Silver Wedding Traditions
Contents
Any anniversary has its own customs and beautiful rituals. When the couple lived together for 25 years, this period eloquently suggests that during this period the couple retained respect and love, was able to smooth out differences and avoid major quarrels. This anniversary is popularly called a silver wedding, because noble silver is a symbol of spiritual purity. There are certain traditions of this anniversary, which we will talk about.
Customs and ceremonies on the 25th wedding anniversary
People say: as the couple celebrate the next wedding anniversary, they will continue to live. Therefore, people try to celebrate the day of the silver wedding on a grand scale in order to once again feel like the main heroes of the occasion. According to ancient Russian tradition, the day of the 25th anniversary of marriage must begin with a kiss from the spouses. You need to kiss each other without getting out of bed, and the longer the kiss lasts, the happier the further life will be together.
Some heroes of the day try to re-register the marriage that day or get married if the couple are not yet married. Often, couples on their 25th anniversary try to completely repeat the whole journey that they took exactly a quarter century ago, starting with the bride’s ransom and ending with jokes and rallies in the banquet hall with those invited guests. The history of the celebration of the silver wedding of one couple, see the video:
Morning wash
There is another wonderful tradition - morning wash. On the morning of the silver wedding day, a man and a woman wash each other three times with water poured into any vessel made of silver. The first washing symbolizes the washing away of the burden of the past years, the second - getting rid of bad thoughts, and the third - cleansing from the negative for a successful life together. After water procedures, the spouses wipe each other with linen towels, and the water that remains in the container must be exposed to the sun so that all the hardships of the pair evaporate with it.
Exchange of silver rings
The husband will certainly congratulate his wife on the day of the silver wedding with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, but the exchange of rings is considered the most beautiful ceremony. By tradition, the spouses arrange a beautiful ceremony to which guests are invited. The celebration is held at home or in a restaurant, where a couple puts silver rings on each other's ring finger as a sign of fidelity and love. This rite is also held in the church, where the priest is happy to marry the couple again. The rings are carefully kept by anniversaries, as a symbol of mutual love, when after a year the couple again wears gold wedding rings.
Festive meal
A festive dinner in the circle of relatives and friends is held under the general fun. Spouses remember how they had fun at their wedding 25 years ago. They dance to the same music, the same wedding competitions are held, witnesses still try to entertain the invited guests. The photographer takes memorable photos and shoots a video, which then all the participants of the celebration will enjoy watching. It is better if the photo and video shooting is done by a professional.
The silver celebration cannot do without a celebratory loaf, which the heroes of the anniversary cut again together, handing out the best pieces to guests. According to tradition, during the festive meal on the tables should be:
- Silver dishes.
- Silver or silver candle holders with white candles.
- Matching wipes.
If there is no silverware, then the couple can do with cupronickel or any other sparkling silverware. For a home holiday, it is not necessary to cook a large assortment of dishes. On this day, you can dispense with regular coffee or tea with sweets. And if the heroes of the day are not young, then the evening is spent without an entertainment program at all. In this case, the best family videos and slides of old photos are viewed at the festival.
Tea Party Rite
After the holiday, the guests leave the couple together so that they can be alone. Anniversaries traditionally sit at an evening tea party, which takes place in a calm and cozy home atmosphere. Husband and wife recall years spent together, mark good moments, leave difficulties behind and make plans for the future. Drink tea from silver mugs to fully support all the traditions that should be held on this important day for them..
Traditional Silver Wedding Gifts
It is clear that as gifts for a silver wedding, silver products are preferred. Guests give according to tradition:
- cutlery: spoons, knives, sets;
- dishes, teapots;
- jewelry;
- figurines, watches;
- religious attributes: icons or a couple of chains with crosses.
But so that the donated silver set does not become the twentieth in the collection of anniversaries, it is better to discuss with them the desired gift in advance. You can dream up a little and come up with something original, for example, a silver hair clip for a husband’s tie or a pendant for a wife with a photograph of her chosen one. There are many gift options for the soul, for example, tickets for a concert by a symphony orchestra or a bus tour of local attractions. Show your imagination - and you will not be mistaken with a choice!