February 15, 2012

Why is the wedding ring worn on the fourth finger?

There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese . .

Thumb represents your parents
Second (or index) finger represents your siblings
Middle finger represents YOU
Fourth (or ring) finger represents your life partner
And the last (or little) finger represents your children.

Open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together, back to back.

Then, open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb, tip to tip.

Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing your parents), they will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong, and you will have to leave sooner or later.

Please join your thumbs as before and separate your index fingers (representing your siblings), they will also open, because your brothers and sister will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.

Now join the index fingers and separate your little fingers (representing your children), their will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day.

Finally, join your little fingers and try to separate your ring fingers (representing your spouse).  You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT do that because Husband and Wife have to remain together all their lives, through thick and thin.

Explanation from:  Revered Deb, June 28, 2007, AAWO Digest 1652