Why We Gift: Diving into the History of Wedding Anniversary Presents

Why do we give gifts on a wedding anniversary? Gifting on wedding anniversaries is a tradition as elegant as love itself. It’s a symbolic affirmation of the ties of companionship, celebrated with deep sentimental value worldwide. As a trusted provider of Wedding Anniversary Gifts, we take pride in curating gifts that represent the love and history behind this tradition.

The Beginnings of Wedding Anniversary Gift-Giving

The tradition of giving specific gifts on specific anniversaries dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe. In those days, husbands gifted their wives silver garlands on their 25th wedding anniversary, and gold garlands on their 50th. It symbolised the prosperity and longevity of their bond.

This tradition varied across cultures. In some, it started quite modestly with simple yet thoughtful presents and escalated to extravagant gifts as the years passed. The beauty of this history lies in its age-old perseverance and its evolution to match modern societal norms.

Excerpt from Trewman's Exeter Flying Post 26th January 26 1895 Issue 8604 quoting Wedding Anniversary Symbols

Research we have carried out shows that originally the Wedding Anniversary List used in Britain or Europe was different from the symbols used in America. Nowadays however there appears to be a convergence of the Traditional Wedding Anniversary list to a uniform list on a global basis (certainly in the English speaking world).

In the UK and Europe you could use Cotton as the traditional 1st Wedding Anniversary theme rather than the commonly accepted theme of paper, which in the original European traditional list had the paper anniversary as the second year.

Symbolism and Significance of Different Anniversary Gifts

Initial traditions centred around milestone anniversaries, like the 25th and the 50th, today, we celebrate every passing year with gifts symbolising different qualities of a marital relationship. From paper symbolising the blank canvas of the first year of marriage to diamond epitomising unbreakable love at 60 years, every Anniversary Gift carries its unique meaning. Our gift selections, derived from these symbolisms, aim to enable you to communicate your love beautifully.

Anniversaries have been celebrated since the year after the wedding ceremony was invented; references can be found in records stretching back centuries.

We found references in famous writings, for example Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens cites a celebration for an 8th wedding Anniversary in Chapter 14 (1st published in June 1838.) This highlights the fact that not only were the milestone anniversaries celebrated but also the other years. He did not give the anniversary a name or symbol within the book which gives credence to that fact that these anniversaries had yet to be associated with a symbol.

The earliest reference in the printed form we have found to a Wedding Anniversary having a symbol associated with it is from The Morning Chronicle Issue No 17572 published in 1825.

excerpt from the Morning Chronicle #17572 published in 1825
Extract from The Belfast Newsletters 27th October 1852; Issue No.11797 detailing a golden wedding celebration
The Belfast Newsletters 27th October 1852; Issue No.11797

Our favourite reference is from The Belfast Newsletters Issue No.11797 originally printed 27th October 1852 and recounts the writer finding a Golden Wedding celebration ongoing whilst he walked the streets of a German town. (reproduced here)

Major Milestones in the Evolution of Wedding Anniversary Gifts

As societies evolved, so did the tradition of anniversary gifts. Detailed lists associating materials with each year were created by professional guilds to remove confusion and bring uniformity. This evolution not only gave couples more occasions to mark but also brought variety and anticipation to the tradition.

Whether you prefer a traditional anniversary gift like a golden trinket for the 50th anniversary or prefer a modern take like a platinum tribute for the 20th anniversary, our gift collection reflects this evolution and range, accommodating various tastes and preferences.

The majority of the anniversary lists converge on the milestone anniversaries i.e. 25th is Silver and the 50th is the Golden anniversary on the majority.

We suspect the reason for this is that these wedding anniversaries are the ones that have created the tradition (as our research has born out.) Indeed it is the anniversaries between the major ones where the variations happen and also in the later years where, previously, couples did not reach that there is debate over the correct material or symbol.

Wedding Anniversary Gift Lists

Back in 1998 we cross-referenced a number of sources and have to agree there is no definitive list for wedding anniversaries. Our gift collection complements these list variations by only citing gifts from respected Guilds or other reliable sources.

Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gift list

The earliest know references are to Silver (25th Wedding Anniversary) and Gold (50th Wedding Anniversary). These appear to originate in Middle Europe (Germanic Region) and involved the spouse giving his wife a silver garland when they had been married for 25 years. Some European countries also celebrate Twelve and a half years of marriage using Copper as the Anniversary Symbol.

We have found references to materials associated with specific years which follow the traditional anniversary lists for the first 5 years of marriage and then every 5th year up to 25th and then 50th and 75th.

The earliest reference other than the 2 milestone anniversaries is to the 5th anniversary (Wood) which implies this became the material for that anniversary in the middle of the 19th century.

In 1937 the American National Retail Jeweler Association (now known as Jewelers of America) issued a more comprehensive list which associated a symbol for each Anniversary year up to the 15th Anniversary and then each fifth year after that until 60 years.

Modern Wedding Anniversary Gifts and Symbols

An alternative list to the traditional anniversary list. This list is also in popular use and is also known as the Contemporary Wedding Anniversary list.

It has been around for a number of years now, which makes its title rather misleading as none of the items listed are particularly modern! This list provides alternative symbol suggestions for the years and include “modern” items such as electrical appliances and Fashion Jewellery.

This is a more comprehensive list than the traditional gift list and associates a symbol for ever year up until the 50th Wedding Anniversary. It also goes on in steps of every 5th year after this up until the 100th Wedding Anniversary.

It is hard to quote the originator of the modern anniversary gift list as a number of lists appear to have been issued and they slowly converged to give the Modern list that is in general use today.

Gemstone Wedding Anniversary Gift list and Symbols

The gemstone anniversary gift list was issued by the American Gem Trade association, we have yet to confirm when. It complements the Birthstone list which associates a precious stone against the month when you were born.

This gift list associates a precious metal or gemstone with wedding anniversaries up to the 25th and then every 5th year up to the 75th. The list converges with the traditional and modern lists on major anniversaries such as 25th (Silver) and 50th (Gold)

Flower Anniversary Gifts list and Symbols

We’re not sure who issued this list, the references we have to it do not have a source quoted thus we assume it was issued by a Florist guild or similar.

The earliest reference to this list we have found is in the early 1960’s This list associates flowers with each anniversary year up to the 15th and then ever 5th year up to the 50th.

Its a hard list to follow as some of the flowers listed are seasonal and as your anniversary falls in a specific season every year then some of the flowers would not be available for some of the years.

Wedding Anniversary Gifts Today: Maintaining Tradition in the Modern World

Despite all the changes and shifts, the essence of this tradition remains relatively unaltered. It’s about celebrating union, love, traversed life, and the journey ahead. Our best-selling anniversary gifts, both modern and traditional, stand testament to our understanding and respect for this time-honoured tradition.

Why the Tradition Matters: Impact and Importance

The tradition of giving Wedding Anniversary Gifts is more than just ritualistic; it’s a heartfelt expression of love and commitment. We’ve been humbled by countless stories from our customers about how our thoughtfully selected gifts have enhanced their special days, making them unforgettable. It’s our delight and honour to be a small part of these beautiful love stories.

Final Thoughts

The tradition of Wedding Anniversary Gifts holds a mirror to the journey of matrimony – evolving, adjusting, standing the test of time, just like love itself. As seasoned curators of these tokens of love, we view each gift as a chapter in your unique love story. Whether you’re a newlywed or celebrating your golden anniversary, we’re here to make these moments memorable. Check out our exquisite selection of anniversary gifts today!

References

We curate our posts from a host of reliable sources to give you the most accurate and fascinating insights. To learn more on this topic, feel free to explore History of Traditional Anniversary Gift Symbols and Significance and Meanings of Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Online References Used

Offline Resources used

  • Various Almanacs
  • Various Etiquette Books
  • Britannia Encyclopaedia
  • Collier’s Encyclopedia
  • The Continuum Encyclopaedia of Symbols
  • An Anniversary to Remember
  • On this Day
  • The art of Marriage
  • Chambers Book of Days
css.php