Wedding Anniversary Meanings - The Lore and Wisdom Behind the Symbols Wedding Anniversary Meanings [Below you will find the wedding anniversary meanings for the gifts traditionally associated with each year of marriage.] No one knows precisely when wedding anniversaries were first celebrated. But the tradition is believed to go back at least to the Middle Ages. At that time in the Germanic regions of Europe, a husband crowned his wife with a silver wreath on the 25th anniversary of their wedding day. If the couple was fortunate to live long enough, the husband presented his wife a gold wreath on their 50th wedding anniversary. By the beginning of the 20th century, an additional 6 anniversaries were celebrated - the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, and 75th year for a total of 8. In 1922 Emily Post published Etiquette in which she identified symbolic gifts associated with each of these 8 milestone anniversaries: paper, wood, tin, crystal, china, silver, gold, and diamond.

15 years later, the Jewelers of America expanded her list to include materials for every one of the first 20 years of marriage and every 5 years thereafter. Thus was born the traditional list of gifts and wedding anniversary meanings we have today. But why were the various materials chosen as gifts to symbolize specific anniversaries? To a certain extent, the reasons are clouded in mystery. However, it is generally believed that increasingly durable gifts were chosen for successive years to represent the progressive strengthening of the marriage relationship. As the years go by, the gifts increase in strength and worth from paper to diamond. Would you like to know the wedding anniversary meanings behind the gifts for each anniversary year? Look no further. The meaning, symbolism, and lore for each are described below. Paper The first year of marriage is like a clean sheet of paper, a new beginning upon which to write your passage through the years together. Also like paper, it is fragile and can easily rip, not having yet been tried by the fires of adversity and the storms of life. Cotton Like the interwoven fibers of cotton, the second year of marriage brings a couple closer together as their lives become increasingly intertwined.

And as cotton is at the same time both strong and soft, the couple is learning how to be flexible and adapt to each other's needs. Leather Leather has traditionally symbolized protection and covering; our ancestors covered and protected themselves from the elements with the leather hides of animals. The bonds of marriage offer security and shelter as each partner takes care of the other. Now in its third year, the growing relationship is becoming a source of stability for the married couple. Fruit & Flowers During the fourth year of marriage, the budding relationship is beginning to blossom like a flower and ripen like fruit. Just as fruit nourishes the body and flowers the soul, so the deepening commitment and nurturing love of the couple brings refreshment and renewal to the marriage. Wood In ancient times, trees symbolized strength and wisdom. By the fifth year of marriage, the married couple is developing strong, deep roots like a venerable oak tree and is gaining insight and understanding from the mistakes and stumblings of the first five years. The pair has learned the most important lesson of all and the secret to a successful marriage: forgiveness. Candy As candy is to the taste, so romance is to marriage: sugary sweet.

Celebrating the sixth year of marriage offers a time to rekindle the flames of love and passion that brought the two of you together. In older times, iron also symbolized the sixth anniversary. A strong and sturdy metal that brings good luck, may good fortune shine on your marriage all the days of your life. Copper & Wool Both copper and wool are known for producing heat. Therefore they represent warmth, comfort, safety, and security - necessary ingredients for a healthy and stable marriage. Reflect on these traits as you celebrate seven years together. Bronze The gifts for wedding anniversaries tend to increase in substance and value over time as marriage itself should grow and strengthen over time. Bronze is stronger than both iron and copper, symbols of earlier years of marriage, because it is a blend of two metals (copper and tin). This mixture represents the union of two lives and the strength resulting from combining time with perseverance. Pottery & Willow A potter molds a lump of clay, shaping it on the potter's wheel, and then fires it in the oven, creating something both rich and beautiful. So too, the marriage of two people is molded and shaped by choices and experiences, fired in the oven of adversity, and over time, something beautiful emerges.

Tin Tin symbolizes preservation and longevity. At one time, food was stored in tin-plated iron cans. The tin protected the iron from rust and corrosion, preserving the food inside, potentially forever. A couple at the milestone anniversary of ten years has the ability to go the distance. Therefore, the tenth anniversary should be celebrated with special honor. Steel Steel is one of the strongest, most durable metals in the world, and therefore a fitting symbol for the eleventh anniversary. The cord binding the marriage together can no longer be easily broken, if it ever could. Strength and permanence define this milestone anniversary. Silk A couple that reaches twelve years of marriage has, undoubtedly, sailed through many rough waters and overcome a great many obstacles in their relationship. Having been strengthened by enduring difficulties, they now eagerly anticipate that the road ahead will be smooth as silk. It is time to enjoy the finer things in life. Celebrate this anniversary by taking time to indulge in luxury and pleasure. Lace As lace signifies refined beauty and elegance, so a marriage of thirteen years exemplifies polished and perfected love. The passage of time has created a delicate but strong object of beauty. Ivory Ivory symbolizes purity and innocence.

Rare and beautiful, this precious commodity signifies the integrity and fidelity of the marriage relationship and the extraordinary sense of commitment two people must have to make a marriage last fourteen years. Loyalty and devotion are qualities worthy of commemoration. Crystal Crystal is the first truly expensive gift in the traditional anniversary list. The costliness of crystal is representative of the sacrifice and investment the couple has made to the marriage over the past fifteen years. Crystal also symbolizes clarity and transparency, reflecting the state of the couple's relationship. They now know each other better than they know themselves. China China symbolizes the beautiful, elegant, and fragile nature of love. It is a reminder not to take your marriage for granted, but to continue to care for it so your love will flourish. In addition, just as China, although fragile, is also durable and long-lasting, so a twenty-year marriage has withstood the test of time. Silver Silver is one of the most precious metals known to man. It has always been prized the world over and considered very valuable. It is therefore an appropriate symbol for the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Like silver, may your marriage continue to shine in splendor and radiance all of your days as you grow old together.

Pearl Lying hidden deep inside the shell of an oyster is one of the most exquisite and treasured gems imaginable: the pearl. Symbolizing hidden beauty, the pearl reminds the maturing couple that true beauty comes from within and that what is most valuable is the shared experience of life with another. Coral Coral has often been called the "garden of the sea" because it covers the ocean floor. In ancient times it was considered sacred and believed to contain magical properties of protection from sickness and harm. It was also thought to represent the life-force due to its blood-red appearance. Like coral, loyalty and commitment are the lifeblood of a good marriage and love the shield that protects the union. Ruby Symbolizing love and passion, the ruby is one of the most coveted gemstones of all. Within the heart of this stone is thought to lie a flame of fire that grows brighter with each passing year, just like the flame of a forty-year marriage. Sapphire For long ages the stone of royalty, the sapphire is the perfect gem to honor a forty-five year marriage. Two people together for this length of time are a shining example to all married couples. Theirs is a union worthy of admiration and respect.

Gold Only one gift can rightly capture the crowning achievement of lifelong love: gold. Symbolizing prosperity, strength, and wisdom, it represents the essence of what a fifty-year marriage should be. Congratulations. Here's to many more years of health and wedded bliss. Cheers! What is the symbol for each year of marriage? | Reference.com What is the symbol for each year of marriage? A: Quick Answer Traditionally, eight anniversaries were associated with a material: years one, five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50 and 75. Respectively, the associated traditional objects are paper, wood, tin, crystal, china, silver, gold and diamond. In 1937, Jewelers of America expanded the list to include every year up to year 15 and then every subsequent five years until year 50. Full Answer Years two through four are cotton, leather, and fruit and flowers. Years six through nine are candy, copper and wool, bronze, and pottery and willow. Years 11 through 14 are steel, silk, lace and ivory.

Years 30, 35, 40 and 45 are represented by pearl, corral, ruby and sapphire. As of 2014, additional symbols are used to represent modern anniversaries. The symbols for years one through 15 are clocks, china, crystal, appliances, silverware, wood, desk set, linens and lace, leather, diamond, fashion jewelry, pearl, textile and fur, gold and watches. The modern symbol for year 20 is platinum Traditional symbols and modern ones remain the same for years 25, 50 and 75. The practice of associating a symbol with marriage anniversaries dates back to the medieval period. In 1922, Emily Post, a 20th-century American author, wrote an etiquette book that applied meanings and designated gifts for the eight major anniversaries. This marked the beginning of the practice of giving gifts made from these symbolic materials.

Couple Celebrates 80th Wedding Anniversary, Shares Secrets to Lasting Marriage Couple Celebrates 80th Wedding Anniversary, Shares Secrets to Lasting Marriage LAUREN SHER Couple Celebrates 80th Wedding Anniversary, Shares Secrets to Lasting Marriage (ABC News) More On Nov. 25, 1932, FDR had just defeated Herbert Hoover, the daily newspaper cost two cents, and Ann Shawah said "I do" to John Betar in Harrison, N.Y. Fast forward through 13 presidents and 80 years to 2012: the Betars are still happily married. After five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great children, the couple from Fairfield, Conn., will celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary Sunday. "We are so blessed. We are fortunate," John Betar, 101, said. "We are very fortunate. It can be repeated and repeated," Ann, 97, echoed. "It is unconditional love and understanding. We have had that. We consider it a blessing." Humble Beginnings John Betar met Ann Shawah growing up in the same Syrian community in Bridgeport, Conn.

Betar immigrated to America as a young child in 1921 with his brother, he explained, joining his father who put down roots for them in Bridgeport. After attending grammar school, Betar began working as a fruit peddler and met Ann Shawah, the daughter of Syrian immigrants, in the neighborhood. "I fell for her right away," he said. "I used to have a Ford Roaster and I used to pick her and her friends and drive them to high school. Gradually she liked me and we got together." It was slightly more complicated than that. Ann was arranged to be married to another man, 20 years her senior, whom her parents thought would be the best provider for their daughter. The 17-year-old was less than pleased with the arrangement and taken with Betar, then 21. Breaking with tradition and going against her family's wishes, the two eloped. "At 17, you wonder if you're making the right choice," she said. "I had grown up with him and we had good times together and we knew each other very well. And it's turned out to be 80 years. ….God seems to have been with us.

And we've been very fortunate and wonderful." The two built a life together, a home, a family and lived out their own version of the American dream. Betar continued peddling fruit and in 1938, opened up his own grocery store, Betar's Market, in the south end of Bridgeport. "We worked hard and never got tired of making money," he said. "This is the land of opportunity." Ann stayed at home and raised their children. "She was a great mother," Betar said. "She raised five children and she was a wonderful caretaker." Five children spawned 14 grandchildren and 16 great children. The couple said the later generations "bring new life" and light into their lives. "Last year at [John's] 100th birthday party ... there was group of little 2 year olds and 5 year olds and a group that's just turning 19 and 20," Ann recalled. "We had it at the beach and we had fireworks. It was very special. The younger children went out on the beach and wrote 'Happy Birthday Jiddo,' [Grandpa in Arabic], in the sand, all along the beach. ...

How can you not feel God's right with you and blessing you?" Along with joyous moments and good memories like this one came bad times for the Betars. "The hardest thing in our life was losing two of our children. That's the sad part. It's one of the worst thing a parent can face is losing a child, no matter how old they are or how young they are," Ann said. But despite the trying moments that can test or break a marriage, the two have stayed together. "There are so many things in a lifetime that can make you very, very happy and very, very sad, but if you can do it together then it's happiness," Ann said. That's easier said than done for many couples today in the U.S. where the divorce rate hovers around 40 to 50 percent. What's their secret? "They have this wonderful ability to accept life as it comes," their daughter Renee Betar said. "They have a way of trying to look around at the things that they do have -- the family and the blessings.

They came from a generation where there is such respect for each other and caring." The Betars consider themselves "fortunate." Hesitant to dole out advice to newlyweds, they each offered simple, guiding mantras to a lasting marriage. "Get along. Compromise. Live within your means and be content," Betar said, before adding, "And let your wife be the boss." "We don't have bosses," she said. Her advice: don't hold a grudge. "You know what your commitments are and you try to live by them and understand one another. If you don't hold a grudge, you can face anything," Ann said. The couple still lives independently on the beach in Fairfield and has kept active, pushing the boundaries of aging. In their later years, Ann discovered a hidden talent as an artist and took up painting in oils and watercolors. The two cook soup together, always from scratch.

(The retired fruit peddler-turned-grocer continues to make outings to shop for the best produce and can't help but dispense recommendations to fellow customers at the store, his daughter reports, saying: "Oh no, don't buy that tomato if you want to eat it tonight.") They spend their days reading and proudly keeping up with what's going on in the world. Celebrating 80 Years of Marriage On Sunday, the couple will mark their 80th wedding anniversary with a quiet celebration surrounded by family and friends at the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bridgeport, where they are original founding members. Ann said one of her daughters ordered a cake for the occasion and the baker called back, slightly confused, to confirm that it should read -- "Happy 80th Anniversary" instead of "Happy 80th Birthday." After eighty years, Betar is still sweet on his bride and she is still sweet on him. "He is a wonderful man. He is a very giving man to his children, to his family, to people that need it. He is a very generous, giving man," she said.

"Can you blame me for living with him for 80 years?" To the later generations of children and grandchildren, the Betars serve as role models for how to live and love in life. "I'm always blown away by their incredible optimism, deep sense of compassion and modesty," said granddaughter Heather Mitchell of Fairfield, Conn. "They are true beacons -- inspirational people who emit such joy without even knowing it." Reblog Wedding anniversaries and birthstones, the name given for each year of marriage, appropriate gifts for each year from 1st to 80th anniversay. The 1st is PAPER, on which you can write The 2nd is COTTON, all crisp and white, The 3rd is LEATHER, a bag or some gloves, The 4th is BOOKS, Lady Chatterley's loves!

The 5th is WOOD, a box full of dreams, The 6th is IRON, metal not steam The 7th is WOOL, soft and warm The 8th is BRONZE, metal in an elegant form The 9th is COPPER, and 10th is TIN, If you have got this far you are bound to win. The 11th is STEEL, so shiny and bright The 12th is SILK, so soft and so light, The 13th is LACE, maybe a cloth for a tray, The 14th is IVORY, leave it for Jumbo, Its better that way!

(Years 11 - 15 were kindly contributed by Polly & Mike Kelly) The 15th is CRYSTAL, cut glass at its best, The 20th CHINA, cups, plates and the rest, The 25th is SILVER - really swell The 30th is PEARL - from an oyster's shell The 35th is CORAL, from under the sea The 40th is RUBY, as red as red can be The 45th is SAPPHIRE - precious and blue The 50th is GOLDEN - Congratulations to you! The 55th is EMERALD - so green and so pure, The 60th DIAMOND - an achievement for sure. The 65th BLUE SAPPHIRE, and 70th PLATINUM The last two which are reached by some The 75th is DIAMOND AND GOLD The 80th OAK ** Or something suitable for the very old!

(but probably not matching oak coffins as suggested by Jake Kydd) Meaning of your anniversary :: Gleez Meaning of your anniversary Sunny Jul 9, 2006 Permalink Anniversary celebrations began in medieval times when people celebrated 25 and 50 years of marriage. A husband would crown his wife with a wreath of silver for 25 years and of gold for 50. The tradition of gold and silver wedding anniversaries has stuck, but there is now a long list of other named anniversaries to accompany them. Each represents a different facet of the couple's commitment, the stage their relationship is at and the number of years they have been together. Below is a list of the most popular anniversaries celebrated today and what they mean, but there are others. According to one American website, the 24th anniversary is for musical instruments, the 29th for new furniture, the 42nd for improved real estate and the 44th for groceries. Well, you never know your luck… When it comes to anniversary gift buying, our advice is to think laterally.

For example, most people can't afford to buy rubies for a ruby wedding anniversary, but how about a beautiful ruby-red throw, bottles of red wine or some coloured glass or pottery? We've come up with a few more suggestions to get you started… 1st anniversary: Paper Can it really be a year ago you said 'I do'? Time flies when you're having fun… Paper weddings have an edible tradition. If you opted for a fruit wedding cake, you can freeze the top tier and have it re-iced to eat on this day. Don't stick to stationery for gifts on a paper theme. Name a star after your partner and present them with the certificate, or order a personal horoscope, or offer a voucher for a gift experience such as a helicopter ride over London? Tickets are, of course, paper.. so the world is your oyster! Then again, why not just pour your heart out in a love letter? 2nd anniversary: Cotton 3rd: anniversary: Leather Keep it simple on your second wedding anniversary: spend it tucked up in crisp, fresh cotton sheets. Or splash out on a second honeymoon. For your third, what about a leather-bound photo album or wallet with something to spend inside?

Plus Jimmy Choo makes leather shoes… 4th anniversary: Linen How about some lovely new bedlinen or cushions for your bed? 5th anniversary: Wood In Wales, elaborately carved wooden 'lovespoons' have been given for centuries. The term 'spooning' - meaning 'romancing' - originates from this Welsh tradition. An alternative gift to each other could be a romantic vsit to a log cabin! 6th anniversary: Iron In his famous diary, Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) writes of going home 'to be merry, it being my sixth wedding night'. PS a tip for your sixth: a steam iron is NOT a romantic gesture! 7th anniversary: Wool For your wool wedding, you could snuggle up in new cashmere sweaters and watch Marilyn Monroe in the Seven Year Itch. 8th anniversary: Bronze 9th anniversary: Pottery Stylish ceramics make perfect pottery presents. On the other hand, your ninth anniversary is a good opportunity to exercise your own artistic talents. Take a trip to your local pottery café and create a personalised masterpiece for your beloved.

10th anniversary: Tin At ten years old, your marriage is getting all grown up and hopefully, more mature. But not too mature! To celebrate a decade of togetherness, why not break out the jelly and ice cream and hold a tenth birthday party for your marital relationship? Invite your friends and family over to join in the fun. As a gift idea, tin may not sound too promising. Fortunately, there's also a gemstone or precious metal associated with each wedding anniversary. According to this tradition, you can celebrate your first decade together with diamonds. Any excuse! 11th anniversary: Steel 12th anniversary: Silk In Denmark, it's traditional to make a big fuss of the 12-and-a-half-year anniversary. Called a copper wedding, friends and family build the couple half an arch made from spruce (you get the other half when you reach your 25th). The arch is decorated with flowers and lights and positioned at the door of your home. When it comes to silk, why not invest in some beautiful silk lingerie for yourself! 13th anniversary: Lace Romantic lace is often associated with weddings.

The veil made for Queen Elizabeth's 1923 wedding to George VI required 12,000 hours of work and 12million stitches. For your 13th anniversary, why not surprise your partner with a weekend trip to Bruges, home of lace-making? 14th anniversary: Ivory Ivory comes from elephants, so if you want to follow tradition in cruelty-free style, choose the modern alternatives of opal or gold gifts instead. 15th anniversary: Crystal If renewing your wedding vows appeals to you, your 15th anniversary - one of the first 'big' ones - could be the time to do it. You can make the service as formal or informal as you like, have a civil or religious ceremony, or fly to an exotic location to do 'I do' all over again. Anniversary symbols vary worldwide. In some cultures, your 15th wedding anniversary, for example, is called a 'glass' wedding. Time to blow your savings on a conservatory? A greenhouse? Designer his 'n' hers specs? Combine the traditions by toasting each other with champagne in new crystal glasses.

16th anniversary: Topaz 17th anniversary: Amethyst Why are certain materials associated with different anniversaries? As the years pass, you'll see that the materials become more durable and more valuable the longer the marriage - just like your relationship! Another theory is that they are designed to help you replace wedding gifts at the time they wear out… 18th anniversary: Garnet You might not fancy buying each other garnets, but there's nothing wrong with taking a weekend break in the home of these red gems - Prague. If you love the idea of a city filled with gothic architecture and romance, this is the place to go. 19th anniversary: Aquamarine Aquamarines are the colour of the sea, so what about a quick trip to the coast to celebrate your 19th anniversary? A stroll on the prom, a quick paddle and a champagne picnic on the beach can be a real tonic. As the poet EE Cummings wrote, 'It's always ourselves that we find at the sea'. An alternative could be a visit to a relaxing spa for the weekend. Continuing the water theme, fit out your bathroom with some beautiful new accessories?

20th anniversary: China Congratulations - you've made it together through two whole decades! Invite friends and family together to help you celebrate. To mark your 20th anniversary, throw a roaring twenties fancy dress party , and Charleston the night away. You can always add another piece to your wedding china, as it's fun to collect things over time. Prince Albert, for example, gave Queen Victoria a set of gold and porcelain jewellery bit by bit - a brooch before their wedding, a brooch and earrings for Christmas and a wreath on their fifth wedding anniversary in 1845. 21st anniversary: Brass 22nd anniversary: Copper Brass and copper are not necessarily the most romantic of metals but use your imagination and you could make something of them. Copper-bottomed saucepans are prized by celebrity chefs, or be 'bold as brass' and take your beloved for an extreme sports experience such as bungee jumping or whitewater rafting. 23rd anniversary: Silver plate 24th anniversary: Musical instruments This is an unusual one! Instead of an instrument, how about tickets to a concert, or a new cd for the collection? 25th anniversary: Silver Silver weddings have a long tradition.

In medieval Germany, husbands gave their wives a wreath of silver when they had been married for 25 years. 'Sylver brydells' are mentioned in an English church record of 1624, and the term 'silver feast' is attributed to the Germans in a letter to Dr Samuel Johnson in 1806. Couples may want to buy something to special to commemorate this first major milestone in their relationship. Choose from a huge range of silver items to celebrate your 25 years together - this could be a lovely silver frame for one of your wedding photographs, or even a piece of jewellery for each of you. 26th anniversary: Original pictures How about having your portrait painted as a special anniversary gift? A less costly option is to enlarge and frame a favourite (wedding?) photo. Otherwise, keep an eye out in local galleries and choose something that you both love. 27th anniversary: Sculpture This anniversary gives you a great opportunity to buy a lovely sculpture - either for inside your home or for your garden. You might even decide to take a class and make something yourself!

28th anniversary: Orchids In China, orchids symbolise nobility, friendship, elegance and perfection - making these exotic, mysterious blooms an ideal anniversary present. Bouquets of orchids or orchid plants are breathtaking. If you feel like splashing out, many orchids originate from Asia so perhaps it's time for a holiday! 29th anniversary: New furniture 30th anniversary: Pearl Be pearly king and queen for the night with a Cockney themed party for your pearl wedding. You can feast on jellied eels and have a good old knees-up! Alternatively, keep it just the two of you and curl up in front of some classic movies from the 1930's. In Indian mythology, pearls are said to be dewdrops from heaven that fell into the sea. These jewels represent peace, nobility and beauty, and would make a wonderful gift - but if you can't stretch to pearls, use their colour as an inspiration for a beautiful white gift, or just get romantic over a dozen oysters. Caviar is traditionally eaten with a mother of pearl spoon... I see an evening of Champagne and caviar!

31st anniversary: Timepieces 32nd anniversary: Conveyances (vehicles) You could always purchase that long-coveted Porsche for your anniversary, but if a car isn't quite the right thing, why not just 'convey' your partner to a posh hotel to enjoy a weekend of luxury as a 32nd celebration? Or hire a limo for the night and enjoy the celebrity lifestyle. 33rd anniversary: Amethyst The Victorians were fond of making rings with a message conveyed in the first initial of each jewel. So a ring with a Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Topaz on it spelt 'dearest'. 34th anniversary: Opal 35th anniversary: Coral Jewellery is the natural choice for this anniversary gift, as coral goes so well with jade, the gemstone associated with 25 years of marriage. Jade was once used as currency in China and is considered to be lucky. Red coral is the most valuable kind. Alternatively, head to one of the world's great coral reefs and go for a dive together!

36th anniversary: Bone china 37th anniversary: Alabaster Although, generally speaking, it's five- and ten-year anniversaries that are the most widely celebrated, there's no reason not to mark the date of your wedding every year. So if you want to have a big bash on your 37th or 38th - go ahead! Try an alabaster carving or sculpture, as a gift. 38th anniversary: Beryl Beryl is a little known, colourless gemstone in it's pure form. Aquamarine is it's blue versiou and it's green is one of the most precious gems of all - emerald. 39th anniversary: Lace There is no traditional material for the 39th wedding anniversary but the modern lists state lace, which also marks the 13th. 26 years on, it may be time to replace that tablecloth! 40th anniversary: Ruby Life begins at 40, and the 40th wedding anniversary is considered to be one of the most important after the 25th. Not surprisingly it's been attached to one of the world's most precious gems.

Rubies are said to be rarer than diamonds - they symbolise health, wealth and wisdom and, of course, passion. Rubies are red, so why not plant a red rose in your garden as testament to your love? Or buy some vintage bottles and invite your party guests to toast the future and the past in vintage ruby port or red wine. 41st anniversary: Land In 1659, John Evelyn wrote in his diary about going to a 'forty-first wedding day feast', one of the earliest references to wedding anniversaries in English literature. It looks as if all anniversaries were an excuse for a celebration back in those days - what a good idea! 42nd anniversary: Real estate 43rd anniversary: Travel This couldn't be easier. Enjoy a day or weekend away, or head off on the holiday of your dreams! 44th anniversary: Groceries Groceries don't sound too exciting, but they can make a great present. Just remember to avoid standard supermarket fare and go for a luxury hamper instead. 45th anniversary: Sapphire Sapphires come in an array of colours - pink, yellow, white, green and red as well as blue.

So get the shaker out and celebrate your 45th with a multi-coloured cocktail drinks party. Use the Victorian language of flowers to let your partner know how you feel with a colourful bouquet. You could try freesias for faithfulness, alstromeria for desire - or just a red rose, for love. 46th anniversary: Poetry This is the perfect opportunity to be romantic - buy a poetry book, go to a poetry reading or even put pen to paper yourself. 47th anniversary: Books Explore the literary theme for these anniversaries and take your love to Hay-on-Wye, home of the famous book festival. It's a charming, picturesque place, packed with bookshops where you'll be sure to find a volume of romantic poetry for your partner. 48th anniversary: Optical goods 49th anniversary: Luxuries Modern wedding symbols, such as luxuries and optical goods, might not have quite the same romantic ring to them as traditional materials like silver or rubies, but you could always buy a telescope and spend your anniversary stargazing together… 50th anniversary: Gold You've spent half a century together - what better cause for a celebration? Golden weddings have been marked for many years.

In medieval Germany, men would present their wives with a golden wreath on their 50th anniversary. This was said to symbolise harmony. Going for gold is the obvious choice for a 50th wedding gift and you may want to use the opportunity to buy each other new wedding rings to add to your old ones. You could even have special inscriptions made inside the rings to mark the occasion. 55th anniversary: Emerald These precious stones symbolise love and rebirth and make beautiful jewellery. You can also use green as a basis for your anniversary party and give it a Celtic theme with some traditional Irish music. Or 'go green' and give your loved one a present with an ecological slant, so the gift endures for future generations too. Now's your chance to take a dream trip to Ireland - the Emerald Isle, in celebration of your anniversary. You could even stay in a romantic castle. If you fancy somewhere a little warmer try Sardinia's Emerald Coast. 60th anniversary: Diamond The word 'diamond' originates from the Greek adamus, meaning unconquerable - which, if you've lasted 60 years, is the perfect epithet for your own marriage.

Splash out in celebration of this fantastic event and buy a beautiful piece of diamond jewellery. The Queen sends out congratulatory messages to British citizens at home and abroad on their 60th, 65th and 70th anniversaries, and each one thereafter. To receive yours, you need to complete a form and send it no sooner than three weeks prior to the anniversary date to: The Anniversaries Office, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA. You can download the form from the Internet at . 70th anniversary: Platinum After 70 years together, you've earned your own platinum record. And like the metal, your marriage is strong, precious and rare. Eternity rings are a popular anniversary present. Of course, you can buy one whenever you feel like it, but it might be an ideal gift to mark a special anniversary like the 70th. 75th anniversary: Diamond Although the 75th is the second diamond wedding in the anniversary calendar, it was actually the first to exist - the 60th was added in 1897 when Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. There's no modern symbol for a diamond wedding. Perhaps that's because nothing beats a diamond.

Diamond anniversary parties will probably include generations of family and friends and should be an event to remember. Make sure someone is on hand with the video camera to get it all on tape. (15) Comments Connecticut couple set to celebrate 81st anniversary | Fox News Connecticut couple set to celebrate 81st anniversary Published November 24, 2013 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 livefyre Email Print Nov. 20, 2013: John Betar, 102, and his wife Ann, 98, are seen at their home in Fairfield, Conn. The couple who eloped in 1932 and will be celebrating their 81st wedding anniversary on Nov. 25, recently received the longest-marriage award from the Worldwide Marriage Encounter. (Reuters) The longest-married couple in America – who are set to celebrate their 81st anniversary on Monday – have one bit of advice on how to stay together so long: just roll with the punches.

“If you think a little bit about what you’re doing, and if it’s wrong… we straighten it out, and if not we just try to go along with it,” said Ann Betar, 97, who is married to 101-year-old John Betar. The Betars eloped on Nov. 25, 1932, after leaving Bridgeport, Conn., for Harrison, N.Y., to avoid Ann’s father’s plans to have her marry a man 20 years her senior, MyFoxPhilly.com reports. Ann was 17 and John was 21 at the time. Now eight decades later, the couple lives in Fairfield, Conn., and has five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. "Well, marriage isn't a lovey-dovey thing for 80 years. You learn to accept one another's ways of life, agreements, disagreements -- disagreements on our children, preparation on bringing up your kids,” Ann Betar said. “That was the main interest… was your children.” In February, the Christian group Worldwide Marriage Encounter determined that the Betars were the longest-married couple in the U.S.

after reviewing nominations sent in from around the country, Reuters reports . Last year, Ralph and Mary Lou Riggs, of Texas, celebrated their 79th anniversary, saying that respect and friendship for one another is the secret to a long-lasting marriage, MyFoxHouston.com reported .

Question: How many years of marriage is celebrated on the Ivory anniversary?
Answer: Fourteen