Most people are aware that certain milestone years in a married couple’s life have different themes associated with them. The “silver wedding anniversary” for 25 years of marriage and the “golden wedding” for half a century of married life are famous around the world. However, some people don’t realise that, in fact, almost every anniversary year has its own theme and symbol. So, why have the years of married life been given their own specific gift?
The History Of Symbolic Gifts
The reason for giving each of the anniversary years its own symbol has often been debated. It’s certainly something that has a long and illustrious history. Husbands in the Middle Ages were known to give their wives a silver wreath on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary and a golden one when they reached 50 years of marriage. The luxurious nature of these gifts highlights the fact that most couples wouldn’t live long enough to celebrate these milestone occasions, so those that did had a true cause for celebration.
A Strengthening Union
It’s typically believed that the symbols chosen to represent successive anniversary years become increasingly durable in order to represent the relationship’s growing strength year after year. The symbols also become increasingly more costly over the years to represent the increasing worth and value of the union.
The first wedding anniversary is symbolised by paper – clearly a fragile and inexpensive material, but by the time you reach your diamond wedding at 60 years of marriage, the symbol is far stronger and more valuable.
A Quick Guide To The Anniversary Symbols
- 1st: paper – symbolising the new beginning of the relationship, paper is easily damaged and must be treated with care, just like the a couple’s early days together.
- 2nd: cotton – cotton’s interwoven fibres represent the increasing closeness of a couple in their second year together while its strength and softness represents the way the pair learn to adapt and be flexible to each other.
- 3rd: leather – this symbol represents the protection and security that the marriage brings to both partners.
- 4th: flowers and fruit – this symbolises the blossoming and ripening of the relationship.
- 5th: wood – this symbol represents the deep, strong roots that the marriage has gained over the first 5 years.
- 6th: iron – this sturdy, strong metal symbolises the increasing strength of the relationship.
- 7th: copper – known as a conductor of heat, this symbol represents the comfort and warmth found in marriage.
- 8th: bronze – stronger than copper and iron, bronze blends the two metals together and represents the pair’s union and resulting strength together.
- 9th: willow – the willow tree’s reaching branches represent the beauty of marriage.
- 10th: tin – symbolising longevity and preservation, tin represents the protection that the marriage affords both partners.
Symbolic Gifts
One of the best things about the symbols associated with each anniversary year is that it supplies a great gift idea for each milestone occasion. By choosing a gift associated with each year’s symbol, you can be confident that you’ll be giving a meaningful and special present for each of the anniversary years.