Where did the Anniversary Celebration and Gift giving tradition originate?
In early times a man would present his wife with a silver wreath on their 25th anniversary and a golden one on the 50th anniversary. Hence arose silver and golden wedding anniversaries. The practice of giving peculiar gifts on various wedding anniversaries originated in Central Europe. Among the medieval Germans it was customary for friends to present a wife with a wreath of silver when she had lived with her husband twenty-five years. The silver symbolized the harmony that was assumed to be necessary to make so many years of matrimony possible. On the fiftieth anniversary of a wedding the wife was presented with a wreath of gold. This practice, borrowed from the Germans, has been elaborated upon in modern times.

Why give Gifts for an Anniversary?
By the mid-to-late 1930s, people began to celebrate 1st, 10th, 20th and 70th anniversary along with 25th and 50th anniversaries. A gift for each of these milestone anniversary years was also decided by the society. The logic of presenting gifts was that stability deserves a reward and the more the stability, the greater should be the reward.

What is the 12-and-a-half-year anniversary celebration?
In Denmark, it’s traditional to make a big fuss of the 12-and-a-half-year anniversary. This 12 ½ marriage anniversary is said to be a copper wedding. The family members and friends build the couple half an arch made from spruce (you get the other half when you reach your 25th). Then this customary arch is decorated with flowers and lights and positioned at the door of your home.

What is the story behind Queen Elizabeth’s wedding veil?
It is said 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 12 million stitches.

Who holds the record for the longest marriage? It is believed that a Taiwanese couple who celebrated their 86th anniversary together in 2003 hold the record for the longest married couple in the world. They beat the previous record of 83 years by a couple from America.

Some Interesting Wedding Day Mementos :

• For your first wedding anniversary celebration it is traditional to have the top layer of your anniversary cake and share it with one another.
• Melt the candles that were used at your wedding ceremony or reception into one big candle that you can light each year on your anniversary date.
• If you have saved or dried your wedding bouquet, you can use it as a centerpiece for any anniversary dinners that you have at home.
• You probably have a pile of unused napkins from your wedding reception. Use them on your anniversaries.

Wedding Anniversary Day of the Week:
The day of the week when wedding anniversaries takes place has it’s own superstitious beliefs. It is considered unlucky to get married on a Friday – especially the 13th.

Monday: Wishes happiness and health for the Bride
Tuesday: Wishes wealth and prosperity for the Bride
Wednesday: Brides do best of all.
Thursday: Brings suffering and Loss for the Bride
Friday: Will Bring suffering and crosses for the Bride
Saturday: Brides will have no luck at all.

Wedding Anniversary Month:
Like the week days, the month of the anniversary also has its own importance. Check out below to learn the importance of months in a married life.

January: Marry when the year is new, always loving, always true
February: When February Birds do mate, you may wed or dread your fate
March: If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you’ll know
April: Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man
May: Marry in the month of May, you will surely rue the day
June: Marry when June roses blow, over land and sea you’ll go
July: They who in July do wed, must labor always for their bread
August: Whoever wed in August be, many a change are sure to see
September: Marry in September’s shine, your living will be rich and fine
October: If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry
November: If you wed in bleak November, only Joy will, remember
December: When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last

Wedding Dress:
In the ancient times of the Greeks and the Romans, brides used to wear white gowns. These white robes were the symbol of youth, joy and purity. However, in recent times, the bride tends to choose the wedding dress as per their preference and fashion. The following is an interesting rhyme to caution the bride about her selection of colors:

White Wedding Dress: Married in white, you have chosen alright.
Green Wedding Dress: Married in green, ashamed to be seen.
Red Wedding Dress: Married in red, You will wish yourself dead.
Blue Wedding Dress: Married in blue, you will always be true
Yellow Wedding Dress: Married in yellow, ashamed of your fellow.
Black Wedding Dress: Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Pink Wedding Dress: Married in pink, of you he’ll think.

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