Why do Orthodox Christians wear a wedding ring on their right hand, while Catholics wear it on their left? On which hand is a wedding ring worn?

History of the rings

In different countries, it is customary to wear a symbol of marriage - a wedding ring, but what are the traditions associated with putting jewelry on one or another hand? Let's try to figure it out.

Wedding rings have a very long and interesting history. Ancient Egypt is considered their homeland - at first only pharaohs could wear rings, with their help they confirmed their power and chose an heir. Somewhat later, high-ranking officials also had rings - they chose gold jewelry, but the poor could only make rings from silver, copper or bronze. The ancient Romans, with the help of rings with seals, emphasized that they belonged to the upper class. In ancient China, a golden ring was given to a woman in the last months of her pregnancy to protect her and her baby from evil spirits. But lovers began to exchange rings a little later - in the 3rd-4th century AD. Most often, these were silver rings that symbolized purity and were famous for their ability to scare away evil spirits, but rich people preferred to emphasize their status with gold accessories. In Ancient Rus', poor people even made rings from birch bark, clay, stone, just to keep the traditions.

The language of the rings

Even ancient scientists believed that each finger of the hand has its own energy. The index finger is the center of the strong-willed and personal qualities of a person, the ring on this finger indicates leadership qualities and a thirst for power. It also plays a role on which hand the ring is on - if on the right, such an accessory emphasizes the pride and strong-willed disposition of the owner, but the ring on the left hand can indicate megalomania and excessive hysteria. The ring on the little finger is a symbol of creative people. Even if a person has nothing to do with the world of art, he is able to surprise and perform spontaneous actions.

The middle finger for the ring is chosen by individuals who want to be irresistible and draw attention to themselves. But those who wear a ring on their thumb want to emphasize their strength and independence. As for the ring finger, now its main purpose is to talk about the family status of the owner. It was believed that this is where the blood vessel leading to the heart passes, so it is not surprising that the Egyptians and Romans "ringed" the ring finger. Such a belief was described by Plutarch, and the Greeks also clearly adhered to this opinion, so the ring on the ring finger began to symbolize heartfelt affection.

Rituals in antiquity and modernity

In ancient Rome, the groom, after the wedding ceremony, gave the ring not only to the bride, but also to her parents, thereby confirming that he agreed to the conclusion of the union. The ancient Jews had a custom to give their beloved a gold coin in order to emphasize the seriousness of their intentions, only a few centuries later the coin was replaced by a ring. In medieval Europe, wealthy aristocrats gave their wife a ring with the coat of arms of the family, confirming that she was a full-fledged mistress of his house.

For a long time, a ring was given only to brides, while grooms completely dispensed with this accessory. Now there are two types of rings: engagement (or engagement) and wedding. In the West, there is still a tradition of giving an engagement ring before making an offer, and then acquiring a wedding ring. There was also a custom according to which the groom's ring was made of gold, and the wives of silver, to emphasize that the man is the head of the family, but now the rings of both newlyweds are usually the same, and they are not limited in the choice of metal.

On which hand do they wear rings?

The fact that a ring must be worn on the left or right hand depends on the person’s faith: Orthodox Christians are baptized on the right side of the body, Catholics on the left. In Russia, Austria, Norway, Poland, Greece, Georgia, India, Germany, Israel, the wedding ring is worn on the right hand. In some countries, a curious theory is widespread: behind the right shoulder of a person there is a guardian angel who will also patronize this marriage, but behind the left shoulder there is a tempter who sends all sorts of temptations to a person, so putting a wedding ring on your left hand is a bad omen. Only widows and widows are allowed to wear it there.

In Turkey, Great Britain, France, Japan and America, it is customary to wear it on the left hand, this is due to the notorious "vein of love" that will protect marriage and support the fire of feelings. But Muslims do not wear wedding rings at all. The Koran says that gold destroys faith, because then a person begins to think about material wealth, and not about his spiritual development. If the groom wants, he can present the bride with a gold ring, but it will not be considered an engagement ring - just a symbolic gift, reminiscent of the date when the girl became the wife of her betrothed.

When a long-awaited and joyful event comes in life - a wedding - many girls wonder how to wear a wedding ring? How are our compatriots doing? on which hand is a wedding ring worn in Russia?

Often, spouses refuse this ritual after the wedding: they remove the rings because of the specifics of the work, “dislike” for jewelry, for health reasons. Some couples even consider themselves above all conventions, therefore they do not buy rings for registration (while living in perfect harmony for more than a dozen years).

On which hand is a wedding ring worn in Russia and not only

Right hand:

An engagement ring, which symbolizes the oath of fidelity, happiness and love for life, in our country should be worn on the ring finger. Interestingly, gender differences do not affect the choice; both men and women make the choice in favor of the right hand. Moreover, the ring should decorate this particular hand - according to the canons of the Orthodox Church. The hand with which we write, shake hands, eat food has been associated in many peoples with truthfulness and honesty since ancient times, and the left hand with negativity and deceit. As they say, the left is from the evil one, from the devil, and the right is from God. According to legend, on this side behind the shoulder is the guardian angel of a person who will protect the union. In addition, Christians are baptized from right to left, and Catholics - vice versa. Interestingly, the biblical Joseph and Mary also preferred this particular hand during their betrothal, and this fact is immortalized in icons and paintings that have survived from ancient times. This hand is working and often attracts the attention of others, and the presence of a ring on the ring finger makes it clear whether the person’s heart is busy. There is also an opinion that the presence of a symbol of matrimony on the “working” hand speaks of the firm, strong-willed and decisive character of its owner, and on the left - of vanity, arrogance and hysteria. Removing the ring is not recommended. and losing him is a bad omen.

However, there is an opinion that the rings should "kiss" when palms touch. The husband in this case wears a ring on the right hand, and the wife left. Adherents of the idea of wearing a ring on the left hand appeal to the fact that it is closer to a person's heart.

The loss of a loved one brings with it changes in the way the ring is worn, widows put it on the ring finger of their left hand, but divorced wedding rings, in principle, are not worn. It happens that life circumstances make their own adjustments: the wife, being in an “interesting position”, waiting for the heir, gets better and for some reason the fingers of her right hand swell, so you have to wear a ring on your left.

Why after all namelessfinger:
In the old days, our ancestors wore a ring on their index finger, later the Slavs adopted the custom of the Greeks and Romans and began to put on each other “a complicated decoration and a symbol of fidelity and happiness” on the ring finger. There was a legend that a special vein passes through it, the “vein of love”, and according to anatomy, a thin nerve that leads the way to the heart of the owner of the ring. Wise representatives of the Celestial Empire believe that it is the ring finger that symbolizes our husbands, while the rest of the fingers are our blood relatives, ourselves. And in the languages \u200b\u200bof the Romano-Germanic and Scandinavian groups, the ring finger is called: "ring" or "ring". Many Westerners wear a ring on their middle finger. Jewish women choose the index in such cases. And the gypsies are completely original in this choice: representatives of the nomadic people wear the attribute of family life around their necks, on a chain.

Engagement:

By the way, the ring given by the groom on the day of the engagement is also customary in Russia to be worn on the ring finger of the right hand and not removed until the wedding, when it should “give way” to the engagement ring. Some girls are very sensitive to the ring received on the day of the engagement, and do not part with it, then both rings decorate the ring finger, and if they fit in shape and style, this combination looks very beautiful. But at the same time, it is not uncommon for a newlywed to wear a wedding ring on her right hand, and an engagement ring after the wedding on her left.

To date, the choice of material and shape is diverse, some exotic lovers even make a variety of tattoos on the ring finger. Half rings are very romantic, the newly-born spouses wear them separately, but both of them embody one product, as they say, "you are my soul mate, and together we are one." In recent years, the tradition of ordering engraved rings with the sayings of sages and thinkers and vows of eternal love has gained particular popularity.

On which hand is a wedding ring worn in Russia and what should you do? Each couple makes this choice independently. You can pay tribute to the traditions of your people and religion, you can be original or imitate the inhabitants of other countries, follow Western fashion, you can experiment with shape and material, the most important thing is that the ring is not just an ornament, but holds the heart together.

It is difficult to imagine a modern wedding without the exchange of rings. This is a very touching and romantic tradition, common in many countries. When did it originate and why is an engagement ring worn on and not on some other?

The first wedding rings in the world: Ancient Egypt

About 5 thousand years BC. The ancient Egyptians paid great attention to their own appearance and beauty. Representatives of this civilization made exquisite jewelry. Only the pharaohs and the richest citizens of the state could afford to wear them. According to the assumptions of some experts, ordinary people also wanted to have some kind of jewelry, and they came up with the idea of making them from available materials. Rings woven from cane quickly became a symbol of love. They were exchanged by many couples in love. "Why is a wedding ring worn on the ring finger?" - already at that time the Egyptians had their own answer to this question. Priests and doctors have studied the human body quite well. They knew that it was through the ring finger that the nerve ending went straight to the heart. Do not forget about the practical side of the issue. The second finger is practically not used during work, and the ring on it does not interfere in everyday life.

ancient roman symbolism

One of the inventions of the ancient Greeks is the language of rings for men. From time immemorial until the beginning of the last century, the representatives of the stronger sex in Greece, with the help of a single piece of jewelry, could tell others a lot about their personal lives. The ring on the ring finger was a sign that this man already had a wife / bride or beloved woman. The forefinger was worn by those who were in an active search for the second half. worn by men who were free and did not seek to start new relationships. The middle finger was decorated with representatives of the stronger sex, who were not shy about their popularity with women and were always ready for new acquaintances with beautiful ladies.

Chinese traditions

The Chinese had their own explanation for why a wedding ring is worn on the ring finger. Try to connect your own hands in such a way that the little fingers, index, ring and thumbs are connected by pads. The middle ones should be closed so that they touch the phalanges. Try to spread your fingers apart in pairs. You will not be able to spread the indexes. It is for this reason that the Chinese believe that this pair of fingers symbolizes the second half for each of us. The little fingers are children, the middle one is yourself, the index fingers are brothers and sisters, and the thumbs are parents. All these people, despite their closeness, can leave us. And only the husband or wife should be near all his life.

Did the Slavs wear rings?

In the pagan traditions of Ancient Rus', there was also a place for wedding decorations. Our ancestors exchanged rings. They were necessarily smooth, without patterns and inserts. It was believed that the ornament could attract negative energy. Interestingly, the man gave his chosen one a golden ring, thereby transferring some of his own energy to her. And the woman presented her husband with silver - sharing with him the lunar female energy. The Slavs wore an engagement ring. It moved to the nameless only with the advent of Christianity. Our ancestors believed that it was a good tradition to pass on rings by inheritance. The more ancient rings the young people exchanged on the wedding day, the stronger their union will be.

Modern wedding rings in different countries

In Catholic and Protestant traditions, wedding rings are usually worn on the left hand. This is due to the proximity of this limb to the heart. Today, this is how many couples wear their jewelry in Brazil, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Spain, England, France, Japan, America and Turkey. The right ring finger for a wedding ring is used by Orthodox Christians. The explanation of this tradition is simple - it is customary to baptize with this hand. It is widely believed that a guardian angel stands behind the right shoulder. Today, wedding rings are worn on the right hand in Russia, Georgia, Greece, Poland, Israel, Norway, India, Austria. IN modern world There are countries where the exchange of wedding rings is not a tradition in principle. It's about primarily about Muslim states. The Koran says that gold harms spiritual development. A real Muslim will never wear a wedding ring. At the same time, you can give gold to a bride or wife. But in this case, any ring will become only a beautiful decoration, without any deep meaning.

Signs about wedding rings

Most modern newlyweds buy or order new rings from jewelers on the eve of the wedding. The wedding band on the finger should sit well, but at the same time be a little loose, since the hands can swell during the day. Rings of parents to children can be inherited. However, this tradition also has many limitations. Only married couples who have been married for more than 25 years can give their rings to children. It is important that at the time of handing the jewelry to the next generation, both spouses are alive and happy with their marriage. Remember that you can’t wear a widow’s or widower’s wedding ring, this is a very bad omen. Wedding jewelry is worn on the bare hand, it is impossible to wear them over a glove. It is advisable never to take off the wedding ring, and even more so not to give it into the hands of strangers.

It is widely believed that if an outsider puts on such an ornament, he will take away the happiness of a married couple. After a divorce or death of a spouse, the ring should be removed. Such a family heirloom can be hidden and stored, or worn on the left hand. Now you know why the wedding ring is worn on the ring finger of the right hand. Whether or not to wear it on your own wedding day is the personal choice of each couple. Many of our contemporaries refuse to wear wedding rings, considering this tradition obsolete.

Vika Dee August 31, 2018

For a long time young people exchanging wedding rings during the marriage ceremony. At a wedding, jewelry is usually worn on a specific hand and the desired finger. It is believed that this helps to show the desire for harmonized relationships, happiness. However, in different countries, wedding rings are worn on different hands and fingers, which is due to the peculiarities of religious faith.

Why are wedding rings worn on the ring finger of the right hand?

The first to wear a wedding ring in the appropriate manner began the inhabitants of ancient Rome. They were sure: in the ring finger there is a vein that connects heart and finger. Vienna was named after love. If a person put jewelry on this finger, one could immediately understand: he is busy and married. It is for this reason that the wedding ring should be on the ring finger.

Wedding ring

There is another legend that allows you to better understand the existing tradition. In this case, the legend arose thanks to the ancient Hellenes. They noted that ring wear on the ring finger to confirm the busyness of the person's heart and tie it all together. If a person decorated the index finger, he was in active search, the little finger - unpreparedness for marital relations.

The ancient Hellenes also believed: the presence of a ring on the middle finger confirms amazing victories on the love front

The Christians acted wisely, because they tied the legal wearing of the ring on the ring finger of the left hand and church ritual. From the 9th century, symbolic religious engraving of inscriptions on jewelry was allowed, but this tradition was observed only by Catholics.

It is believed that with the choice of hands, everything is much simpler. The ancient Romans believed: right hand will be happier than the left. For this reason, the wedding ring is worn on the right hand. This tradition is followed by residents of most countries of the world, including Russia, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Portugal. Now it becomes clear on which hand wedding rings are worn in Russia and why the corresponding tradition arose.

Photo of a wedding ring on the finger of a Russian woman

Who wears wedding rings on their left hand?

The tradition of wearing a ring left hand originated relatively recently, at the beginning of the 18th century. It is believed that women recognized the authority of spouses who did not receive special decorations in the old days. This opinion was due to the fact that the left hand is not the main one. For this reason, wearing a wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand means recognizing the authority of the spouse. This practice is common in English-speaking and Muslim countries, as well as in Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

Muslims in the 21st century only wear wedding rings on their left hand. There are many in the world Catholics and Muslims which is important to remember. Many people in Europe belong to the Catholic and Muslim religions. Not surprisingly, in Turkey they also wear a ring on the ring finger of the left hand.

In Russia, divorced women and men, widows and widowers put wedding rings on their left hand.

By this they show memory, respect for the departed or deceased spouse. Surrounding people often understand such actions, but psychologists have a negative attitude towards such an act, since the decoration reminds a person of the past stage of life and interferes with the search for new happiness. It is advisable to abandon the ring, although the memories will remain. Without an accessory, the chances of finding personal happiness will increase.

Wedding ring on a man

Married men and women wear wedding rings only for ring finger left hand.

Can an unmarried girl wear a ring on the ring finger of her right hand?

Girls often choose jewelry and are interested in symbols. Sometimes the question arises whether it is right for a girl to wear a wedding ring or it is advisable to refuse such an act. In most cases, it is not advisable to decorate the finger of the hand, taking into account existing traditions, because such an act reduces chances of meeting with potential candidates.

Palmists and astrologers note: each finger has a special symbolism

Each finger of the hand is under the auspices of a particular planet, therefore it affects the character and habits of people. Jewelery is often worn on a specific finger and is tried activate the desired area, but jewelry should have a simple design and be different from the wedding ones.

Wedding ring

Many nations believe in I will accept: a free girl should not wear a ring on her ring finger, as this will lead to failure in personal relationships, celibacy. In fact, there is some truth in this, because dating will occur less often due to the fact that the other person will think about the lack of opportunities for developing relationships.

On the other hand, the ring finger is under the favorable influence of the Sun.

If you wear a ring on this finger, you can contribute to personal self-expression, finding a partner, gaining fame and fortune. It is believed that in order to get married, you need to wear a ring on your ring finger, but it is advisable to choose a gold piece of jewelry. It is undesirable to choose silver jewelry, as they have an energetically calming effect and make it difficult to find a soul mate.

Intimate Jewelry cannot be sampled. If a girl chooses a ring that should attract her chosen one, it is forbidden to give jewelry to other people to try on.

Wedding rings on lovers

Also, a married woman should wear a wedding ring and not give it to others. Otherwise, personal life will be wide open, so the chances of personal happiness will decrease.

The meaning of the wedding ring on different fingers

Wedding rings are allowed to be worn on different fingers despite existing traditions.

Thumb

It symbolizes willpower, reflects the inner essence of a person. If you plan to wear a ring on your thumb, you need to be especially careful, attentive, as serious changes will take place in the near future. Also, the decoration will contribute to the development of will, determination. Thumb rings are often surprising, although the phenomenon remains common in the world. In medieval Europe, rings were often worn on the thumb and spouses could wear symbolic jewelry on different fingers, attracting the right energy.

Forefinger

The index finger is a symbol of power, leadership ambitions. Decoration activates the corresponding energy. Kings could develop leadership qualities by putting a ring on a specific hand. Nowadays, only a few do this, but sometimes people can see a symbolic decoration on their index finger.

Middle finger

The middle finger reflects the personality of a person. The decoration, located in the center of the hand, is a symbol of a balanced life and attracts the energy of harmony. On the middle finger of the left hand, Russians often wear it, because they are Orthodox and honor religious canons. A wedding ring on the middle finger of the right hand means that the person managed to become a divorcee or a widower, and may also belong to the Muslim or Catholic religion.

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ring finger

The ring finger has a direct connection with the heart, so it is most often worn with jewelry. It is believed that this contributes to positive energy in marital relationships, enhances joint affection, helps to get closer and gives optimism. Silver jewelry is a good option, as they have the right energy. Also rings are often made of gold. To decorate jewelry, it is advisable to choose gems such as moonstone, jade, turquoise or amethyst.

Little finger

They often wear pinky rings. It is believed that in this case a person wants to report something, to give a signal to the outside world. The fact is that little finger with a wedding ring is sure to attract the most attention, and it is not associated with religious or cultural traditions. The reason for wearing a wedding ring on the little finger may be the desire to strengthen the marriage through business or joint creative activity, to show public attention to personal relationships. It is advisable to choose jewelry with moonstone, amber or citrine.

You can also learn additional facts from the video: why wedding rings are worn on the ring finger:

Married women and married men wear an engagement ring not only in accordance with traditions and beliefs but also as a sign of respect, closeness to each other.

An engagement ring is a symbol of fidelity, an attribute of love and devotion. It symbolizes the union of two souls into one. Wedding rings unite the young, are a symbol of their marriage. But not many people know that, depending on religion and people, wedding products are worn on different hands.

Engagement

The engagement is one of the most amazing traditions that came to Russia from Europe. Engagement means the union of lovers, their imminent marriage. But in Russia, not many people know which hand to put on a donated ring, symbolizing a marriage proposal.

The engagement ring is worn on any hand. There are two versions of wearing this symbol:

Should be worn on the right hand. It temporarily replaces marriage, that is, engagement. According to traditions, the spiritual connection of the young is not destroyed in this way, their feelings do not cool down and the wedding will take place.
Should be worn on the left hand. This is what women in the West do. They put it on the ring finger. On the day of the wedding, it is removed and never worn. This amulet becomes a family heirloom, passed down the female line from mother to daughter for a wedding.

In Russia and Ukraine, it is customary to wear engagement rings on the right hand on the ring finger. After the wedding ceremony, the ring is worn under the engagement ring. This symbolizes the busyness of the bride and her confidence regarding the marriage.
In Russia, it is customary for the groom to ask the bride's hand from her parents. As a sign of serious intentions and proposals to marry, men present an engagement ring to their chosen one. In Europe, the engagement is different.

The parents of the bride and groom give a blessing for the upcoming wedding. As a sign of this, the future newlyweds exchange symbols of fidelity, which are worn on the fingers of the right or left hand, depending on religion.

Signs about the engagement product:

It is worn until marriage. The loss of it marks the dissolution of the marriage in the future or the failure of the wedding. If everything is in order with the ring, then this is a sign of a happy, long life together.
It should not be shown to strangers in order to avoid the evil eye or inducing damage.
It cannot be soaked in water. The sign says that family life will be filled with tears.

Where representatives of different nations wear the ring

The wedding ring is worn on the right or left hand. In Ukraine, in the Russian Federation, the Belarusian Republic, the wedding symbol is put on the ring finger of the right hand.

After the engagement, the Germans wear it on their left hand, and after marriage they put it on their right. Polish citizens are accustomed to wearing an engagement and wedding ring on the right hand.

Jews wear the wedding symbol on their ring finger. Because of this, this finger is popularly called "ring", "ring". Orthodox Christians also wear a product on it.

On the right hand, the following nations wear wedding rings:

Georgians.
Ukrainians.
Russians.
Kazakhs.
Moldovans.
Serbs.
Chileans.
Austrians.
Greeks.
Norse.
Spaniards.

On the left hand, the following peoples prefer to wear wedding products:

Australians.
Turks.
Azerbaijanis.
Armenians.
Cubans.
Brazilian citizens.
French people.
Irish.
Canadians.
Mexicans.
Slovenians.
Croatians.
Swedes.
Americans.
British.
Italians.
Japanese.
Chinese.
Koreans.
Syrians.

Most of the citizens of these countries are Catholics. In the Catholic world, it is customary to perform an engagement ceremony before the wedding. The engagement piece is worn on the left hand.
Muslims prefer not to wear gold wedding rings. This applies to men. Indeed, in this faith, wearing gold jewelry compares a man with a woman. Muslims often use other metals to make wedding attributes.

Muslim men are less likely to wear a wedding attribute than women. Married women of the Muslim faith wear rings on their left hand.
Romals (gypsies) prefer to wear a wedding attribute on a chain around their neck. This symbolizes the open soul of a person, his ability to understand, believe, love his soul mate.

Where to wear after a divorce

Often after a divorce, jewelry is worn on the left hand in the CIS countries. Divorced persons put the symbol of marriage on the ring finger.
So do widows and widowers.

After the death of a spouse or spouse, a person puts on the decoration of the deceased and his own on his left hand. This tradition symbolizes devotion, fidelity after death.

Story

For the first time, they learned about wedding jewelry from Egypt. Earlier in this state, the Egyptians worshiped the Moon and the Sun, which had a round shape. A hole in the product means the path to an unknown, happy family life. For the first time, the newlyweds exchanged round jewelry in the vastness of Egypt.

Products symbolized the inextricable bond between lovers. Initially, plants, bones, bark, etc. served as the material for making rings. But then the products were made of metal. Having learned about the existence of gold, the Egyptians came up with the idea of making a golden ring because of the similarity of color with the Sun.

The Egyptians preferred to wear gold jewelry on the ring finger due to the fact that the nerve goes directly to the heart from this finger. They believed that this finger was continuously connected with the heart, therefore, as a sign of long and devoted love, they ringed this very place.

Previously, Jews put a marriage ring on a woman's index finger. But this tradition has lost its relevance due to the inconvenience of wearing a ring on the index finger.

The need to put on the index finger was determined by the need to show that the woman is busy. And the index finger is a prominent place of a woman. This is how the followers of Kabbalah used to think.

In Rus', jewelry was worn on the ring finger of the right hand. This rite dates back to the time of the existence of Joseph and Mary.

Signs

There are many signs about wedding jewelry:

It is forbidden to wear wedding products of parents. It is also impossible to make your own wedding jewelry from these products by melting. The sign says that using parental rings, the newlyweds will repeat the fate of their parents.
It is not advisable to wear products after a divorce. This is especially true for gold products, since gold absorbs all the negative energy.
If a widower, a widow again fetter themselves by marriage, then the old product is removed and kept at home, but not worn.
The loss of a product portends the death of a spouse, or the dissolution of a marriage.
It is forbidden to let strangers try on the ring. This promises discord in the family.
The wedding product is made smooth without engravings and drawings.
Do not wear a ring on gloves.
The fall of products during marriage is a sign of an imminent divorce.
The groom is obliged to buy wedding rings for himself and the bride.
Previously, before marriage, the rings were frozen so that the future husband and wife would also be strongly held together by family ties.

In conclusion, it can be noted that married Orthodox Christians prefer to wear a wedding attribute on their right hand, and Catholics on their left hand. There is no single answer that is correct. Each religion and creed dictates its own traditions, signs and customs.