Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and with so much love in the air it’s not surprising that some married couples will be celebrating their anniversaries on February 14th. But, did you know each year is represented by a traditional item?
Whether you’re celebrating your wedding anniversary around this date, or if you’re storing this information for the future, we give you a comprehensive list of the traditional gifts you should consider. Here are the symbols, the gemstones and the flowers that represent each year of married bliss!
Wedding Anniversary Gifts: The Symbols
Since the days of the Roman Empire, it has been traditional for couples to give presents to each other to commemorate the anniversary of their marriage. Although it’s more common to celebrate each 10-year interval, numerous dates and contemporary items have been added to the traditional wedding anniversary gifts, and it’s become customary for friends and family members to deliver gifts to the couple.
Each year, an item from a different material must be received by the lovers, representing the strengthening evolution of their relationship. Here are the essential symbols that represent each year of marriage:
Year |
Traditional material |
Modern material |
1 |
Paper (novelty, fragility) |
Clock |
2 |
Cotton (unity, strength, softness, flexibility) |
China |
3 |
Crystal |
|
4 |
Fruits and flowers (renewal, blossoming) or linen and silk |
Appliances |
5 |
Wood (strength, wisdom) |
Silverware |
6 |
Candy (sweetness, rekindled passion) or Iron (strength, good luck) |
Wood |
7 |
Desk set |
|
8 |
Linens and lace |
|
9 |
Pottery or willow (sculpting due to experience, emerging beauty), copper |
Leather |
10 |
Tin (longevity) or Aluminum |
Diamond |
11 |
Steel (permanence) |
Fashion jewelry |
12 |
||
13 |
Lace (perfect love) |
Textiles |
14 |
Ivory (purity, romance, fidelity) |
Gold |
15 |
Watches |
|
16 |
|
Silver hollowware |
17 |
|
Furniture |
18 |
|
Porcelain |
19 |
|
Bronze |
20 |
China (beauty, elegance, fragility) |
Silver or platinum |
21 |
|
Brass or nickel |
22 |
|
Copper |
23 |
|
Silver plate |
24 |
Musical instruments |
|
25 |
||
30 |
Diamond |
|
35 |
Jade |
|
40 |
Ruby (love, passion) |
Ruby |
45 |
Sapphire (admiration) |
Sapphire |
50 |
||
55 |
Emerald |
Emerald |
60 |
Diamond or yellow diamond |
Diamond |
65 |
Blue sapphire |
|
70 |
Platinum |
Diamond or gold |
75 |
Diamond or gold |
|
80 |
Oak |
Diamond or pearls |
85 |
Moonstone or wine |
Wife’s birthstone |
90 |
Stone |
Marble, granite |
Wedding Anniversary Gifts: The Gemstones and Birthstones
As you might know, jewelry and flowers are the ultimate gifts for representing romance. If you’re considering a gift for celebrating your wedding anniversary with your loved one, then adding one of these items might be the perfect way to convey your love.
Here are the gemstones and flowers that represent each year:
Year |
Gemstone |
Flower |
1 |
Mother of pearl |
Carnation |
2 |
Garnet |
Lily of the Valley |
3 |
Moonstone |
|
4 |
Blue topaz |
Hydrangea |
5 |
Rose quartz |
Daisy |
6 |
Calla |
|
7 |
Freesia |
|
8 |
Tourmaline |
|
9 |
Lapis Lazuli |
Bird of paradise |
10 |
Crystal or green tourmaline |
Daffodil |
11 |
Tulip |
|
12 |
Jade |
Peony |
13 |
Citrine |
|
14 |
Dahlia |
|
15 |
Rhodolite |
|
20 |
Emerald |
Aster |
25 |
Tsavorite |
|
28 |
Amethyst |
|
30 |
Lily |
|
40 |
Ruby |
|
50 |
Yellow rose or violet |
|
60 |
Diamond |
|
65 |
Sapphire |
|
100 |
10 Carat Diamond |
|
You might also like:
- The meaning behind the 5 most popular Valentine’s Day flowers
- Gift ideas for a Silver Wedding Anniversary
- The amazing health properties of colors
Sources:
Anniversary Ideas Step by Step. Anniversary Symbols. http://www.anniversary-ideas-step-by-step.com/anniversary-symbols.html#gallery[pageGallery]/2/ / Wedding Anniversary Meanings. http://www.anniversary-ideas-step-by-step.com/wedding-anniversary-meanings.html
Celebrants. Anniversary symbols and flowers. http://www.celebrants.org.au/marriage-weddings/wedding-anniversaries/2289-anniversary-symbols-and-flowers