By Catherine Royka
The tradition of celebrating each wedding anniversary with a symbolic gift goes as far back as the Middle Ages. In Germanic regions of Europe, it was customary to present the wife with a silver wreath on their 25th anniversary and a gold one on their 50th. The custom of gifting for the other anniversaries began in the Victorian era and that list expanded in the 20th century thanks to Emily Post and the American National Retail Jeweler Association. While the origins of how each material was selected to represent a year isn’t known, it’s apparent the objects progressively increase in value and strength as the years go by. As you and your husband start your lives together, it’s fun to celebrate each year with a traditional gift that symbolizes the enduring love of your marriage.
1st: Paper
2nd: Cotton
3rd: Leather
4th: Fruit & Flowers or Linen & Silk
5th: Wood
6th: Iron/Candy
7th: Wool/Copper 8th: Bronze
9th: Pottery
10th: Tin/Aluminum
11th: Steel
12th: Silk 13th: Lace
14th: Ivory 15th: Crystal 20th: China 25th: Silver 30th: Pearl 35th: Coral 40th: Ruby
45th: Sapphire 50th: Gold 55th: Emerald 60th: Diamond