Why the Fourth Finger on the Left Hand?

Here's a simple tradition with a not-so-simple explanation.

Something you've probably never questioned - why do we wear our engagement ring and wedding band on the fourth finger from the thumb of our left hand? It seems we thought we'd follow a tradition that dates back to classical times, when it was believed that the vena amoris (vein of love) travelled from the heart directly to the top of this finger...why this finger, you've got me. Wearing the wedding ring on this finger means that the married couple have now declared their eternal love for each other. 

However, not every country or culture upholds this tradition.

For instance, in Bulgaria, Norway, Germany, Greece, Spain, Poland and Russia, it is worn on the right ring finger. We don't know all the reasons, but some believed the right hand stems from Roman tradition. The right hand was considered the better one, as left in Latin meant "sinister" and right meant "dexter" (which evolved into the English word "dexterity").

In the Netherlands, Catholic couples wear their wedding ring on the left hand, but everyone else wears it on the right; in Austria, Catholics are the ones who wear it on their right. Agh! Even more, in Belgium, the hand depends on the region where they live.

If you are keen to be different, do a wee Google search to see what your ancestors would have done...