Why are there traditional Wedding Anniversary gifts?

We all know that there are traditional gifts for each wedding anniversary, but where did they come from?

It is commonly believed that the list evolved from a Medieval tradition of giving a wife a silver wreath after 25 years of marriage and a gold wreath after 50 years. Over the years, this list has grown into the one we are familiar with today and Gretchen Scoble and Ann Field, in their book ‘The Meaning of Wedding Anniversaries’ write that:

"The passing of another year together marks a deepening of the couple's commitment, an accumulation of time irreplaceable.

To help in celebrating these occasions are special gifts, one assigned to each anniversary and each with its own material and symbolic value."

Why is bronze the traditional gift for the 8th Wedding Anniversary?

Anniversary symbols begin simply, with paper, but gradually increase in substance and value:

"The order of gifts reflects the investment that the couple gives of themselves to each other." Gretchen Scoble and Ann Field.

By the 8th wedding anniversary, the marriage is seen to be durable and strong, much like bronze itself, which will last for hundreds of years, whatever time throws at it. Indeed the older bronze gets, the more beautiful it becomes as it’s patina becomes deeper and more lustrous over time.

Bronze is also an alloy of copper and tin. The combination of the two elements is far stronger and more beautiful than each part individually, which perhaps lends itself rather nicely to being a gift signifying the respect held for a long standing partnership.

8th Wedding anniversary gift suggestions...

Recently, popular 8th wedding anniversary gifts (for both ladies and gentlemen) have been Jonathan Sanders’s, Playing Elephants and Sue Maclaurin's Sitting Labrador, Racing Hare and Boxing Hares II.

Congratulations to everyone reading this page and we hope you thoroughly enjoy your anniversary.