Many women look forward to the day when they will be proposed to by their fiancées and many men also look forward to a time when they believe they have found the right woman, go down on one knee and ask for her hand in marriage. It’s a once in a life time wonderful moment where both the man and woman are ecstatic to begin their lives together.
Going down on one knee and proposing to your would-be partner is the norm of the day. But has it ever crossed your mind why this is done, and if you’re about proposing to your special someone what the ring and going down on one knee signifies?
It is believed to have dated back to the times of Knighthood, where knights got down on one knee in front of their Lord as a sign of respect, loyalty and obedience. Going down on one knee was also quite a common occurrence in religious ceremonies. Religion and marriage in those times were connected.
Hence, when a gentleman wanted to propose to his special lady, getting down on one knee to propose was a pledge of his allegiance and undying love for her.
Proposing using rings dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who believed circles were symbols of eternity. Couples exchanged rings made out of braided reeds which were worn on the left-hand ring finger which apparently had a vein connecting directly to the heart, which was later named Vena amoris.
The ring being used to propose however did not always have quite a romantic origin. Later on, around the 2nd century B.C, the ancient Romans used rings in lieu of giving the bride a valuable object or money, which represented ownership of the bride by her to be husband.
By Paula Manye Herzuah.
