Not everyone wears a ring after they get married, but for those who do it is usually deeply symbolic, a sign of commitment. There's a painful contrast between the joyous ceremony involved when people tie the knot, and the loneliness when things haven't worked out.
For some couples, the ring comes off and goes back on as the relationship goes through its ups and downs. "Taking it off does help one psychologically," says agony aunt Virginia Ironside. "But it's a pretty emotional decision."
If the separation appears to be amicable, some people might not rush to remove the ring. Singer Seal said in an interview that he'd wear his ring, even after it had been announced that he and wife Heidi Klum were to split. "It's a token of how I feel about this woman," he said.
But on the other hand, the divorce process can be lengthy and many people get anxious over the right time to remove the ring - when lawyers are taken on, or when the decree absolute comes through. Many will feel they are living a lie wearing it, but are worried in case it looks like they are back on the dating scene.
The ring was supposedly worn on fourth finger of the left hand because of a belief in ancient times in a vein running from there directly to the heart, which the Romans called "vena amoris" - "vein of love". Archaeologists found evidence of brides' wedding bands in hieroglyphics of ancient Egyptians, for whom a circle symbolised eternity.
Quiz 測驗 1. What happens when newspapers say that a relationship is not going well?
The couple is scrutinised for signs that the marriage is really over.
2. Look at the article. Is this statement true, false or not given: Seal decided to wear his wedding band because his wife was still in love with him?
It's not given. All we know is that he sees it as a symbol of how he feels about his wife.
3. What is the name of the final legal step to end a marriage?
A decree absolute.
4. What expression is used in the article that means 'to get married'?
To tie the knot.
5. According to the article, what other two civilizations used a ring to represent marriage?
Ancient Romans and Ancient Egyptians
Glossary 词汇表 marital bliss婚姻之幸福 to take off (a ring)摘下（戒指） a wedding band結婚戒指 to file (for divorce)提出（離婚） on the rocks關係（觸礁）緊張 to scrutinise仔細的查看 a bare finger光手指（什麼都沒戴） to wear (a ring)戴上（戒指） symbolic象徵性的 commitment承諾 joyous歡樂的 to tie the knot結婚，聯姻 to work out解決（問題） ups and downs起伏 an agony aunt一個讀者來信專欄 amicable友好的 to split分離，分道揚鑣 a token of (something)一種表示 a decree absolute法庭離婚判決書 dating scene約會場景
