WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

Oh no, it's that time of year again.  The Wedding Anniversary!   Most of us remember that the 25th is Silver, 40th Ruby and 50th Gold, but what about those in between or beyond. Amaze your partners by getting them a really appropriate present.

.I have often been asked what a particular wedding anniversary is e.g. 25 years is Silver, but what about 10 years, to help you remember here is a little verse.

Please bear in mind that these can differ from country to country;  as far as I am concerned the following are general in the UK
 

The 1st  is PAPER, on which you can write 
The 2nd is COTTON, all crisp and white,
The 3rd is LEATHER, a bag or some gloves,
The 4th is BOOKS, Lady Chatterley's loves!
The 5th is WOOD, a box full of dreams,
The 6th is IRON, metal not steam
The 7th is WOOL, soft and warm
The 8th is BRONZE, metal in an elegant form
The 9th is COPPER, and 10th is TIN,
If you have got this far you are bound to win.

---

TIP

Tin is given as the traditional gift for the 10th wedding anniversary as it represents durability and protection and pure tin does not tarnish, rust or discolour in anyway. You may not be aware of the wide range of tin gifts available so, if you are searching for an original 10th Anniversary gift, or any other special occasion, check out Tin Gifts who produce jewellery made from 99.9% pure tin. They even have pieces which combine both tin and diamonds for that extra special gift.

The 11th is STEEL, so shiny and bright             
The 12th is SILK, so soft and so light,               
The 13th is LACE, maybe a cloth for a tray,
The 14th is IVORY, leave it for Jumbo,
Its better that way!

(Years 11 - 15 were kindly contributed by Polly & Mike Kelly)

The 15th is CRYSTAL, cut glass at its best,
The 20th CHINA, cups, plates and the rest,
The 25th is SILVER - really swell
The 30th is PEARL - from an oyster's shell
The 35th is CORAL, from under the sea
The 40th is  RUBY, as red as red can be
The 45th is SAPPHIRE - precious and blue
The 50th is GOLDEN - Congratulations to you!
The 55th is EMERALD - so green and so pure,
The 60th DIAMOND - an achievement for sure. 
The 65th BLUE SAPPHIRE, and 70th PLATINUM 

The last two which are reached by some
The 75th  is DIAMOND AND GOLD 
The 80th OAK ** 
Or something suitable for the very old!

(but probably not matching oak coffins as suggested by Jake Kydd)

 

** David Burton kindly sent in this addition.

I have just been advised Anne Gozney that her local paper states the 75th to be "Radium" - this does not seem very appropriate and goodness knows what gifts would be applicable!

My doubts may have been justified as I have just been contacted by Iain Pearson who advises -

You have been advised that the 75th anniversary is Radium (the radioactive isotope) Its' more likely to be Rhodium a precious metal used in jewellery and electronics and traded similarly to Gold and Silver, except where gold is worth around £330 an ounce Rhodium is worth £2500 an ounce!

Another version sent in by Vicky Short has 4th as Flowers, 6th as Candy, 7th as Copper and 9th as Pottery, so take your pick.

Deborah tells me that 16 years is Sapphire and the gift should be silver holloware or peridot (but I have always understood Sapphire to be 45 years).

Mr. Bill Fraser has cleared this one up - Sapphire for 16 years is apparently applicable in America not the UK.