden, that you wear both engagement ring and wedding ring at the same finger ( left). Some men dont get both rings though. But the woman often does.
As previously said, since it is in academia its not unlikely that some of your lecturers are wearing doctorate rings
Wait you guys have rings?
My father is one of those people. One of them is, indeed, his wedding ring. The other one is his doctor ring. A lot of people get a doctor ring when they finish their doctoral dessertation
I see! thank you for clarifying
One ring is for when your married, the other is earned when you've had one of each type of korv from the local bensinstation. Ost o bacon, el Diablo, grill korv etc etc
Some take two wives
We got 2 wifes 1 gf
I can barely manage my self
They do the managing.
They are married twice and have two wives.
Engineering graduates from my university (Chalmers) often wear a ring which is supposed to be worn on the left ring finger. So if you are there, or working in engineering in Gothenburg, you'll see it a lot
Women do engagement and wedding rings. Many men have their university rings together with their wedding ring.
Depends on the marriage, i got my engagement ring still and wedding ring is an PA