Wedding rings are ultimate symbol of love THIS SPRING, thousands of couples will be united in mar- riage and will exchange wedding bands as material witness to their vows of commitment. The giving of rings has been practised for over hundreds of years, and there are many dramatic histories and legends behind this custom. Throughout history, wedding and engagement rings have repre- sented many concepts besides the traditional loyalty and eterna! love. Primitive man was said to weave a cord and tie it around the waist of a woman he wanted. Apparently, he believed that his spirit entered her body upon this act and she was as a result bound to him for- ever. These “‘rings’ or rush or hemp were replaced each year. Wedding rings for fingers were documented as far back as the early Egyptian culture, which believed the circle of the ring rep- resented the eternity of the mar- riage. In early Roman times, the gold ting was set with a signet or key, symbolically entrusting the future wife with the custody of the fiance’s house and all its contents. In India, wedding rings were worn only for a few days after the ceremony. At most, a ring was worn for a year, then melted down for more “‘practical’’ use. In parts of Ireland, the belief in the special virtue of a gold ring was so strong that often the groom would rent one for the altar rites if he was unable to afford the pur- chase price. On the Isle of Man, a ring was often a matter of life and death. When a young man was found guilty of injuring a maiden in some way, she was given a sword, a rope and a ring, signifying that she could have her offender behead- ed, hanged or forced to marry her! Today, beliefs and practices sur- rounding the wedding ring have changed drastically, yet its significance has not waned. Men and women make their symbol of tove and commitment a truly unique one. Matching his ‘n’ hers bands are designed with unusual intaglio impressions reminiscent of ancient motifs, or sculpted curves and fancy cuts of diamonds are available for more avant garde couples. For a classic, yet contemporary, look, one straight line of channel >) ng yD) WHILE THE giving of @ rings in the wedding cere- 9 mony is traditional, the J style of today’s wedding band is not. Couples may choose rings that are influ- % enced by classic design, native art or baroque detail, depending on their # personal style. set ‘‘princess’’ or square-cut diamonds dress up a polished gold band. Future brides and grooms should go to a local jeweller whom they know and trust to see the widest variety of styles at all price ranges. There are wedding ring styles — from the sublime to the sensa- tional — that will satisfy all tastes and personalities. Rituals change but courtship remains THE RITUALS may have changed over the past century, but couples still court each other according to the rules, says a UBC history pro- fessor who has examined the public side of courtship and mar- riage. “People still court one another in ways that conform to clearly understood and communally en- forced rules and regulations whether they realize it or not,” said Peter Ward, author of the soon-to-be-published book, Courtship, Love and Marriage in Nineteenth-Century English Canada. Ward's book examines the role of religion, law, and custom, as well as families and friends, in shaping the intimate behavior of the courting couple in Victorian Canada. He dipped into the archives and surveyed contemporary diaries and letters to determine the com- munity pressures that faced young couples and the ways they found to preserve some privacy despite these pressures. The courtship process was highly ritualized in early Canada, few ways a young couple could enjoy any privacy. The custom of relatives and friends literally putting a newly married couple to bed was still practised occasionally at this time. “What this really represents,” Ward said, “is the extension of community influences right up to the threshold of life's most in- timate physical experience.”’ + + t 4 ™~ Ai rn oe Some forms of ritual hazing were practised as wei!, such as the charivari — a noisy, public protest against a marriage, which some- times turned violent. “The degree to which the for- mal influence of the community intruded into these people's private lives was far greater than any of us would accept,’ Ward said. + JEWELLERS LTD. 29 - Sunday, Februsry 25, 1990 - North Shore News cWo Gg Goldsmith #118-3721 Delbrook Ave., North Vancouver 985-6524 NORTH SHORE FAMILY SERVICES SOCIETY MARRIAGE PREPARATION Start your marital commitment with the preparation it deserves. Learn important skills necessary to keep your marriage healthy and lasting. Communication, family relationships and finances are just a few of the topics covered. Suitable for engaged couples or those married less than one year. Next session begins Aprii. NorthShore Family Services offers 30 courses, three times a year, covering subjects such as Couples Communication, Parenting, and Personal Growth. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER PLEASE CALL 988-5281 303-126 East 15th Street, N.Van. V7L 2P9 LARGEST SELECTION AND THE BEST PRICES ON THE NORTH SHORE he discovered. “Courtship often was initiated in the context of family life, so there was a lot of symbolic com- munication in its early stages.”’ Ward examined rituals such as courtship walking — one of the OFFICIAL APPRAISAL CERTIFICATE ? i wae, WITH EVERY ey as f —— PURCHASE Uriique Handcrafted Designs 987-1322 J-YERD - 2460 Marine Drive WESTVIEW SHOPPING CENTRE, NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. 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