The tradition of giving a specific gift with each year of marriage has been a part of our society for a long time. It appears to date back to Rome and Medieval Germany, however written documentation on the tradition didn’t start to appear until the 1800s. Which, according to history, makes sense, as that is around the time that marriage became more about love than pre-determined arrangements for child-rearing and survival. A very thorough and interesting read can be found on Time Magazine’s website.
Regardless of where the tradition started, what we do know is that the underlying symbolism is to bring luck and goodwill to the couple. To celebrate love for the sake of love and to celebrate the journey they are on together.
To celebrate love for the sake of love and to celebrate the journey they are on together.
Every year that passes signifies a couple’s commitment to one another.To help them bond and celebrate, traditional gifts have been assigned to the first 60 years of marriage, with each year successively becoming a more substantial material and level of gift. Much like leveling up in a video game, marriage can be represented by the experience you are gaining with each year. This is why the first year starts with paper and the 60th year is represented with a diamond. All of the levels in between represent how far you have come, what you have experienced and learned and the strength you have built.