What’s marriage mean to you?

That’s the frequently asked for the middle aged man, since at that age even they don’t marry yet, he still has the experience and knowledge, to search inside himself a proper answer. Each person will have different definition and particular feeling about it. Hereby I represent a simplest definition:

“Having my best friend at my side for the rest of my life. Having someone to share life's trivial day to day happenings, both good and bad. Knowing that there is someone that loves me, unconditionally. Having someone to laugh with and cry with”

Most important of all, you have to commit, to your blessed and dearest partner, vow to always make him/her happy day after day until, well, forever. Marriage or wedding anniversary is a simple form for every couples to look back, reflect and treasure the moments they are together. The longer and more they celebrate, it proves their loves have passed the challenge of god, time and themselves. I have deep appreciation to someone who are celebrating their “golden anniversary”.

Do you know the official recognition of wedding anniversary?

The historic origins of wedding anniversaries date back to the Holy Roman Empire, when husbands crowned their wives with a silver wreath on their twenty-fifth anniversary, and a gold wreath on the fiftieth. Later, principally in the twentieth century, commercialism led to the addition of more anniversaries being represented by a named gift.

In the United States, a couple can receive a greeting from the President for any wedding anniversary on or after the 50^th.

Detail name of some anniversaries

The names of some anniversaries provide guidance for appropriate or traditional gifts for the spouses to give each other; if there is a party these can be brought by the guests or influence the theme or decoration. These gifts vary in different countries, but some years have well-established connections now common to most nations: 5th Wood, 10th Tin, 15th Crystal, 25th Silver, 30th Pearl, 35th Jade, 40th Ruby, 45th Sapphire, 50th Gold, 60th Diamond, and 70th Platinum. In English speaking countries the first, wooden, gift was cut on the day of celebration and then presented to the wife as a finished article before the next two quarter days had passed.

For me, golden anniversaries already an inspired and beautiful love life couples have experienced. An golden-themed items gifted will be appropriated to celebrate such efforts and love we gave to each others.

The origins of the current gift conventions date to 1937. Before that, only the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversaries had an associated gift. In 1937, the American National Retail Jeweler Association (now known as Jewelers of America as a result of an organizational merger) introduced an expanded list of gifts. The revamped list gave a gift for each year up to the 25th, and then for every fifth anniversary after that.

Traditional and modern anniversary gifts

Lists of wedding anniversary gifts vary by country, here is the list of gift that American couples give to each other that I gathered

The list looks quite scary, but as you grow old together, the gift means nothing to what you want to give to your precious lover.

Starting from today, with the first present to cherish your love, a wooden watch with on demand engraving "1st year of love"

Wish you a last long and wonderful time with your lover!