Editing Engagement (section)

==Engagement rings==
{{Main|Engagement ring}}
[[Image:Wedding and Engagement Rings 2151px.jpg|thumbnail|A [[white gold]] [[wedding ring]] and a single-[[diamond]], [[gold]]-banded engagement ring. The engagement ring is usually worn on the outside.]]

Customs for engagement rings vary according to time, place, and culture. An engagement ring has historically been uncommon, and when such a gift was given, it was separate from the wedding ring.

The first instance of the tradition of giving a ring for marriage in the [[Hebrew Bible]] is in {{bibleverse||Genesis|24:22|HE}}, when a golden [[Nose-jewel|nose ring]] ([[Chayei Sarah (parsha)|Chayei Sarah]] 24:22) was given by [[Eliezer of Damascus]] to [[Rebecca]],<ref>Herczeg, Y.I.Z, ''The Torah: with Rashi's commentary'', Vol.1, Mesorah Publications, New York, 2000, p. 253</ref> with [[Saadiah Gaon]] also citing as a possible source of the practice in the phrase in {{bibleverse||Nehemiah|7:46|HE}} ''be’nei tabbaot'' (children of the rings).{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} The latter case refers to betrothal (see above) rather than engagement; one of the three ways in which betrothal may be effected in [[Judaism]] is by the husband giving the bride money or an object of at least nominal value. In fact, it is a long-standing practice within Judaism to contract the betrothal with a ring.

The practice of a marriage ring in Byzantine Empire date back to 3rd century CE.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8273/byzantine-marriage-ring/ |title = Byzantine Marriage Ring}}</ref>

Romantic rings from the time of the [[Roman Empire]] sometimes bore clasped hands symbolizing contract,<ref>Catherine Johns, ''The jewellery of Roman Britain: Celtic and classical traditions'', Routledge, 1996, pp. 63–64</ref> from which the later [[Celt]]ic [[Claddagh ring|Claddagh]] symbol (two hands clasping a heart) may have evolved as a symbol of love and commitment between two people. Romans believed the circle was a bond between the two people who were to be married and signified eternity, but was first practiced on the [[Ring finger|fourth finger/ring finger]] by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]], who believed this finger to be the beginning of the ''[[vena amoris]]'' ("vein of love"), the vein that leads to the heart.<ref name="PhilippeAries" /> In cultures with European origin, and many other countries, an [[engagement ring]] is worn following the practice of the Romans who "...wore the ring either on the right middle finger or the left ring [4th] finger, from which, according to ancient Egyptian physicians, a nerve led directly to the heart."<ref name="PhilippeAries" /> The custom in [[Continental Europe]] and other countries is to wear it on the right hand. One historical exception arose in monarchical regimes, in which a nobleman entering into [[morganatic marriage]], a marriage in which the person, usually the woman, of lower rank stayed at the same rank instead of rising ranks, would present their left hand to receive the ring, hence the alternative term "marriage with the left hand" (Ger. ''Ehe zur linken Hand''), the offspring of such marriages considered to be disinherited from birth.<ref>[[Marie Maclean]], ''The name of the mother: writing illegitimacy'', Routledge, 1994, p. 191</ref>

The modern Western form of the practice of giving or exchanging [[engagement ring]]s is traditionally thought to have begun in 1477 when [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor]], gave [[Mary of Burgundy]] a [[diamond]] ring as an engagement present.<ref>Michael R Collings, ''Gemlore: An Introduction to Precious and Semi-Precious Stones'', Wildside Press LLC, 2009, p. 50</ref>

In other countries like [[Argentina]], men and women each wear a ring similar to wedding bands. They are made of silver ("''alianza de plata''") when manifesting an informal "boyfriend-girlfriend" relationship, though this first step might not always happen; howbeit depending on finances, this may be the only ring given at all. The gold band ("''anillo de compromiso''" or "''alianza de oro''") is given to the bride when the commitment is formal and the [optional] diamond ring ("''cintillo''") is reserved for the wedding ceremony when the groom gives it to the bride. The gold band that the groom wore during the engagement – or a new one, as some men choose not to wear them during engagement – is then given to the groom by the bride; and the bride receives both the original gold band and the new diamond at the ceremony. The bride's diamond ring is worn on top of the engagement band at the wedding and thereafter, especially at formal occasions or parties; otherwise the engagement band suffices for daily wear for both parties. At the wedding, the rings are swapped from the right to the left hand. In [[Brazil]], they are always made of gold, and there is no tradition for the engagement ring. Both men and women wear the wedding band on their right hand while engaged, and, after they marry, they shift the rings to their left hands.

In the modern era, some women's wedding rings are made into two separate pieces. One part is given to her to wear as an engagement ring when she accepts the marriage proposal and the other during the wedding ceremony. When worn together, the two rings look like one piece of jewelry.<ref name=":0" /> The engagement ring is not worn during the wedding ceremony, when the [[wedding ring]] is put by the groom on the finger of the bride, and sometimes by the bride onto the groom's finger. After the wedding, the engagement ring is put back on, and is usually worn on the outside of the wedding ring.<ref>[https://zoomboola.com/curious-facts/the-most-failed-engagement.html The most failed engagement]</ref>