A wedding anniversary is the
anniversary
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. ...
of the date a
wedding took place. Couples may take the occasion to celebrate 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, 25 years). In some cultures, traditional names exist for milestone anniversaries; for instance, fifty years of marriage may be known as a "golden wedding anniversary", "golden anniversary" or "golden wedding".
Recognition
Celebrating wedding anniversaries as ''gold'' (50 years) or ''silver'' (25 years) is documented in Germanic countries since the 1500s. In the twentieth century, commercialism led to the celebration of more anniversaries according to a list of predetermined gifts.
In some parts of the world, couples can receive special recognition from government officials for particular milestones. In the
Commonwealth realms, one can receive a message from the
monarch for 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries, and any wedding anniversary after that. This is done by applying to
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ha ...
in the United Kingdom, or to the
governor-general's office in the other Commonwealth realms.
In Australia, one can receive a letter of congratulations from the
governor-general on the 50th and all subsequent wedding anniversaries. The
prime minister, the federal Opposition leader, local members of both state and federal parliaments, and state governors may also send salutations for the same anniversaries.
In Canada, one can also receive a message from the
governor-general for the 50th anniversary, and every fifth anniversary after that.
In the United States, a couple can receive an anniversary greeting card from the
president
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
for the 50th and all subsequent anniversaries.
Roman Catholics may apply for a
papal blessing The apostolic blessing or papal blessing is a blessing imparted by the pope, either directly or by delegation through others. Bishops are empowered to grant it three times a year and any priest can do so for the dying.
The apostolic blessing is not ...
through their local diocese for wedding anniversaries of a special nature (25th, 50th, 60th, etc.).
Celebration and gifts
Some significant anniversaries have names which suggest appropriate or traditional gifts. These 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 most nations: 5th
Wood, 10th
Tin, 15th
Crystal, 20th
China, 25th
Silver, 30th
Pearl, 35th
Jade, 40th
Ruby, 45th
Sapphire, 50th
Gold, 60th
Diamond, and 70th
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver".
Platin ...
. 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.
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.
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
''Puja'' ( sa, पूजा, pūjā, translit-std=IAST) is a worship ritual performed by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains to offer devotional homage and prayer to one or more deities, to host and honor a guest, or to spiritually celebrate an event. ...
are conducted for wedding anniversaries.
Traditional anniversary gifts
Flower gifts
Flowers are also associated with wedding anniversaries up to and including the 50th anniversary.
See also
*
Hierarchy of precious substances
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 ...
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wedding Anniversary
Anniversaries
Wedding