Wedding Anniversaries

A wedding is one of life's beautiful celebrations, and certainly if anyone is in doubt about whether to hold it with great fanfare or to simply marry in the presence of witnesses only, saving time, resources, energy and whatever else - we wholeheartedly recommend holding this celebration. It remains a value for the whole of life. Moreover, wedding anniversaries are a wonderful opportunity to become a little sentimental even after many years and to remember all the beautiful moments spent together, and also the difficulties that have been successfully overcome through shared effort.

This year we are celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary - Cast Iron Wedding, or Sugar Wedding as it is called in other sources. The adjustment, the "smoothing out" and the stability that have taken place over these years would certainly be worth the weight of cast iron, but in my view there can never be too much joy and sweetness in a relationship, and one must learn to bring it even into the most monotonous and routine-filled daily life.

As August rapidly approaches, which in Latvia is traditionally the richest time for weddings, I will remind all young couples and married people about the traditions of wedding anniversaries (naturally, subjective commentary will also be unavoidable).

Green Wedding.

This is considered to be the wedding day itself, as well as each month after the marriage during the first year. In my view, in today's hectic times one probably need not strain to mark every month, since the first is anyway a "honeymoon" when both are still living outside the sense of reality or going on a longer trip together. Although perhaps it was the opposite in the past - when it was not fashionable to live together before the wedding, the first year of cohabitation was a very significant period when one discovers much that is new about the other and must then accept and adapt even to habits that might initially be maddening. The symbol of the Green Wedding - a myrtle wreath on the wedding day; one may also give a small tree that will grow and become just as strong as the family.

 

Paper Wedding

Paper Wedding (1st anniversary). Elsewhere it is compared to a white, unwritten page for a shared start in life, yet it seems that in one year there is already much one can manage to write on that page. One should also say, as in Vācietis's poem about the paper page - "write only kind, good words on this snow-white soul". One must agree that paper is quite a fragile material that can easily tear. For this anniversary one gives notebooks, cards, books, calendars or money (paper money :) ).

Cotton Wedding

Cotton Wedding (2nd anniversary). Now something stronger and more reliable. Gifts can be cotton items, various cute things with printed designs.

Leather Wedding

Leather Wedding (3rd anniversary). Over 3 years the relationship has become sufficiently durable. Leather is practical and lasts long. It can be changeable and flexible, but equally - hard, stiff and unyielding. Or, if it is fur: warm, soft and cosy. Gifts include leather wallets, belts and bags, etc.

Linen Wedding, also Silk and Flower Wedding

Linen Wedding, also Silk and Flower Wedding, elsewhere also Pottery Wedding (4th anniversary). Prosperity is slowly coming into the home. One can afford to purchase both linen and silk items. Gifts include linen towels, tablecloths, silk bed linen, throws, fine jewellery and flowers. Though a woman would gladly receive flowers at every wedding anniversary and not only then.

Wood or Lilac Wedding

Wood or Lilac Wedding (5th anniversary). Five years is already a substantial time. The first significant jubilee. The family is strong enough, but fire is dangerous for wood - family quarrels. Gifts include various wooden items, spoons, wooden decorations, etc.

 

Cast Iron or Sugar Wedding

Cast Iron, also Sugar Wedding (6th anniversary). Cast iron is heavy by its properties and retains heat for a long time. In the family there is ever more growing - warmth, harmony and the ability to talk things through. Various difficulties have already been overcome, the relationship has become solidly strong. Gifts include cast iron pots, pans, etc. Some sources also mention Zinc Wedding, celebrated after six and a half years. Why so, goodness only knows!

Copper or Wool Wedding

Copper or Wool Wedding (7th anniversary). Copper - a beautiful and sufficiently valuable material. Spouses exchange copper coins as a pledge of future happiness. The soft and yielding metal attests to the role of the woman in shaping the relationship, for in alchemy copper is associated with Venus - thus with warmth and femininity. One may give candlesticks and other household items.

Tin or Bronze Wedding

Tin, also Bronze Wedding (8th anniversary). Gleaming tin - a symbol of renewal of the relationship. It is not for nothing that tin sheets are beaten onto roofs. Gifts include household utensils, baking moulds, candlesticks, a car. Hmm, will have to wait a couple more years for the yellow New Beetle Cabrio in the yard.

Faience Wedding

Faience Wedding (9th anniversary). Faience dishes are usually white in colour, but high-grade faience is very similar to porcelain. Perhaps this is a time for re-evaluating the relationship. Faience is beautiful and durable by its properties, but still breakable. The relationship has become strong, but is still vulnerable. One must learn to listen to (I would say - truly hear) the other. Gifts include various dishes, small vases and glasses. These can be made of faience, porcelain, crystal or glass.

Tin Wedding

Tin, Rose or Aluminium Wedding (10th anniversary). The married couple's relationship is now well-established, tested by time. All who attended the couple's wedding are invited. The husband gives his wife a bouquet of red roses as a symbol of love and fidelity. The rose - beautiful in its blossoms and buds, armed with sharp thorns. A sign of love and passion, symbolising youth, purity, wholeness, worldly love and rebirth. Instead of tin gifts, some give amber jewellery. I wouldn't be against receiving a collection of tin soldiers alongside the bouquet of pink roses. :)

 

Steel Wedding

Steel Wedding (11th anniversary). Steel is both lustrous and widely used. Steel is obtained by smelting it at high temperature, after which it cools and hardens, taking on the shape of the mould. The married couple have gone through the school of life in their relationship. Between them there is openness and understanding at half a word. Gifts include stainless steel dishes.

Nickel Wedding

Nickel Wedding (12th anniversary). Nickel is more resistant to damage, to rust. It must be said that at this time the married couple must maintain a sparkle in their relationship, dedicate time to one another, set aside the daily rush. Gifts include nickel dishes.

Wool Wedding

Lace, also Wool Wedding (13th anniversary). Once upon a time lace was considered a symbol of privilege. Lace is an exquisite element of clothing or accessories. The warmth and cosiness of the family is evident. Between the married couple a harmony has formed, similar to an exquisite lace pattern. And it truly is a happiness (not an unlucky number) to have lived together so long already. Gifts include lace and wool items.

Agate Wedding

Agate or Ivory Wedding (14th anniversary). The layered, banded semi-precious stone, called a talisman of luck and health, helps one to understand the mysterious, defeat enemies, attract strength. All of this is truly needed in life together. Gifts include agate jewellery and ivory figurines.

Glass or Amber Wedding

Glass, also Amber Wedding (15th anniversary). Glass is transparent, it can be both thicker and thinner. The married couple's relationship has become ever more transparent. 15 years of marriage - for one it will be like a colourful stained-glass window, for another - a transparently gleaming glass pane. At last you can see through one another! Often the children are already grown bigger and are a reflection of the family. This jubilee is usually celebrated in a larger circle of friends and acquaintances, looking back on the couple's 15 years of experience. Gifts include glass and crystal items. Then after this anniversary there follows a five-year gap - perhaps everything has become too see-through and no intrigue remains. :) Well, no, I won't leave it at that - something will have to be organised, some pots will have to be rattled, if I'm still of sound mind and good health, tpū, tpū, tpū, over the left shoulder.

Porcelain Wedding

Porcelain Wedding (20th anniversary). The values established over the years. It is considered that the old porcelain dishes have long since broken, so new ones must be given. Give a porcelain service: a coffee service, if the couple enjoys coffee; a tea service - if they prefer tea; a dinner service, if they like to invite guests. Time to simply sit down and enjoy tea without rushing! Enough running and doing.

Silver Wedding

Silver Wedding (25th anniversary). The family union is noble as silver. Its durability is no longer dependent on any chance. The wife's myrtle wreath is exchanged for a silver wreath, alongside the gold wedding ring a silver ring is put on. All relatives are invited to celebrate. Guests give silver items. Silver jewellery - a worthy expression of love. Stop - I was and shall remain loyal to gold!

 

Pearl Wedding

Pearl Wedding (30th anniversary). The relationship between the spouses is lustrous as pearls. Pearls are a universally recognised symbol of beauty and perfection - it is not for nothing that in antiquity they were called the tears of gods. Associated with purity, patience and clarity. Memories of all the joys and tears. On this day the husband gives his wife a pearl necklace. That one can do! :)

Fabric Wedding

Coral, also Fabric Wedding (35th anniversary). Red coral is a symbol of health and long life together. As if attesting to not slipping into routine, coral can have both a dazzling colour and an unusual form. It helps to avoid misfortunes, symbolises the force of life. Gifts include red corals, tablecloths, towels and other fabric items. The wife gives the husband a shirt as on their wedding day.

Ruby Wedding

Ruby Wedding (40th anniversary). This marriage is like a well-aged wine in ruby colour with a splendid bouquet of flavours. It is not for nothing that this gemstone is associated with royalty, dignity, fervour and power. The relationship between the spouses is close, kindred. The old wedding rings can be exchanged for new ones. The wedding ring is adorned with a ruby - the stone of love and fire. The flame of love still glowing between both spouses. Well, after 40 years of life together, the flame is still needed.

Sapphire Wedding

Sapphire Wedding (45th anniversary). The blue gemstone symbolises the blue of the sky, as well as truth, purity and contemplation. Its rays of light represent faith, hope and destiny, and these years spent together are more than fateful. Yes, jewellery with blue-toned stones also suits me.

Golden Wedding

Golden Wedding (50th anniversary). Gold is considered the most valuable metal. It symbolises everything that has great value and is most difficult to attain. Half a century together - that is worth celebrating with fanfare and receiving jewellery of gold and other gold items as gifts. So finally, on all my fingers at least one gold ring each!

Emerald Wedding

Emerald Wedding (55th anniversary). Still alive so long and still married? Now one can say 100% - a successful marriage. This green gemstone is attributed great power and is treated with reverence. As a symbol of spring, fertility, rain or hope - it marks the springtime of life's late summer. Rest and quiet are needed. It is wonderful if the couple travels to some beautiful place and spends some time in togetherness as in the honeymoon period a few decades ago. Well, perhaps not quite as intensely. :)

Diamond Wedding

Diamond Wedding (60th anniversary). This most celebrated and hardest of stones is associated with incorruptibility and invincibility. On account of its transparency and clarity it is called a symbol of constancy and truth. Absolutely nothing can disrupt this relationship anymore, which is as lustrous as a diamond. Give diamonds!

Iron Wedding

Iron Wedding, also called the Diamond Crown Wedding (65th anniversary). Symbolises power, endurance, steadfastness. This iron has been forged over a lifetime and is still hot. One may give items of stainless steel.

Brilliant Wedding

Brilliant Wedding (70th anniversary). The most precious gemstone in the world, moreover formed and cut over years, thereby becoming countless times more precious and valuable. All of this applies to life together and to love as well. As a gift - a ring with a real brilliant: that I do want to live to see, despite the relentless passage of time.

Red Wedding

Crown or Red Wedding (75th anniversary). So many years together - that truly is the crown of everything. :) In other sources the Red Wedding is again mentioned as the 100th anniversary, but after the 70th anniversary, at that age memory is already poor, so everything can get mixed up. Surprise gifts - special poetry and reflections.