What is the origin of a paper anniversary?
In the United States, many people observe a "paper anniversary" as their first wedding anniversary. The practice dates back several centuries and is part of a practice of gradually increasing the level of gifts that are given on each anniversary, escalating from paper, the least inexpensive, to diamonds, which are of course the most expensive.
According to Gretchen Scoble, Americans perceive the gradual increase in the value of gifts as an increase in the investment people make in their relationship whereas in Germany it is seen more as a progressive strengthening of these relationship. Interestingly, in the United Kingdom, the paper anniversary is typically celebrated on a couple's second wedding anniversary.
Although the specific origins of the paper anniversary are not specifically known, many historians have theorized that the tradition developed during the industrial time period as mass consumption grew and middle class Americans became more concerned with materialistic traditions such as these. One argument is made that the threads of the paper's fiber symbol the interwoven nature of the relationship but this has not been confirmed. Typically, a paper anniversary gift is meant to be a paper love letter that someone sends to their spouse on their first anniversary and is meant to be a romantic gesture.
Items other than paper are also used to celebrate 1st wedding anniversaries such as gold jewelry, orange blossoms or pansies, gold jewelry pearls and peridots. In addition, some people try and get creative by purchasing creative paper gifts such as concert or event tickets, gift certificates,novelty toilet paper rollsand magazines, all of which technically qualify as paper. Travel tickets or plans are also considered paper and used as paper anniversary gifts by some people.
In addition, there are of course several classic 1st year anniversary traditions that are still followed today such as eating the top layer of the wedding cake, watching the wedding video or planning a special dinner.
It is clear that the tradition of the paper anniversary is a robust one and has been around for many generations. While the specific origins of the paper anniversary are not fully known, we have some insight into how it has developed over the years and what might constitute a great paper anniversary gift. There is no doubt that the paper anniversary is the most popular anniversary celebrated due to the high divorce rate and it should be the most popular in years to come if the trend continues.
