Claddagh Rings
 

My boyfriend and I exchanged Christmas gifts last night because he's leaving to spend the holidays with his family. Anyway, he gave me a traditional Irish claddagh ring and I love it. The question is, how do I wear it? I did some research online and I'm seeing different things. One page said that if you wear it "inwards" on your right ring finger, that means you're spoken for. What is considered "inwards'? I'm so confused...

Can anyone give me some advice? I would really appreciate it. :)

Traditionally, a woman who wears the ring with the top of the ring facing towards her is married (with the hands facing towards her). That's how it was explained to me at least, it's an Irish custom I believe.

Collin

Thanks! He is half Irish and isn't very sure of the custom either. :)

I think it's with the ring facing you is how to wear it when you're spoken for. In other words you others would see it "upside down" with the crown at the bottom, then the hands and the heart upside down too (from their point of view). I am not 100% certain (I'm just trying to remember how my coworker wears hers.
Congratulations!

I'm almost all Irish: both sides, and my grandpa immigrated from there. After our family trip to Ireland, my dad bought me a Claudaugh ring and this is how it was explained to me: if you wear the ring with the crown pointing towards you you are single (the heart of the ring is facing "outwards" so to speak), if you're spoken for, you wear it with the crown pointing outwards and the heart towards you. Hope that helps, I dunno how clear that is!!!

oh i love claddagh rings :)


here's what i got off an irish website:

Worn on the right hand, crown turned inwards, your heart is yet unoccupied. Worn on the right hand, crown turned outwards shows a special commitment to someone. Worn on the left hand, crown turned outwards, let our love and friendship reign forever, never to be separated.


wear it on your right hand with the heart pointing in (towards your wrist) if youre "spoken for" (ie: dating) and if you wear it heart facing inwards on your left hand that usually means your married or engaged.

How do you wear it if you are married/dating but still looking lol?

Its a cute idea, but only a girl would worry about this type of thing and research it! ;) lol. Talk about thinking a tad too much lol :D .

No offense Collin!

James, I do not even know what the hell kind of ring they are talking about!

But your comment is apripoe!

Will someone explain the ring thing!?

Whew! Thanks for bringing that up--Ballerina is getting one tomorrow and I had no CLUE that there was such a tradition.

Thanks to everyone! I think I got it now. Tom, here's what we're talking about:

http://www.enteract.com/~cpm/irish-f...lad_symbol.gif

I also found this poem that I thought was really pretty:

The hands are there for friendship,
The heart is there for love.
For loyalty throughout the year,
The crown is raised above.

Thanks again!

:D

haha, none taken dude.

My grandma (mom's mom) is 100% Irish, and I remember the thing coming up in conversation.

My cousin got a tattoo of it on his arm, the right side up...I don't think it matters how guys wear it.

Collin

That's right. I usually wear mine on my right hand with the heart pointing inwards, but when I go out I sometimes switch it to my left hand.