Wedding anniversary

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"Fifty years since our wedding day", sentimental painting by George Hare depicting an elderly couple in a church Fifty years since our wedding day-George Hare.jpg
"Fifty years since our wedding day", sentimental painting by George Hare depicting an elderly couple in a church

A wedding anniversary is the anniversary of the date that a wedding took place. Couples often mark the occasion by celebrating their relationship, either privately or with a larger party. Special celebrations and gifts are often given for particular anniversary milestones (e.g., 10, 15, 20, or 25 years). In some cultures, traditional names exist for milestone anniversaries; for instance, fifty years of marriage may be known variously as a "golden wedding anniversary", "golden anniversary" or "golden wedding".

Contents

History and recognition

Associating a wedding anniversary with precious metals such as "gold" (50 years) or "silver" (25 years) has been documented in Germanic countries since the 1500s. [1] In English-speaking countries, the tradition of associating gift-giving with wedding anniversaries became more prevalent in the nineteenth century. [2] In the twentieth century, increased commercialization led to the inclusion of more anniversaries to a list of predetermined gifts. [3] [4]

In some parts of the world, couples can receive special recognition from government officials for particular milestones. In the Commonwealth realms, a couple can receive a message from the monarch for 60th, 65th and 70th wedding anniversaries and for any wedding anniversary after that. This is done by applying to Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom or to the governor-general's office in the other Commonwealth realms. [5]

In Australia, couples can receive a congratulatory letter from the governor-general on the 50th and all subsequent wedding anniversaries. The prime minister, the Leader of the Opposition, local members of both state and federal parliaments as well as state governors may also send salutations for the same anniversaries. [6]

In Canada, couples can also receive a message from the governor-general for the 50th anniversary and every fifth anniversary after that. [7]

In the United States, a couple can receive an anniversary greeting card from the president for the 50th and all subsequent anniversaries. [8]

Roman Catholics may apply for a papal blessing through their local diocese for wedding anniversaries of a special nature (25th, 50th, 60th, etc.). [9] [10]

Celebration and gifts

Some significant anniversaries have names that suggest appropriate or traditional gifts, such as a silver or platinum jubilee. Gifts may be exchanged by spouses or given by guests at parties; they may also influence an anniversary party's theme or decoration. These gifts vary in different countries, but some anniversary years now have well-established connections common to many nations; a popular analogy are the numerous jubilees thrown to celebrate anniversary milestones in the reigns of English and British monarchs, all of which are also associated with precious stones or metals. [11]

In English-speaking countries, the fifth-year gift (wood) was cut on the day of celebration and then presented to the wife as a finished item before the next two quarter days had passed.[ citation needed ]

In 1937, the American National Retail Jeweler Association (now known as Jewelers of America as a result of an organizational merger) introduced an expanded list of gifts. The revamped list gave a gift for each year up to the 25th and then for every fifth anniversary after that. [12]

In South India, 60th and 80th wedding anniversaries are accompanied by large celebrations similar to weddings. In Tamil Nadu, there is a famous Thirukadaiyur Temple where special pujas are conducted for wedding anniversaries. [13]

Traditional anniversary gifts

YearTraditional (U.S.) [14] [15] [16] [17] Traditional (U.K.) [18] [19] [20]
1stPaperCotton or paper
2ndCottonPaper or cotton
3rdLeather
4thFruit and flowersLinen, silk
5thWood
6thIronSugar
7thWool, copperWoollen
8thBronzeBronze, Salt
9thPotteryCopper
10thTin, aluminumTin
11thSteel
12thSilkSilk and fine linen
13thLace
14thIvory
15thCrystal
20thPorcelain
25thSilver
30thPearl
35thCoral
40thRuby
45thSapphire
50thGold
55thEmerald
60thDiamond
65thBlue sapphire
70thPlatinum [21] [22] [23]
75thDiamond, gold
80thOak [24] [25]
85thMoonstoneWine
90thGranite

Flower gifts

Flowers are also associated with wedding anniversaries up to and including the 50th anniversary. [26]

YearFlower
1st Carnation
2nd Cosmos
3rd Sunflower
4th Geranium
5th Daisy
10th Daffodil
15th Rose
20th Aster
25th Iris
30th Lily
40th Gladiolus
50thYellow rose with violets

See also

Related Research Articles

A Jubilee is often used to refer to the celebration of a particular anniversary of an event, usually denoting the 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, and the 70th anniversary. The term comes from the Hebrew bible, initially concerning a recurring religious observance involving a set number of years, that notably involved freeing of debt slaves. Emperors of ancient Rome customarily marked anniversaries of their rule with celebrations, although they did not use the term, jubilee. Nonetheless, the term came into English usage from the bible, together with customary celebration of a reign, and is now often used to denote the celebrations associated with the reign of monarchs after a milestone number of years have passed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver jubilee</span> 25th anniversary

Silver jubilee marks a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, the 25th year of a monarch's reign or anything that has completed or is entering a 25-year mark.

A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond jubilee</span> 60th anniversary of an event

A diamond jubilee celebrates the 60th anniversary of a significant event related to a person or the 60th anniversary of an institution's founding. The term is also used for 75th anniversaries, although the human lifespan makes this usage more common for institutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anniversary</span> Date of an event from a previous year and the observance of this milestone

An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year, and may also refer to the commemoration or celebration of that event. The word was first used for Catholic feasts to commemorate saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Jubilee Diamond</span> Largest cut and faceted diamond in the world

The Golden Jubilee Diamond, a 545.67 carat brown diamond, is the largest cut and faceted diamond in the world. It outweighs the Cullinan I by 15.37 carats. The Golden Jubilee Diamond was discovered in 1985 at the Premier Mine, which is also the origin of the Cullinan diamond (1905) and other notables such as the Taylor–Burton (1966) and the Centenary (1986). Cullinan I, also known as the Great Star of Africa, had held the title of the largest cut and faceted diamond since 1908.

In popular culture, sets of precious substances may form hierarchies which express conventional perceived relative value or merit. Precious metals appear prominently in such hierarchies, but as they grow, gems and semi-precious materials may be introduced as part of the system. The sequences can provide interesting examples of the arbitrariness of semiotic signs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platinum jubilee</span> 70th anniversary

A platinum jubilee is a celebration held to mark an anniversary. Among monarchies, it usually refers to a 70th anniversary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II</span> 50th anniversary of the monarchs accession

The Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II was the international celebration held in 2002 marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. It was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50 years as monarch and an opportunity for her to officially and personally thank her people for their loyalty.

Commemorative coins have been issued by the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom since 1935. Initially they only came out to mark events of great interest, but since the turn of the millennium have been minted yearly.

State decorations awarded by Thai King take the form of orders and medals. This page lists them by order of precedence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Windsor Horse Show</span>

The Royal Windsor Horse Show is a horse show held annually since 1943 for five days in May or June in Windsor Home Park. The show is the only one in the United Kingdom to host international competition for dressage, show jumping, carriage driving and endurance riding. In addition, there are over 130 showing classes. It annually attracts more than 50,000 visitors and has key sponsors including Jaguar Landrover through their Defender brand, Hermes, Rolex, Pol Roger and many more.

Silverstone Festival is an annual three-day Festival featuring historic motorsport, live music and family-friendly entertainment at the Silverstone Circuit, home of the British Grand Prix. The event attracts hundreds of historic race cars in 20 races over the weekend, displays from over 100 car clubs with more than 10,000 classic cars, free access to the paddocks and grandstands, interactive activities, dynamic demonstrations, live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, a shopping village and lots more. Founded in 1990, the event was one of the first of motor sport meetings dedicated entirely to historic racing cars and celebrated its 30th anniversary online in 2020 with postponed celebrations at the 2021 event. Originally held in late July, since 2022 the event has taken place over the August bank holiday weekend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sapphire Jubilee of Elizabeth II</span> 65th anniversary of the monarchs accession

The Sapphire Jubilee of Elizabeth II on 6 February 2017, marked 65 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. The longest-reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to have a sapphire jubilee.

Henry Ho is a jeweler in Thailand and President of the Bangkok Diamond & Precious Stones Exchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Jubilee of Elizabeth II</span> 40th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II

The Ruby Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 1992 marked the 40th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. Contrary to her Silver Jubilee in 1977, it was not regarded as an "official" jubilee. However, the milestone was marked with a number of events and community projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II</span> 70th anniversary of the monarchs accession

The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II was the international celebration in 2022 marking the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. It was the first time that any monarch in British history celebrated a platinum jubilee, as is the case in the histories of the other Commonwealth realms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Queen's Green Canopy</span> Tree planting campaign across the United Kingdom

The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) was an initiative that began in May 2021 in the United Kingdom in honour of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. To increase and protect the native tree cover, people were urged to create this 'special gift' for the Queen, to mark her 70 years on the throne.

References

  1. ↑ Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli i Folklore suisse. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Volkskunde, 11. årgang (1921) S. 51–52.
  2. ↑ Coontz, Stephanie (2005). Marriage, a history : from obedience to intimacy or how love conquered marriage. New York: Viking. ISBN   1-322-69205-X. OCLC   646987278.
  3. ↑ "Wedding Anniversaries". Debrett's Everyday Etiquette. Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Why Are You Supposed to Give Things Like Paper as Anniversary Presents?". Time. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  5. ↑ "Anniversary messages". royal.uk. The Royal Household. 31 August 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "It's an Honour – Anniversary Messages". Australian Government. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  7. ↑ "Invite the Governor General" (Requires access). The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  8. ↑ "White House Greeting" . Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  9. ↑ Office of Papal Charities. Vatican.va. Retrieved on 2015-05-13.
  10. ↑ "To Request a Papal Blessing". The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, Office of the Bishop. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  11. ↑ "A history of Royal Jubilees". Historic Royal Palaces. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  12. ↑ Lee, Cookie (October 2001). Wedding Anniversaries: From Paper to Diamond. Ryland Peters & Small.
  13. ↑ "Anniversary Special gift for wife". wellstuff. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  14. ↑ "Wedding Anniversaries," compiled by librarians at the Chicago Public Library's Information Center (December 2000)
  15. ↑ Anderson, Charles. "The Exchange," RQ 25 (1985): 175.
  16. ↑ The World Almanac and Book of Facts , Mahwah, New Jersey: World Almanac Books, 1997.
  17. ↑ World Book Encyclopedia , 1997 ed., s.v. "Wedding Anniversary".
  18. ↑ Pears Cyclopaedia , 1978–79 edition, "Wedding Anniversaries". L128.
  19. ↑ "Wedding Anniversary Gift List". Anniversary Gifts. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  20. ↑ "Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas by Year". hitched.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  21. ↑ "The platinum wedding anniversary of Jim and Gladys Till". Lancaster Guardian, 8 January 2008.
  22. ↑ "Tenor and wife toast 70 years of marriage". North West Evening Mail, 15 August 2008.
  23. ↑ "They've been around the world in 70 years". Portsmouth News, 29 July 2008.
  24. ↑ Miller, Vikki (24 May 2008). "Britain's longest married couple celebrate a quiet 80th anniversary". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 May 2008.
  25. ↑ Facts and figures The British Monarchy
  26. ↑ Carlson, Tara (May 5, 2017). "What is each wedding anniversary's flower?". Petal Talk. 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
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