Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in 1854
Observing your wedding anniversary is remembering the day you decided to live your life with the person you love and celebrating another year of triumph. The fact that married couples managed to stay together for another year despite all the hardships and trials is indeed a blessing worth celebrating.
To go on with the celebration, the husband gives the wife a gift, vice-versa or they exchange gifts. It doesn’t matter who gives who. What’s important is, the day is remembered and expression of love and thanks are manifested by giving presents.
Hallmark research says that attributing silver to 25th wedding anniversary and gold to 50th wedding anniversary can be traced back to the Germanic region of Middle Europe. On the silver anniversary, the husband gives his wife a silver garland for being married for 25 years.
In picture above: Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in 1854
At present, there are two diamond anniversaries being observed-the first is at 60 and the second is at 75. The 75th anniversary is considered the original and the 60th was later on added when Queen Victoria of the British Empire, celebrated her Diamond Jubilee on her 60th anniversary of accession to the throne.
Another source says that the act of gift-giving on wedding anniversaries started in Central Europe. For medieval Germans, it was a custom for friends to give a wife a wreath of silver if she has successfully lived with her husband for twenty-five years. The gift symbolizes harmony which is essential to make marriage work. The wife is then given a wreath of gold for the fiftieth anniversary.
There’s not much written about how the practice of giving gifts flourished during those times and carried over to the present. It’s ironic that in the modern times, married couples give out and conform to the traditional wedding anniversary gifts. The word ‘traditional’ sounds boring. So, to keep up with the changing times, here is a list of the traditional gifts and some gift options to give it a twist. If you are a newly wed, this is something you should know. Look forward to your anniversary, plan ahead and give the best present to your spouse.
First – Paper
Your choices are: colored paper envelope with concert tickets, a copy of his/her favorite book, a movie poster of his/her favorite classic movie.
Second – Cotton
Your choices are: cotton twill shirt, personalized cotton throw pillow
Third – Leather
Your choices are: leather belt, leather shoes, leather wallet, leather grooming set
Fourth – Flowers or Fruits
Your choices are: a bouquet of chocolate roses, a dozen of white carnation to express your pure and ardent love
Fifth – Wood
Your choices are: personalized wooden picture frame, personalized cedar back scratcher
Sixth – Candy or Iron
Your choices are: iron candlesticks, Hugs and Kisses chocolate basket
Seventh – Wool or Copper
Your choices are: copper wine enhancer, copper flower vase, wool roses
Eight – Bronze or Pottery
Your choices are: bronze sculpture, personalized mug, ceramic tile thermometer
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