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The Wedding Ring Question....why the right hand???

OK....last weekend my wife (Colombian) and myself were taken to task by her Grandmother for wearing our wedding rings on the left hand....she said to us that in Colombia you only wear the wedding ring on the left if your spouse is dead (please, no jokes about being living dead if you are married) or if you are seperated...she was really upset about this...my wife said that she knew in Colombia the right hand is more accepted, but it really did not matter to her because she knew in the USA we wear them on the left.....I am Catholic, but have not run into his before...and I honestly did not know....in my travels to Brasil and Venezula (both very Catholic) I had never heard of this before....can someone try to explain this to me??? We talked to a priest last Sunday and he could not give us a answer why....I know in some Orthodoxy Churches the wedding ring is on the right hand...but I thought Catholics were Catholics....so if someone can explain I am interested...can hardly wait to hear a response on this....have a nce weekend!!

By Radz on Jul 10, 2009, 14:36 in Friendly Talkzone.

Gator says on Jul 10, 2009, 14:49:

My wife NEVER heard of this nor has any one in our apartmento building but she did say some who are widows wear the ring on the right hand as a sign of remembrance. But that apparently is an individual choice.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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theflatline says on Jul 10, 2009, 14:51:

In Colombia no one cares if you have a wedding ring on, you are still fair game.

Just listen to Otto Serge - Señora

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 10, 2009, 14:53:

My wife has always worn hers on her right. She is not opposed to wearing it on her left hand, but we never got around to getting the ring resized. I guess it might look weird to some, but neither one of us really cares. Heck, I don't even wear a wedding ring. I've just never been big on wearing jewelry.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.

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geoff71 says on Jul 10, 2009, 15:11:

i like what flatline said

one day at a time

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aposantos says on Jul 10, 2009, 15:41:

In parts of Europe it is common practice to wear wedding rings on right hand for men and women

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Gator says on Jul 10, 2009, 15:46:

True, but Europe lost a lot of clout when the Colombians kicked Spain's ass

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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Sonny says on Jul 10, 2009, 16:01:

Funny, Europe drives on the left side of the road and wears the ring on the right side. The USA drives on the right side of the road and wears the rings on the left. You drive on a parkway and park on a drive way. Seems like we could come to a happy middle someplace along the road. Go figure.

Just taking life easy. I worked hard for it and deserve it and now doing it.

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Radz says on Jul 10, 2009, 16:04:

Sonny.... you need to go to a Happy Hour!!! : )

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Sonny says on Jul 10, 2009, 16:15:

That is where I am at this moment. Can I buy a drink?

Just taking life easy. I worked hard for it and deserve it and now doing it.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 10, 2009, 16:19:

Sonny....Europe drives on the right side of the road except the Brits...the wedding band is worn in the right hand in Germany, Spain and some other countries. The US adopted the British custom of wearing it in the left hand, Colombia the Spanish custom of wearing it on the right hand. I think it has to do with the work ethics in protestant and catholic countries; the ring in the right hand is fine for the hidalgos who won't dirty their hands with manual labour.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Radz says on Jul 10, 2009, 16:20:

Wow...a deep thinker and a smart man... : )

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 10, 2009, 16:57:

I found out about this on my wedding day. The photographer told me. It made me think of all the married ladies I'd been checking out.

I bug my wife that I wear it on the left in Colombia and the right in Canada.

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

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theflatline says on Jul 10, 2009, 17:06:

azunoman

No kidding, I lost one in axxxxx....

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 10, 2009, 17:16:

The only thing I remember is that the Brits wear the ring on a different hand than the French do (but then they would). Sorrry I can't be more explicit.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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Sonny says on Jul 10, 2009, 17:40:

Desi

It was just humor on my part. Trying to add a bit of humor is all.
When I am working I do not wear a ring at all. I love to make things out of wood and that is no place for rings or anything else that can get caught in equipment.
Wearing a ring on either finger does not make you more or less married.

Just taking life easy. I worked hard for it and deserve it and now doing it.

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utopiacowboy says on Jul 10, 2009, 17:46:

Desi is right. Most parts of the world where they wear wedding rings, they do so on the right hand. Only in the English-speaking countries is the ring worn on the left hand. Of course, in Colombia, no man ever looks at a woman's hand to see if she's married - they're all fair game.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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barrumundi says on Jul 10, 2009, 18:19:

My wife says in Colombia the woman wears the wedding ring on the right hand..........and it is not important if the husband is dead or not!!!! (exact translation)

http://poorbuthappy.com/yourthing/post/uploading-photos-for-dummies/

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niolasarboleda says on Jul 11, 2009, 04:36:

I think it's so that they can hold their left hand up to the webcam and wiggle their ring finger for effect...

The Internet. Strengthening the case against free speech every day.

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dwmte7 says on Jul 12, 2009, 05:44:

actually, it's biblical, especially in latin america, where the right hand knows what the left hand is doing.

patriarch

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dwmte7 says on Jul 12, 2009, 11:17:

i seem to remember the german soldiers were taught to use the middle finger of the right hand poked through a sheet of toilet paper to reem before wiping.

patriarch

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dwmte7 says on Jul 13, 2009, 10:56:

the technique gets lost in translation...however, it starts with 'shalom' the rest is top secret.

patriarch

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