Summer is undeniably the most popular season for weddings in general. It is really not hard to see why when it is one of the easiest time of the year for everyone involved in or attending the wedding to take leave off work for it.

The June Bride

There is even the “tradition of the June bride”, which actually dates back to Roman times when the festival of the deity Juno and his wife Jupiter (the goddess of marriage and childbirth) was celebrated on the first day of June. And many years down the road, this is still the most popular month to wed. This popular idea was also further reinforced by a song called “June Bride”, from the 1954 Academy Award-winning musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

The Engagement Ring

And while wedding ceremonies all over the world follow different customs and traditions according to different cultures, religions and ethnic groups, a particular custom that has been widely accepted by many is the engagement ring. Alright, engagement rings are typically given to those who are engaged to be married before the actual wedding ceremony, but to many, it is still an important part in leading up to the marriage.

After all, an engagement, or betrothal, is a mutual promise for a couple to be wed, and is still a very popular tradition for couples in this day and age. The term “fiancé” originates is based on the Latin word “fidere”, which means to trust. Hence, engagement rings always represent a formal agreement to marriage in the future, and is usually presented by a man to his prospective spouse when he proposes marriage, or after the proposal has been accepted.

“A Diamond Is Forever”?

As culturally diverse as we all are, there have been many ways to “seal the deal” for an engagement. Since the earliest days of the human race, the ritual involves an exchange of gifts or property from the groom-to-be. In the 1930s though, thanks to a brilliant and aggressive marketing campaign employed by De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd, the diamond engagement ring became the symbol of eternal love to the woman he wishes to marry. Before this campaign cemented their now classic slogan “A Diamond Is Forever” in popular culture, demand and prices for diamonds were at an all-time low and nobody wanted to buy them as engagement rings. But now, it’s almost a given that scoring a bling should come before any kind of wedding planning.

So guys, as Beyonce says, “If you like it then you should put a ring on it”

What are your thoughts on engagement rings? Do they signify eternal love to you? Or are they nothing more than dazzling rings that should not determine how much you love someone? Share with us in the comments section below!