Nations who are in a relationship with another give their partner a special 24ct gold ring with said country’s flag on it.
They are created by the nation placing their right hand over their heart, and forge the ring by drawing-on the energy of their love whilst saying: “I am X, and I love X.” three times.
Rings are usually placed on their left ring-finger.
Austria and Hungary were the first to forge such rings on their wedding day in 1867. They removed them when they were (forcefully) divorced after WW1 in 1919 and 1920, but kept them. They became a ‘casual couple’ in 1989, and now wear their rings on chains around their necks.
Japan and Taiwan forged their rings in 1895 when Taiwan (then Formosa) became part of the Empire of Japan. After the deaths of their sons, Manchukuo and Mengjiang, in 1945, Japan went to live with America, and Taiwan lived on her own. They rekindled their relationship in 1952 and created new rings to symbolise their fresh start.
Sweden and Finland forged their rings in 1912, though they’d secretly admired each other for centuries before. Sweden began wearing his ring in 2009. Finland keeps his ring in a box in his bedside table drawer.
After a few years of dating, Ethiopia and Kenya forged their rings in 1970.
Macau and Monaco began seeing each other in 1983, and forged their rings a year later.
Lithuania and Belarus had a somewhat one-sided relationship (in Lithuania’s favour), which began in 1992. They forged their rings in 2011.
That year also saw England and Seychelles forge their rings.
Sealand and Wy have also given each other rings, but they were made out of Haribo.
America and Puerto Rico have been a couple since 1917, but America hasn’t given her his ring yet.
Other nations have been in relationships that have ended, and they will be featured soon, as well as the unattached nation’s ‘free love’ concept.