History

• According to Hallmark, wedding anniversary traditions stemmed from medieval Germany. A woman celebrating 25 years with her husband would be crowned with a silver wreath and after 50 years would be crowned with a wreath of gold. In modern times, these anniversaries are known as the silver anniversary and golden anniversary.
  
  

Significance

• Official recognition from the president, monarch or prime minister of the country a couple lives will only take place after a couple has been together for an allotted amount of time. In the United States, the president may send special greetings to a couple after they have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
  
  

Catholic Significance

• Couples who are Roman Catholic may apply for a papal blessing for their 25th, 50th, 60th, etc., wedding anniversaries through their local dioceses.
  
  

Gifts

• Traditional gifts for a 50th wedding anniversary are gold wreaths, gold rings and jewelry. The traditional flowers given to a couple on their 50th wedding anniversary are yellow roses and violets.
  
  

More Anniversary Traditions

• According to the Chicago Public Library, in the United States the traditional gift given to a couple on their first wedding anniversary is the gift of paper, cotton for the second wedding anniversary and leather for the third.