The Name and The Meaning of Anniversary【結婚紀念日的名稱與意義】
When I was a kid, I only heard about silver wedding and gold wedding which used for those who have been married for 25 years and 50 years. I was not interested in the name and the meaning of anniversary until I got married. I did some internet search about it and organized as below.
小時候只聽過銀婚、金婚，用於那些婚姻持續了25年、50年的伴侶，直到結了婚後才對這些結婚紀念日的名稱及意義有了興趣，做了點網路知識搜尋，統整如下。
Anniversary originated from Britain. They don't celebrate anniversary every year, only in the fifth, the fifteenth, the twenty-fifth, the fiftieth, and the sixtieth year of their marriage. After it was introduced to the United State, the American started celebrating their anniversary every year. (Americans enjoy celebrating so much! My hubby is one of them!)
結婚紀念日起源於英國，但不是年年慶祝，只有在5.15.25.50.60年時才會慶祝，傳到美國才演變成年年慶祝。(美國人很愛過節，老爺就是！)
For example, the American pay much attention on their anniversary. They used to hold the anniversary ceremony on every significant anniversary. Gradually it became a custom of giving traditional gifts according to the number of years you have been married. Then it evolved into giving a name of each anniversary by the gifts. As time goes on, although the gifts are adjusted to modern way, we realize that the longer you've been married, the higher the density and the hardness of the gifts are, which signifies unbreakable and even firmer love as time goes by.
以美國為例，美國人對結婚紀念日非常重視，每逢重要結婚紀念日，總要舉行結婚周年紀念會，並逐漸形成了按每次結婚紀念活動贈送傳統規定的禮物的習俗，進而 又演化成為各種禮物名稱來命名每個婚齡的習慣。 隨著時代的演變，這些禮物也有些許變化。從這些紀念物品中，我們可以發現，結婚愈久，代表的東西密度、硬度愈高，這象徵愛情歷久彌堅。
Below is the list of the name and the meaning of the anniversary, and what the modern gifts will be.(References from Chicago Public Library)
下面是主要婚齡紀念日的傳統名稱、現代禮物及其意義。(資料自芝加哥公立圖書館)
● 1st Anniversary-The intensity and the tolerance are thin as paper in the beginning.
Traditional: Paper Wedding.....(It was a great gift to get my visa from USCIS.)
Modern: Clocks.....(I used my CashBox's credit points to exchange a clock.)
● 一週年- 最初婚姻的強度及容忍度薄如紙一般
傳統：紙婚....(拿到美國移民局的簽證是第一年很好的禮物)
現代：鐘......(在錢櫃用點數換了一個造型鐘)
● 2nd Anniversary-It is dense and steady as cotton.
Traditional: Cotton Wedding.....(I brought a pile of cotton fabric from Taiwan.)
Modern: China.....(I bought some china dishes, but my hubby broke few of them...)
● 二週年- 像棉花般較茂密與穩定
傳統：棉婚....(從台灣帶了一堆棉布回來也算是吧！)
現代：瓷器.....(買了一堆碗盤，老爺摔破了幾個....)
● 3rd Anniversary-It is a little tough as leather and can withstand a test.
Traditional: Leather Wedding.....(We bought a pair of leather boots to each other.)
Modern: Crystal, Glass.....(I bought a crystal Guanyin which shines.)
● 三週年- 像皮革般有點韌性，禁的起考驗
傳統：皮婚....(肉肉跟老爺互買了一雙皮靴)
現代：水晶、玻璃....( 買了一個水晶觀音還會發光喔！)
● 4th Anniversary-The density and intensity are interlocked tightly as linen or silk.
Traditional: Linen or Silk Wedding....(We bought a linen sheet to have a good night sleep!)
Modern: Electrical Appliances.....(Change a new refrigerator, a washer and a dryer.)
● 四週年- 密度與強度如亞麻或絲一般緊緊交織著
傳統：亞麻婚或絲婚....(買了一床亞麻床單睡個好眠)
現代：電器.....(添購了新冰箱和洗衣烘衣機)
● 5th Anniversary-There is hardness like wood.
Traditional: Wood Wedding
Modern: Silverware
● 五週年- 如木頭般已經有了硬度
傳統：木婚
現代：銀器
● 6th Anniversary-It is hard and firm like iron.
Traditional: Iron Wedding
Modern: Wood Objects
● 六週年- 像鐵一樣的堅硬牢實
傳統：鐵婚
現代：木製品
● 7th Anniversary-It is warm and thick like wool. It won't get rusty like copper.
Traditional: Wool or Copper Wedding
Modern: Desk Sets, Pen & Pencil Sets
● 七週年- 如羊毛般溫暖、厚實；如銅般不會生鏽
傳統：羊毛婚或銅婚
現代：文具
● 8th Anniversary-It has better quality and gloss.
Traditional: Bronze Wedding
Modern: Linens, Lace
● 八週年- 婚姻更有質感與光澤
傳統：青銅婚
現代：亞麻或蕾絲製品
● 9th Anniversary-Having you and me in the mud just like pottery.
Traditional: Pottery or China Wedding
Modern: Leather Goods
● 九週年- 如陶瓷般泥中有你有我
傳統：陶婚或瓷婚
現代：皮革製品
● 10th Anniversary-It is lasting and durable like tin or aluminum.
Traditional: Tin or Aluminum Wedding
Modern: Diamond Jewelry
● 十週年- 像錫或鋁般持久耐用
傳統：錫婚或鋁婚
現代：鑽石珠寶手飾....(結婚時是在當鋪買的普通銀戒，老爺補了個鑽戒送我！)
● 11th Anniversary-Not only doesn't get rusty but also more solid than the iron.
Traditional: Steel Wedding
Modern: Fashion Jewelry, Accessories
● 十一週年- 不但不生鏽，比鐵還要堅實
傳統：鋼婚
現代：時尚珠寶飾品、提包、手套等配件
● 12th Anniversary-It is smooth and fine like silk.
Traditional: Silk Wedding
Modern: Pearls, Colored Gems
● 十二週年- 如絲般光滑細緻
傳統：絲婚
現代：珍珠或彩色寶石
● 13th Anniversary-It is firm and beautiful like lace.
Traditional: Lace Wedding
Modern: Textiles, Furs
● 十三週年- 如蕾絲般堅韌美麗
傳統：蕾絲婚
現代：紡織品、裘毛製品
● 14th Anniversary-The longer the more brilliant and beautiful it is like ivory.
Traditional: Ivory Wedding
Modern: Gold Jewelry
● 十四週年- 如象牙般時間越久越晶透美麗
傳統：象牙婚
現代：金飾
● 15th Anniversary-The imagination and the insight are clear and unsophisticated like crystal.
Traditional: Crystal Wedding
Modern: Watches
● 十五週年- 象徵了彼此的想像力與洞察力如水晶般晶瑩剔透、淳樸無暇
傳統：水晶婚
現代：手錶
● 16th Anniversary-Electricity exists and also changes in marriage.
Traditional: Tourmaline Wedding
Modern: Silver Holloware
● 十六週年- 象徵婚姻有電荷存在，也有電荷的變化
傳統：電氣石婚
現代：中間有凹槽的銀器
● 17th Anniversary-The significance to each other is indispensable like furniture.
Traditional: Furniture Wedding
Modern: Furniture
● 十七週年- 象徵彼此的重要性如傢俱般不可或缺
傳統：傢俱婚
現代：傢俱
● 18th Anniversary-It symbolizes the fascination and loyalty of love.
Traditional: Turquoise Wedding
Modern: Porcelain
● 十八週年- 象徵愛情的魅力和忠誠
傳統：綠松石婚
現代：瓷器
● 19th Anniversary-It is wide and peaceful as the sea.
Traditional: Aquamarine Wedding
Modern: Bronze
● 十九週年- 如海般的寬闊平靜
傳統：藍晶婚
現代：青銅藝術品
● 20th Anniversary-Love is smooth and unsophisticated but also easy to break. It is a test!
Traditional: China Wedding
Modern: Platinum
● 二十週年- 象徵愛情光滑無暇卻也易摔破，是一項考驗，
傳統：陶瓷婚
現代：白金製品
● 24th Anniversary-Stick to each other like glue which added some nutrition of protein into marriage.
Traditional: Opal Wedding
Modern: Musical Instruments
● 二十四週年- 象徵如膠似漆，爲婚姻添加了蛋白質養分
傳統：蛋白石婚
現代：樂器
● 25th Anniversary-The first great celebration after married. It's rare and commendable to get along with each other for 25 years.
Traditional: Silver Wedding
Modern: Silver
● 二十五週年- 夫妻婚後的第一個大慶典，能通過考驗相處25年實為難得
傳統：銀婚
現代：結婚25週年銀製紀念品
● 30th Anniversary-It is round, beautiful, precious and satisfactory like pearl.
Traditional: Pearl Wedding
Modern: Diamond
● 三十週年- 如珍珠般圓渾、美麗且珍貴、圓滿
傳統：珍珠婚
現代：鑽石
● 35th Anniversary-It is bright red and precious, looks more outstanding.
Traditional: Coral or Jade Wedding
Modern: Jade
● 三十五週年-象徵嫣紅而寶貴，更為生色
傳統：珊瑚婚或碧玉婚
現代：玉石類
● 40th Anniversary -The flame of love is still blazing. It will never go out.
Traditional: Ruby Wedding
Modern: Ruby
● 四十週年- 象徵愛火依舊熾熱，永不熄滅
傳統：紅寶石婚
現代：紅寶石
● 45th Anniversary-Love is as deep as the sea. It is permanent and changeless.
Traditional: Sapphire Wedding
Modern: Sapphire
● 四十五週年- 情深似海，恆久不變
傳統：藍寶石婚
現代：藍寶石
● 50th Anniversar-The second great celebration of marriage. There are descendants in the family and always cheerful.
Traditional: Gold Wedding
Modern: Gold
● 五十週年- 夫妻的第二個大慶典，可以兒孫滿堂，熱鬧非凡
傳統：金婚
現代：結婚50週年金製紀念品
● 55th Anniversary-The priceless treasure like emerald which is hard to get in life.
Traditional: Emerald Wedding
Modern: Emerald
● 五十五週年- 像翡翠玉石般，是無價之寶，人生中非常難得的東西
傳統：翡翠婚
現代：綠寶石
● 60th Anniversary-The everlasting and unchanging love is hard and unyielding like diamond. This is the greatest celebration in the couple's life.
Traditional: Diamond Wedding
Modern: Diamond.....(It's impossible to get diamond for me unless my hubby is long-lived!)
● 六十60週年-如鑽石般堅硬不屈，象徵天長地久的愛情，是夫妻一生中最大的慶典
傳統：鑽石婚
現代：結婚60週年鑽石紀念品....(除非老爺變成人瑞，肉肉才收的到鑽石！ )
Time goes so fast! We have been married for 10 years. I should think about the 11th anniversary gift I want. Um.....Fashion Jewelry, Accessories.....
時間過的真快，一轉眼我們已經結婚十年囉！繼續邁向第十一年，應該來想一想要什麼結婚十一週年禮物，嗯...時尚珠寶飾品、提包、手套等配件...
Here I wish all lovers can become family, those who are married can live a long life together and all can get diamond eventually!
最後祝有情人終成眷屬，已成眷屬者白頭偕老，都能拿到鑽石喔！
