Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Happy Anniversary

From the time we got married, we often celebrate our marriage through anniversary. The wedding anniversary is one of the important celebrations in a couple’s life. As we celebrate each other’s birthday annually, we also celebrate the matrimonial milestone in our lifetime. Every year, we greet our partner with a kiss and greetings like “I Love You,” “Happy Anniversary” and the like. 

Way back in Medieval Germany, people used item to standardize the appropriate gift to be given to their spouse. However, wedding anniversary gifts vary from one country to another. 

Relics from Medieval Germany ca. 1440

Formerly, in United Kingdom, Diamond Anniversary was celebrated on the 75^th anniversary, but this was superseded after Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was celebrated on her 60^th year on the throne. This is the reason Diamond celebration is sometimes celebrated twice in a couple’s life. First,  when they reach 60 years and second, when the couple turns 75 years in married life. From my point of view, it is still better to celebrate the first Diamond earlier because couples can rarely reach the 75^th wedding anniversary or  the second Diamond nowadays.

Diamond Jubilee: Queen Victoria

To formalize the greetings and for the awareness of the couple marking the important event in their  relationship, here’s the list of wedding anniversary gifts—which is often used as a sobriquet by others to greet their partner—for your knowledge and information. 

Year Traditional (US) 1st Paper 2nd Cotton 3rd Leather 4th Linen/Silk 5th Wood 6th Iron 7th Wool, Copper 8th Bronze 9th Pottery 10th Tin/Aluminum 11th Steel 12th Silk 13th Lace 14th Ivory 15th Crystal 20th China 25 Silver 30th Pearl 35th Coral/Jade 40th Ruby 45th Sapphire 50th Gold 55th Emerald 60th Diamond 75th Diamond/Gold 85th Moonstone