History
Promise rings allegedly date back to the 16th century. One illustration, dating from 1576, might be showing a promise ring being given, demonstrating that the tradition could have existed at that early date. In those days, when a man could not afford to get married, he would often give his intended bride a promise ring as a placeholder until marriage became possible.
During Shakespeare's time, poesy rings were popular among young couples. Each band was engraved with romantic sayings such as "vous et nul autres" (you and no others) or "a ma vie de coeur entier" (For my whole life, all of my heart), binding the lover's words to the beloved's body.
During the 20th century, in some instances women would offer men's promise rings to their man because, at the time, he was unable to commission to be wed. It was generally a surprise offering and was something the man could accept or deny. Tradition generally holds that these rings were given by younger couples. This was usually the case because it was normal for the young couple not to have a wealth position that would allow for marriage and children.
Read more about this topic: Pre-engagement Ring
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“A country grows in history not only because of the heroism of its troops on the field of battle, it grows also when it turns to justice and to right for the conservation of its interests.”
—Aristide Briand (1862–1932)
“History has neither the venerableness of antiquity, nor the freshness of the modern. It does as if it would go to the beginning of things, which natural history might with reason assume to do; but consider the Universal History, and then tell us,—when did burdock and plantain sprout first?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Let it suffice that in the light of these two facts, namely, that the mind is One, and that nature is its correlative, history is to be read and written.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)