“So, are you single or dating someone?” he asked. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be particularly perturbed by this question (I might even be a little flattered), except that the person asking it was a random guy in my second year psychology class and a complete stranger to me. In fact, I have my doubts as to whether he was even in my psych class, or if he had just come to sit in on a lecture because he had nothing better to do. “I beg your pardon?” I asked, a little confused, since this guy had arbitrarily directed this rather personal question towards me. “Your Buffy ring. It’s supposed to mean something, depending on which way it’s facing, right?” he explained. Finally, I slowly began to understand why this guy was asking me these questions. For some reason he had noticed the ring that I was wearing, and had recognized it as a ring similar to the one that Angel had once given to Buffy on an episode of “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer”, and I understood why my piece of jewellery had acquired the name of the “Buffy ring” – and more importantly, why he had been questioning my relationship status!
This actually happens to me quite a lot, with people either asking me if I’m Irish, or interrogating me about my love life or being completely intrigued by this somewhat strange-looking piece of jewellery. A short explanation of the history of the Claddagh ring – more commonly known as an Irish promise ring goes as follows:
“Legend has it that a young Irish man, Richard Joyce, bound for the West Indian slave plantations was kidnapped in rough seas by a band of Mediterranean pirates and sold to a Moorish goldsmith who over the many long years of his exile helped him perfect the skills of a master craftsman. When in 1689 King William III negotiated the return of the slaves, Joyce returned to Galway - despite, it said, the Moor's offer of the daughter's hand in marriage and a princely dowry of half of all his wealth. Back in Ireland a young women had never stopped faithfully waiting for her true love to return and upon their reunion, he presented her with the now famous Royal Claddagh gold ring - a symbol of their enduring love. The two hands represented their friendship, the crown signified their loyalty and lasting fidelity, and the sign of the heart symbolised their eternal love for each other. They soon married, never to be separated again*.”
This actually happens to me quite a lot, with people either asking me if I’m Irish, or interrogating me about my love life or being completely intrigued by this somewhat strange-looking piece of jewellery. A short explanation of the history of the Claddagh ring – more commonly known as an Irish promise ring goes as follows:
“Legend has it that a young Irish man, Richard Joyce, bound for the West Indian slave plantations was kidnapped in rough seas by a band of Mediterranean pirates and sold to a Moorish goldsmith who over the many long years of his exile helped him perfect the skills of a master craftsman. When in 1689 King William III negotiated the return of the slaves, Joyce returned to Galway - despite, it said, the Moor's offer of the daughter's hand in marriage and a princely dowry of half of all his wealth. Back in Ireland a young women had never stopped faithfully waiting for her true love to return and upon their reunion, he presented her with the now famous Royal Claddagh gold ring - a symbol of their enduring love. The two hands represented their friendship, the crown signified their loyalty and lasting fidelity, and the sign of the heart symbolised their eternal love for each other. They soon married, never to be separated again*.”
A traditional Claddagh ring
My Claddagh ring was given to me by my friend Claire, who is Irish, and bought it for me on a trip to Ireland in 2005. It has become one of my most prized possessions, because of both its sentimental value and the rarity of these rings in South Africa - although I’ve found one or two other people (including one of my English lecturers, who immediately asked me if I knew what it was and what it meant) who have them. I think that they are very beautiful and rather unusual, and I really like the significance behind them, although I have been told varying stories about the meaning of wearing the heart facing towards or away from the wearer. According to Claire – and she has lots of Irish relatives to back her up on this one -, wearing the ring with the heart facing you means that your heart “belongs” to someone, and it’s bad luck to wear the ring like this if you aren’t in a relationship or if the extent of your love doesn’t quite reach the status of your heart “belonging” to someone, regardless of whether you wear it on your left or right hand. Turning the ring around it a pretty big deal, and one which should not be considered lightly, especially if your partner is a random person who you met in a bar (or a psych lecture, for that matter!). I have yet to face this particular dilemma – mostly because I’ve always heeded the warning! One day though – in keeping with the romantic side of the Claddagh ring story – I hope to get to finally wear my ring with the heart facing inwards, knowing that I am “under love’s spell”!
My Claddagh ring, with heart facing outwards ;)
3 comments:
I remember noticing it when I first met you, it's really cool! I remember going to a town in ireland tht claims to specialise in making them, and they're really pretty...
Although I have to admit that my understanding of the folklore came first from Ladder 49 and then from Ireland!
I also remember that - I think it was when you were in Honours, and I'm pretty sure it was the first time I met you!
At least you're 1 step up with Ladder 49 (no pun intended) from the Buffy experts! ;)
It seems that yesterday was the national day of awful unintentonal puns...
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