In many Western countries, the tradition of wearing an engagement ring is on the fourth finger of the left hand, which is also known as the ring finger. This tradition can be traced back to the Ancient Romans who believed that this finger had a vein that ran directly to the heart, the Vena Amoris, meaning ‘vein of love’ . However, this tradition is not universal, and in some countries like Russia, Germany, Norway, and India, engagement rings are worn on the right hand. During the wedding ceremony, the engagement ring is exchanged onto the right hand so that the wedding ring can be placed onto the left hand, to be worn closest to the heart. After the ceremony, the engagement ring is then placed on top of the new wedding band. Therefore, the answer to the question "what hand is the engagement ring?" is the left hand, specifically the fourth finger, in many Western countries.