- The celebration of important anniversaries is not a new occurrence. According to the GiftTree.com, the practice of exchanging gifts on wedding anniversaries first appeared in central Europe. A German tradition involved the gifting by friends of a silver wreath to a wife after 25 years of marriage. Silver represented harmony, which was assumed evident in a marriage that had lasted for so long. The gift on the fiftieth year of marriage was a wreath of gold (see Resources below).
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Modern day anniversary gifts come in many packages, from simple greeting cards to extravagant vacations. However, in years past, wedding anniversaries were celebrated with the simple exchange of an item that stood as a testament to the years together.
According to Lesley M. M. Blume, in the Huffington Post, the following gifts were the traditional presents given to mark marriage anniversaries: the first anniversary was marked by paper; the fifth anniversary gift was one of wood; tin or aluminum commemorated the tenth anniversary; the twentieth anniversary gift involved china; the twenty-fifth year included a traditional gift of silver; for the fiftieth year married, spouses exchanged gifts of gold; finally, for those who made it to 60 years of marriage, the token gift involved a diamond (see Resources below). - People celebrate anniversaries for many momentous occasions. Marriage anniversaries are one of the more popular celebrations, but people who open businesses may celebrate their years in service as well. These businesses may even do special sales or public events to allow clients or customers to participate. For instance, in 2007, JC Penny stores celebrated their 105 years in business with an anniversary sale that offered patrons coupons and discounted prices.
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Anniversary gifts are largely based on the occasion being celebrated and the individuals receiving the gift.
The following is a list of conventional gifts traded between spouses for marriage anniversaries. Gifts for wives: fresh flowers, jewelry and chocolates. Gifts for husbands: clothing, men's jewelry and electronics (see Resources below).
Gifts celebrating business anniversaries largely depend on the business owners. Restaurant or movie gift certificates are often a good option because they allow the owners some personal time away from their business. - Many people find that celebrating wedding anniversaries comes with certain travel perks. Often, people who vacation on their anniversaries can get discounted rooms or free upgrades at certain hotels. According to hotelchatter.com, mentioning anniversaries at certain restaurants may secure the couple free wine or fruit plates.
