Birthday
HydrangeasEvery wedding anniversary has its own name in Ukrainian tradition — from calico to crown. The name hints at the gift: the longer the marriage, the stronger and more precious the anniversary "material". Here are the anniversary names by year, gift and flower ideas for each date and tips for congratulating a couple or your parents.
Anniversary bouquets can be found among our red roses and large rose bouquets, and for parents a flower basket.
Anniversary names by year
The names come from folk tradition and vary slightly between sources and countries. Below is the version most common in Ukraine:
The English-language list differs: for example, the first anniversary is paper and the second is cotton. For cotton in wedding floristry, see our vintage wedding guide.
The first anniversaries: gift ideas
- 1 year, calico — textiles: bedding, throws, a tablecloth; a bouquet with cotton.
- 2 years, paper — books, a photo album, concert tickets, cards; a bouquet in kraft paper.
- 3 years, leather — a wallet, belt or passport cover.
- 4 years, linen — linen napkins, clothing; a bouquet wrapped in linen.
- 5 years, wood — a wooden box, board, furniture or a tree sapling for the garden.
Anniversary flowers
Flowers suit any anniversary, and some dates have them in the name: 9 years is the daisy anniversary, 10 years is the rose anniversary (roses are given), 13 years is lily-of-the-valley or lace. The number of flowers often matches the years of marriage: 25 roses for silver, 50 for golden (in large bouquets of 15+ stems, odd or even no longer matters). For milestone anniversaries, arrangements in a basket or box are practical for the festive table.
Milestone anniversaries
- 10 years, rose — red or pink roses, jewellery, a romantic dinner.
- 15 years, crystal — a crystal vase with flowers, glasses.
- 20 years, porcelain — a tea set, porcelain figurines.
- 25 years, silver — silver jewellery and cutlery; white and cream flowers with silvery foliage (eucalyptus, cineraria).
- 30 years, pearl — pearl jewellery, a bouquet in white and pearly tones.
- 40 years, ruby — ruby-red roses, ruby jewellery.
- 50 years, golden — gold jewellery, yellow and cream roses, a family celebration with children and grandchildren.
How to congratulate your parents
- Put together a family photo album or a video of greetings from relatives.
- Order flowers and a cake for delivery if you live in another city.
- Book dinner at the restaurant where they celebrated their wedding, or a trip.
- For milestone dates, a party with guests and a photo shoot.
FAQ
What comes after the 5th anniversary?
6 — cast iron, 7 — copper, 8 — tin, 9 — faience (daisy), 10 — rose (tin).
How many roses for an anniversary?
Often one per year of marriage; small bouquets traditionally use an odd number.
Which anniversary is silver?
The 25th. The 50th is golden and the 60th is diamond.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
