Why the 4th finger for ring?
 

There is a beautiful & convincing explanation given by the Chinese as to why wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger. Each finger represents a relationship.

Thumb: your parents

Second (index) finger: your siblings

Middle finger: yourself

Fourth (ring) finger: your life partner

Last (little) finger: your children

1st: open your hands (palm to palm), bend the middle fingers & hold them together-back to back.

2nd: open & hold the remaining 3 fingers & the thumb - tip to tip.

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

Join your thumbs as before & separate your index fingers (representing your siblings). They will also open because your brothers & sisters will have their own families & will lead their own separate lives.

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

Finally, join your little fingers & try to separate your ring fingers (representing your spouse). You will be surprised to see that you cannot because husband & wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick & thin!

cute! but i've always thought it was the third finger, being the thumb is a thumb.

I always thought it was the ring finger whose vein went straight to the heart.

I was able to separate my ring fingers.

That is very interesting! Never knew that before..

So was I - not as much as the other ones, but with effort, I could!

Interesting premise. Makes as much sense as any other explanation. :)

I had not heard the Chinese version of this. Thanks for sharing~ :)

A guild member has been married four times. She wears each wedding ring on her left hand, all fingers. She had them sized up or down to fit. Each marriage the diamond got bigger. LOL

i've been told that the ring finger goe straight to the heart,, the vein in it. and the left hand because it's closer to the heart.

That's a new one for me! Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

That's the reasoning I was always given growing up as well. Wedding band first, and if appropriate, engagement ring second so the wedding ring is closest to the heart.

Interesting version.

I like both sayings. I've had my wedding band on for almost 60 yrs.. It will have to be cut off because my knuckles grew. LOL

Never heard of this before.no wonder I'm not partnered up I can separate my partner finger.

It is the third finger - left hand - that goes straight to the heart. My husband died three years ago and the ring still goes straight to my heart and will always stay there - (wedding band, engagement ring and 50 year renewal ring)!
It is my most treasured possession in the whole world. Edie

Wasn't there a song way back that started out "Third Finger Left Hand" ???

I had to have my rings cut off - broke my heart, but I knew they were going back on. My husband put them back on when I got them back from the jeweler's. I have my husband's wedding band and renewal band (50 years) on my right hand - Couldn't get all five rings on my left third finger. I figured I was his right hand "man", so they went on my right hand. Sure miss him. Edie