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An anniversary (from the Latin anniversarius, from the words for year and to turn, meaning (re)turning yearly; known in English since c1230) is a day that commemorates and/or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event; 365 days (plus a possible leap day) or one year later, would be the first anniversary of that event. The word was first used for the Christian feasts to commemorate the saints.
Anniversary names
- Birthdays are the most common type of anniversary, where the birth date of a person is commemorated. The actual celebration is sometimes moved for practical reasons, as in the case of an official birthday.
- Wedding anniversaries are also often celebrated on the same day of the year as the wedding occurred.
The Latin word dies natalis (literally birth day) has become a common term, adopted in all languages, especially in intellectual and institutional circles, for the anniversary of the founding ('legal or statutory birth') of an institution, such as an alma mater (college or other school). Even in ancient Rome, we know of the * Aquilae natalis ('birthday of the eagle', anniversary of the official founding of a legion).
Most countries around the world celebrate national anniversaries, for example the United States Bicentennial. These can be the date of independence of the nation or the adoption of a new constitution or form of government.
Anniversaries of nations are usually given by the number of years elapsed in Latin words or Roman numerals.
Latin-derived numerical names
- Triennial - 3 years
- Quadrennial - 4 years
- Quinquennial - 5 years
- Sexennial - 6 years
- Septennial - 7 years
- Octennial - 8 years
- Novennial - 9 years
- Decennial - 10 years
- Vicennial - 20 years
- Semicentennial - 50 years
- Demisesquicentennial - 75 years
- Centennial - 100 years
- Quasquicentennial - 125 years
- Sesquicentennial - 150 years
- Terquasquicentennial - 175 years
- Bicentennial - 200 years
- Tercentennial or tricentennial - 300 years
- Quadricentennial - 400 years
- Quincentennial - 500 years
- Sexacentennial - 600 years
- Septuacentennial - 700 years
- Octocentennial - 800 years
- Nonacentennial - 900 years
- Millennial - 1000 years
- Bimillennial - 2000 years
Anniversary symbols
Many anniversaries have special names. Generally speaking the longer the period, the more precious and/or durable the material associated with it.
- 1 year is a paper anniversary
- 2 years is a cotton anniversary
- 3 years is a leather anniversary
- 4 years is a linen anniversary
- 5 years is a wood anniversary
- 6 years is an iron anniversary
- 7 years is a wool anniversary
- 8 years is a bronze anniversary
- 9 years is a copper anniversary
- 10 years is a tin (or aluminium) anniversary
- 11 years is a steel anniversary
- 12 years is a silk anniversary
- 13 years is a lace anniversary
- 14 years is an ivory anniversary
- 15 years is a crystal anniversary
- 17 years is a turquoise anniversary
- 20 years is a china (porcelain) anniversary
- 25 years is a Silver Jubilee or silver wedding anniversary
- 30 years is a pearl anniversary
- 35 years is a coral (or jade) anniversary
- 40 years is a ruby anniversary
- 45 years is a sapphire anniversary
- 50 years is a Golden Jubilee - not to be confused with the 'golden birthday' (not at a fixed age)
- 55 years is an emerald anniversary
- 60 years is a Diamond Jubilee
- 65 years is a Blue Sapphire anniversary
- 70 years is a Platinum Jubilee.
- 75 years is a Diamond wedding anniversary
- 80 years is an Oak wedding anniversary
There are variations in some national traditions.
Furthermore, there exist rather confusingly only partially overlapping, partially contradictory lists of anniversary gifts (such as wedding stones), separate from the 'traditional' names.
The concepts of a person's birthday stone, birth stone and zodiac stone, by contrast, are fixed for life according to the day of the week, month or astrological sign corresponding to the recipient's birthday.
See also
Similar words are used for different time periods (e.g. mensiversary, a "one month anniversary").
Sources and External links
"Anniversary"