Wedding Anniversaries-Past And Present
One of the most heart-felt and touching occasions that a couple can celebrate is a wedding anniversary. It allows a family to gather to celebrate its beginnings as well as allowing a couple to reconnect and to remember the reasons that they fell in love in the first place. While these celebrations have become more popular in the 20th century, many people would be surprised to learn that anniversaries were recognized in medieval times.
In the past, many married couples who lived in a particular region had the same wedding anniversary. This phenomenon was due to the fact that many small villages shared the same priest who did not have the time to perform the number of marriages that the people required. The Church soon decided that there would be only two times a year when marriage ceremonies would be held and that anyone wishing to be joined as husband and wife had to be present at one of these services. This practice led to numerous couples celebrating their milestone anniversaries on the same day by celebrating together.
These married couples did not celebrate their anniversaries very often however. In many countries, only the 25th and the 50th wedding anniversaries were celebrated. There are several reasons for these particular years to be considered special occasions. The 25th anniversary was recognized as an opportunity to rejoice in the couple's freedom from childrearing. As most couples got married in their early to middle teens, by the age of thirty-five (when most couples would be celebrating their 25th anniversary) most of their children were considered to be adults. The husband would place a silver wreath on his wife's head as a symbol of their unity and of the new stage of their life that they were about to begin.
The 50th anniversary was particularly festive due to the fact that in medieval times the normal life span was approximately forty years of age for men due to disease and battle. Many women passed away at a much earlier age due to childbirth fatalities as well as falling ill due to annual pregnancies spanning over many years. The idea that a husband and wife had both survived until their 50th anniversary was remarkable. This anniversary was marked by the husband placing golden wreath on his wife's head, symbolizing how valuable such a long-lasting union was.
In the 1930s society began to celebrate the 1st, 10th, 20th, 25th, 50th, and the 70th anniversaries. It was around this time that certain items were designated as proper gifts according to which anniversary was being celebrated.
In today's society, it is normal for married couples to celebrate their wedding anniversary every year. In an age where fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce, many couples never reach their 10th anniversary while others are lucky to reach their 5th. So it may be safer to celebrate each year rather than to wait for a milestone anniversary that most people will never reach. This explains the reason that the festivities to celebrate the 25th and 50th anniversaries have turned into huge affairs as most people are astounded that these couples have remained together that long. In modern times, reaching these milestone anniversaries is an accomplishment in itself.
One heartwarming phenomenon in today's world is the growing number of couples who are celebrating their 75th and 80th anniversaries. When they were young, these couples lived in the age when teenage marriages were considered normal. Due to vast improvements in medical care, these husbands and wives have remained side by side well into their 90s with some even reaching over the age of 100.
The explanation as to why we celebrate wedding anniversaries may lay in the image of a 80th anniversary celebration where a 101-year-old husband is gently holding his 99-year-old wife's hand with a twinkle in his eye surrounded by children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. This picture says it all. An anniversary celebration is a celebration of love and life itself.
Related Tags: wedding gifts, wedding anniversary gifts, anniversary wedding gifts
We have baby gift baskets that are cute and practical. Perfect for the newborn and new moms. For more information, visit this article on baby gift baskets. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Metal Detector Can Save Lives
Wars and unexpected accidents have been one of the many issues that have been unavoidable in the liv - Discover How Pool Float Toys Affect Your Summer Vacation
Hot. This is a perfect description what summer is. It is a feel-good time for families to enjoy a nu - Luxury Watch For Your Loved Ones and Yourself
Whether it's a birthday celebration, anniversary, Christmas or even just an ordinary day receiving g - Why Purchase Swiss Army Watches?
Wearing a wristwatch or having a pocket watch is a very important accessory of a person because it t - Personalized Groomsmen Gifts : Engraved Groomsmen Mugs
Giving something personalized for your groomsmen is a wonderful idea to let your friends feel that t - A Few Helpful Baby Shower Tips
Baby showers are wonderful occasions that usually create lasting memory for both expectant parents a - Discount Groomsmen Gifts That You Can Purchase Online
Weddings are special and memorable occasions that should be planned well, and one of the most vital - How to Wear a Knee Boot
A lot of women today are trying to integrate a knee boot into their fashion style because they are a - Wearing a Knee Boot
A knee boot is definitely something you should be investing on most especially during the cold seaso - Finding Cheap Skis
If you are a fan of various water sports, you are probably one of those people who have been in the
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Capitalism Under Attack: Petrodollars, Petroeuros and the Iranian Oil Bourse
"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous [...]. Havi - One Percenters
Hells Angels Inc is the most successful enterprise of its kind in Canada.In 2000 they moved into Ont - Monogamy: Is She My One and Only?
Copyright © 2007 Susan Adams After decades of matchmaking experience, years of being active in - The Best Of Oprah's Favorite Things
Oprah's annual Favorite Things show has been causing a frenzy with fans for the past six years. But - Researching British Soldiers Who Served in the 1914-18 Great War
At In the footsteps BATTLEFIELD TOURS we occasionally receive enquiries about how to trace the recor - Reefer Madness Replaced by Hydro Hysteria
In the 20's there was Reefer Madness, now we have the 21st century version; Hydro Hysteria. Mari - How Can Society Stop Sexual Predators
Perhaps society holds the lowest regard of all for sex predators, those evil men who prey on that wh - Making Communication Work For Your Relationship
Brooke said to Gary, "In our entire relationship, I've gone above and beyond for you … for us. I co - How To Attract And Seduce Women Using The 'Unmask Method'
When it comes to meeting, attracting and seducing women, most guys don't know where to start. But th - How to Keep Your Man Feeling Lucky and Happy
Your Good Man hopes that you will remain the loving, beautiful, feminine, kind, sexy American Geisha