Celtic Engagement Rings: An Irish Tradition

To anyone with a drop of Irish blood, these rings tell the stories of a thousand years gone by, when Erin was largely unknown and avoided by other Europeans, occupied by a fierce warrior-race known for their ruthlessness in battle. When St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach the Gaelic-speaking Celts the concept of the Holy Trinity, thus converting the warlike race to Christianity, the world opened up to Ireland; the rich ancestral craftsmanship of the people of Erin captured the admiration of all Europe. Seeing the beauty of the Celtic engagement ring, and the loving sentiments that they express, these rings have grown steadily in popularity.

The Irish take their ornamentations very seriously, and their jewelry is no exception. An unwritten rule is that if jewelry of Irish design isn't made in Ireland, it isn't "real." Counties Killarney, Shannon, Kildare and Meath specialize in handcrafted, custom-designed Celtic engagement rings. Thus, most couples who choose this ring find exactly what they're looking for on Irish internet sites and in specialty jewelry stores owned by first or second generation Irish jewelers.

Varieties of Celtic Engagement Rings

In many cases, a Celtic engagement ring doubles as a wedding band. The determining factor is how the ring is worn. The most popular design for a Celtic engagement ring is the Claddagh; this is the national symbol of the Republic of Ireland. The Claddagh design consists of a heart surrounded by two hands, topped with a crown above the heart. The design symbolizes a loving and faithful heart, welcoming hands, and the nobility of the proud people of Erin. It is considered "bad form" for someone not of Irish heritage to wear the Claddagh symbol that is found throughout Irish jewelry. With a ring that bears the Claddagh sign, if a woman wears the ring with the heart turned inwards, this means that she is unmarried. Once married, an Irish bride turns the ring so that the Claddagh faces outwards, a symbol to the world that her heart has been given in marriage.

Claddagh Celtic engagement rings are available in a large variety of designs, with the Claddagh carved into a white or yellow gold band. Traditionally, if gemstones are set into the ring, they should be either emeralds, clear diamonds or green Connemara marble. Claddagh rings are meant to be beautiful but simple and enduring, the Irish view of marriage itself. The Claddagh must always be placed in the center of the ring.

Another very lovely and popular Celtic engagement ring and/or wedding band is the Irish Knot design. The twisting and turning of the two "threads" of the knot symbolize the many paths that life can take - some joyful, and some painful. Yet the knot remains constant, two people following the paths of life together. Many Irish women wear both the Irish Knot and the intricate St. Bridget's Cross as a combination of a Celtic engagement ring and a wedding ring.

Since Celtic engagement rings offer such a unique blend of history, tradition, and symbolism, both brides and grooms often wear a simple yellow gold band with the Gaelic words Mo Anam Cara etched into the band. Among the ancient and modern people of Erin, there is no sentiment more significant between a man and a woman; the words mean "My Spirit Mate." When the Anam Cara ring is placed upon the finger of a bride or groom, it must never be removed, even in death; to do so would break the eternal spiritual bond between husband and wife.

If you wish to proudly proclaim your Irish ancestry with a Celtic engagement ring, you can choose from a variety of styles that speak of your love and commitment to your mate. Erin Go Braugh! (Ireland Forever!)

or more information from Brian Welsch about Celtic engagement ring check Rings for engagement.com

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

The Historical Tradition of the Engagement Ring

For millennia, the engagement ring or betrothal ring has been a part of the courtship process. By today's standards, when a couple gets engaged, the first question is what the ring looks like. It is considered a symbol of not only their love but even without knowing it, the history of the ring it shines through.

But the romantic aspect of the history of the engagement ring is lovely too. As little girls, some women know exactly how they want the ring to look. All the way down to the cut of the stone and the setting of their ring. Engagement rings are generally picked out by the man but in some instances, after the proposal, the couple will go together to pick out the symbol of their lasting love.

The history of the engagement ring is one rich in culture. A history that reaches through time to the Romans and Greeks and even as far back as Ancient Egypt time and beyond. The engagement ring started as a symbol that showed how a woman was connected to a certain man. The cultural aspects of the symbology vary from culture to culture. To the Romans, the engagement ring was a symbol of the eternal bond they share with each other by offering the woman an iron ring. Some historians say that the idea of using a ring to show a lasting commitment goes back further to times when they used leather or even tattooed a ring on their finger. The Greeks thought the ring finger held the vein of love or "vena amoris" which reached all the way to a person's heart.

The history behind the gold version of the betrothal ring didn't come about until Pope Nicholas the First in the 9th century, championed the use of gold to signify the groom's ability to support his wife and made it an engagement requirement. But it was Pope Innocent the 3rd who said that the rings could be made out of any metal but they were to be used for longer betrothal periods. The use of gemstones came later as a way to make the ring distinguished. When this practice started, the gemstones would represent the months of birth for the family of the bride and groom as well as the bride and groom themselves. Today, the practice of engagement ring gemstones has different meanings. For instance, the gemstone may represent the month they met, the anniversary of their first kiss or some other special anniversary or occasion.

The use of diamonds in engagements rings were at first for the very well off. The first recorded gift of the diamond engagement ring was in 1477. An Austrian archduke, Maximillian, gave it to his fiancee, Mary of Burgundy. But since the discovery of diamonds in Africa, the gifting of diamond engagement rings has become a widely available option for those of every economic class. At one time, diamonds were thought to have mystical properties showing love and purity to the person receiving them. So whether the ring is a marquise cut diamond solitaire in an 18 carat white gold setting or a pear cut amethyst in a burnished silver setting, the history of the engagement ring is a far reaching and memorable grouping of ideas that have shaped the way we see them today.

Alex Lemone writes about love and wedding topics. For some more engagement ideas or to read some wedding tips, visit Wedding Ideas Etc.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.