The Claddagh Ring

Do you have an item that you feel incomplete without? An item that you just cannot leave the house without having on you, aside from your phone because let’s be real that never leaves any of our sides. For me that one item is my Claddagh ring. Putting this antique and meaningful gem on has become just as much apart of my daily routine as doing my makeup and hair, brushing my teeth, etc. Alarm beeping in the morning, I’ll flop my arm over to my night stand, grab it, and put it on. This Claddagh ring is a daily essential. 

This ring holds a great amount of meaning to me for so many reasons; varying from tradition to family. Coming from a very Irish family, I was bound to get a Claddagh ring at some point. It was just one of those inevitable things that comes along with strong roots. Over this past winter break is when I received my ring. On a random visit with my grandparents, my Nana asked me to follow her into her room. Upon entering she scurried over to her jewelry box where she pulled out a little white box. Opening the box unveiled a Claddagh ring. 

She affectionately recounted when my Dziadziu gifted her the ring in the very early years of their relationship. He took her into a local jeweler with the promise of a future together. Day-in and day-out she would wear this ring until they were wed when it was then retired to that little white box. Through living life and time, this ring lost its symmetry, but did not lose it’s meaning. 

The Meaning: 

This ring is made of three elements; two hands clasping a heart surmounted by a crown. The heart represents love; the hands, friendship; and the crown, loyalty. These three elements equate to three essential elements in a quality life. 

The way a Claddagh ring is worn also holds meaning. 

-When worn on the right hand ring finger with the heart facing outward away from the heart, the ring-wearer is not in a serious relationship. “Their heart is open.” 

-If the ring is on that same finger with the heart facing inward, that person is in a relationship. “Someone has captured their heart.” 

-Worn on the left hand ring finger facing outward indicates that individual is engaged. 

-On that same finger facing inward conveys that the wearer is married. 

As you can see, this ring is certainly a sentimental object based on personal importance and cultural. When concluding the story, my Nana placed the Claddagh ring in my hand and requested that I wear it and eventually pass it down. Since family means a tremendous amount to me, I truly cherish moments like these. To my Nana, thank you for this ring. It is one of my dearest possessions that I can't go a day without wearing. 

Is there an item you can’t leave the house without?

~Moll

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