What Is The Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gift Pottery?
Traditional wedding anniversary gifts are presents given each year to celebrate another milestone in a couple’s marriage. These gifts have been associated with specific anniversary years going back centuries, with themes like paper for the 1st anniversary and silver for the 25th. The origins of these traditions likely began in medieval Germany as a way to symbolize each year of marriage with increasing value, starting with fragile paper and eventually reaching strong silver and gold.1
Over time these meaningful gifts grew into a popular custom, with traditional materials assigned to every anniversary up to the 15th, and every 5th year after that. More recently, alternate “modern” themes have been added to give couples more options to choose a gift with personal significance. While the traditions are not set in stone, anniversary gifts can be a thoughtful way to mark each year of commitment.
History of Wedding Anniversary Traditions
The tradition of giving gifts on wedding anniversaries dates back many centuries. According to this Time article, sources trace anniversary gift-giving to Ancient Rome, where husbands crowned their wives with silver wreaths on their 25th anniversary, and gold wreaths on their 50th. In medieval Germany, husbands gave their wives a wreath made of silver, gold or rosemary on their 25th anniversary. The earliest recorded lists of suggested anniversary gifts appeared in the late 1800s.
More specific lists with associated materials and gemstones emerged in the early 1900s. These guided husbands on appropriate gifts for each year, with early lists organized by the Hindoo calendar. In 1922, the Jewelers of America created their own list, switching to the Gregorian calendar. They updated it in 1937 to the more familiar list used today, with materials like paper, cotton and silver associated with specific years.
5th Anniversary – Wood
The tradition of giving a wood gift for the 5th wedding anniversary comes from the idea that after 5 years of marriage, the relationship has grown and become strong, similar to how a tree grows stronger over time. Wood symbolizes strength, durability, and wisdom that the couple has built up over the first years of marriage.
According to Alpine Rings, the 5th anniversary is sometimes called the “wooden wedding anniversary” and popular wood gifts include things carved from wood like sculptures or wooden home decor. More modern takes on the tradition include wood watches, wooden wine boxes, or cutting boards. The wood gift can be tailored based on the couple’s interests.
Overall, wood represents the resilient foundation of the marriage after 5 years together. It is meant to celebrate the strength and wisdom gained as a couple. Popular wood gifts try to capture the meaning through personalized, sentimental, or practical wood items.
10th Anniversary – Tin or Aluminum
The tradition of gifting tin or aluminum for a 10th wedding anniversary dates back to medieval Germany, when couples would exchange gifts made of tin to signify the strength and durability of their marriage after a decade together.
Tin was a valued material in medieval times, as it was more rare and precious compared to today. Gifting decorative tin boxes, candlesticks, or tableware showed that the couple’s marriage had withstood the test of time and remained strong.
In modern times, tin has been largely replaced by aluminum as the traditional 10th anniversary gift. Aluminum better represents the flexibility and adaptability needed to sustain a marriage for 10 years. Both tin and aluminum symbolize the malleability of a marriage, with the ability to bend without breaking after a decade of ups and downs.
No matter if couples opt for tin or aluminum, the 10th anniversary gift honors the milestones and memories accrued over 10 years, and looks ahead to the decades yet to come. As expressed in a 1925 New York Times article, “By the time 10 years of wedded bliss have passed the husband feels so sure of his wife that he doesn’t mind giving her tinware” (https://time.com/4771179/history-anniversary-gifts-paper-silver-gold/).
15th Anniversary – Crystal
The traditional gift theme associated with the 15th wedding anniversary is crystal, symbolizing the dazzling splendor and clarity of a lasting happy marriage after 15 years together (Source). Crystal is beautiful, sparkling, and transparent, representing how a couple has become so close and comfortable with each other after 15 years that they can see right through to each other’s core. The facets of a crystal also signify the many experiences, memories, and facets of a relationship after 15 years of marriage.
Crystal is an enduring material, just like a couple’s love after 15 years of marriage. It connotes lightness, openness, and durability in a relationship that has withstood the test of time. Crystal suggests that spouses have achieved an openness, emotional clarity and understanding of each other rarely seen in new relationships (Source). Popular 15th anniversary gifts include crystal jewelry, vases, bowls, and figurines that remind the couple of the clarity, transparency, and sparkle they have achieved in their relationship.
20th Anniversary – China
The traditional gift for a 20th wedding anniversary is china, which symbolizes the durability and grace needed for a long and happy marriage. The tradition of giving china originated in imperial China, where porcelain was highly valued for its beauty, delicacy, and artisanal craftsmanship. According to the Victoria & Albert Museum, porcelain became fashionable in the courts of Europe in the 17th century. As its popularity grew, fine porcelain from China was imported to Europe and given as gifts to royalty and the aristocracy to commemorate important occasions.[1]
The tradition of gifting china for major anniversaries took hold during the Victorian era. Queen Victoria was said to have celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary in 1859 by requesting a porcelain service from Minton, a popular English pottery company. This helped establish the tradition of giving china for 20th wedding anniversaries that continues today.[2]
25th Anniversary – Silver
The 25th wedding anniversary is known as the silver anniversary. Silver is a precious metal that has been highly valued throughout history for its beauty, rarity and purity. According to The 33 Best Silver Anniversary Gifts in 2024 – Brides, the tradition of gifting silver on a 25th anniversary dates back to the Roman Empire, when husbands would give their wives a silver wreath to celebrate 25 years of marriage.
Silver is one of the rarer and more valuable precious metals. Silver deposits are relatively rare compared to other metals like iron or aluminum. Only around 0.07 parts per million of the Earth’s crust is made up of silver. This scarcity contributes to silver’s value and its historical use as a currency and store of wealth. Fine silver is also very malleable and reflective, which adds to its desirability for jewelry, tableware and other decorative uses.
The purity and radiance of silver has made it a fitting symbol for a 25 year marriage milestone. Giving silver anniversary gifts represents the beauty, strength and clarity of a lasting relationship.
30th Anniversary – Pearl
In modern times, the pearl is designated as the traditional 30th anniversary gemstone gift. Pearls symbolize purity, integrity, and loyalty – all the qualities necessary for a successful long-lasting marriage. According to The Pearl Source, “As the only gem created organically by a living creature, the pearl is associated with purity, perfection, and flawlessness.” The Pearl Meaning, The Pearl Source Giving pearls on the 30th wedding anniversary expresses the wish for the marriage to continue to grow ever more precious as the years go by.
Pearls have long been treasured throughout history as symbols of wisdom gained through experience. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), “Pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past were also stitched onto lavish clothing. Pearls have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines, and paint formulations.” Pearl History and Lore, GIA Their rarity, natural beauty, and association with the sea and moon made them a prized adornment for royalty across cultures.
Freshwater and saltwater pearls come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, gray, peach, and black. When selecting pearl jewelry as a 30th anniversary gift, opt for high-quality pearls with an iridescent luster. Necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets make traditional and timeless pearl gifts. Or surprise your spouse with a pearl pendant featuring their birthstone or initials for a personalized touch.
35th Anniversary – Coral
The traditional 35th wedding anniversary gift is coral. Coral is a marine invertebrate found in oceans around the world that lives in colonies of tiny polyps forming reefs. Coral comes in a variety of colors like red, pink, orange, white or black (https://www.eternityrose.co.uk/35th-anniversary-gift-themes).
Coral symbolizes longevity, harmony and affection in a marriage. The 35 years of marriage is compared to how coral colonies grow slowly over many years. Coral also represents the beauty and vibrancy that can be nurtured in a long lasting marriage (https://www.foreveranniversary.com/collections/35th-anniversary-gifts). Popular modern 35th anniversary gifts are jade or coral colored items.
40th Anniversary – Ruby
The ruby is the traditional and modern gift for the 40th wedding anniversary. The ruby gemstone represents passion, love, vitality and commitment after 40 years of marriage. The ruby became associated with the 40th anniversary because in antiquity it was believed that rubies contained an inextinguishable internal fire. This symbolic meaning meshes well with the long-burning internal fire of passion and commitment in a lasting marriage that reaches the 40 year milestone.
Queen Victoria celebrated her Ruby Jubilee on 20 June 1897 to mark the 40th anniversary of her reign. Since then, ruby jubilees have been held to celebrate 40 year milestones of monarchs and organizations. The ruby’s rich red color and enduring hardness as a gemstone make it fitting for commemorating 40 years.
Some traditional 40th anniversary gifts besides ruby jewelry are holidays, ruby red wine, and family heirlooms passed down. Ruby anniversary celebrations focus on togetherness and cherishing enduring bonds.
