The first and one of the most significant anniversaries of the family is a wooden wedding. How many years should a spouse live to celebrate her? It is the fifth anniversary of joint family life that bears this proud name. And it got its name for a reason, it contains a deep meaning, laid down by our distant ancestors. Everyone knows that wood is a solid material that symbolizes the strength of family ties. It is believed that a tree planted on the fifth anniversary of married life will survive all adversities and will serve as a memory for posterity.
Wooden wedding. History and traditions
The traditions of wooden weddings go back centuries. Even in Ancient Russia, each person identified himself with a particular tree. And the two trees that the couple planted were a kind of symbol of the strength of their family. There was a rule that these trees needed very careful care, as if behind a family hearth. It was also considered a bad sign to cut them down. If these family symbols were damaged, an immediate family breakdown was expected.
On the fifth wedding anniversary, i.e. a wooden wedding was considered a good sign to plant a common tree and tie it with a red ribbon, which was tied there until the next anniversary. The red ribbon was considered a very strong family amulet.
The symbol of the fifth wedding anniversary
It should be noted that from ancient times trees were perceived as original symbols of life. It is also important that they grow not only to the sky, but also take root. It is this fact that strengthens their position and gives vitality. Destroying a tree is not so easy, it will take a lot of effort. For this reason, the fifth year of married life got its name - a wooden wedding. As a rule, in the first five years the family manages to maintain its bonds, and it is unlikely that something will destroy them, because the family tree has already taken its roots too deep. It is not surprising that it is the fifth wedding anniversary that is considered a kind of “pass” to a strong and informed marriage.
Celebrating the fifth anniversary of married life is an excellent occasion to summarize a certain result of life together. As a rule, by this moment the family should already have a separate housing, a cozy nest created by the husband and wife for themselves. Many couples already at the time of five years of marriage have a child, or even not one. If this is not all, then it's time to hurry, because in nature a five-year-old tree should bear fruit, which is a sign. Our ancestors always listened to the signs of nature, maybe that's why their families were so strong?
What to give your soulmate for the 5th wedding anniversary?
The fifth anniversary of family life is a great occasion to give your soulmate an unusual gift and choose an original congratulation on a wooden wedding. As already known, the symbol of this date is a tree, so the gift should also be somehow connected with it. A gift for a wooden wedding can be very creative and memorable.
If funds allow, then you can buy for the second half jewelry from rare wood, various caskets for storing jewelry and everything else.
According to customs, gifts for such an anniversary must be done by hand. Nowadays it is called in the English manner hand made, which means “made by yourself”. But over time, there are more and more opportunities to please their loved ones with something unusual, to acquire beautiful little things that delight the eye and become part of life, as well as a memorable gift. Of course, there is a soul in a handmade gift. And always such a present will have an advantage over the purchase.
A gift for a wooden wedding, of course, will be memorable and very important. After all, after many, many years it will be possible to consider it and recall the previous happy years, when the hearth of the family was at the stage of origin.
Idea for celebration
As mentioned above, one of the interesting traditions of celebrating the fifth anniversary of married life is decorating a tree with holiday greetings. But it is important to note that in our time, not everyone has such an opportunity. Some live in a city where there are no forests, and the massive decoration of trees in the city will look very strange. In this situation, the simplest indoor potted plant can also act as a tree; it can become a small symbol of happiness. The tradition of decorating a tree with congratulations is so interesting that it can become a part of the festive program and, of course, will be remembered by everyone present at the celebration, no matter whether you celebrate in your home circle or in a restaurant.
A wooden wedding cake can be decorated with wood or served on wooden utensils. This will add a twist to your holiday.
Folk style celebration
It will be very unusual to arrange a celebration in the folk Russian style. You can use wooden utensils and decorations for the ceremonial hall. If you plan to arrange a big celebration, then you can create and order invitation cards made of wood. This will definitely not leave your guests indifferent and, of course, will remain for a long, long memory.
You can arrange a holiday with national costumes, which will make your celebration colorful. Or you can just get together in a family circle by the fireplace and celebrate this wonderful holiday. Some people prefer to celebrate on a large scale, and some are happy to spend this day in a cozy home environment, reading gentle congratulations and giving gifts dear to the heart.
What to give on the fifth wedding anniversary if you are a guest?
Going to a celebration in honor of a wooden wedding, you should carefully consider the gift. It should be beautiful, useful and always made of wood. Very popular are sets of wooden utensils, glasses, chopping boards, mugs and bowls. A good housewife will very quickly find application for things of such a plan. A wooden frame for family photos, various wooden figurines, caskets, etc. will be a pleasant gift. Such little things will make the family nest even more cozy and warm. Do not forget about holiday cards. With a wooden wedding, you can congratulate the spouses, giving them a wonderful theme card with poems. You can also purchase a card made of wood with carvings, etc. This is a matter of fantasy!
Scenario for a wooden wedding
It is customary to celebrate the fifth year in a big way, inviting everyone, all relatives and friends to the holiday. But to make guests feel comfortable and have fun, spouses should pay special attention to the celebration program. They can do it themselves by writing an interesting script. But the easiest way is to resort to the help of professionals who, by virtue of their experience and creativity, will stand up for a fun and memorable holiday, which will definitely not be boring. They will be able to make a program for the celebration of the anniversary, taking into account all the preferences of the spouses and guests. Professionals will create an amazing script, come up with kind words and congratulations for the spouses. Of course, such a celebration should be remembered, so it will be useful for a photographer who will capture all the joyful moments of this day, record on video how guests pronounce holiday greetings on a wooden wedding. No matter how many years have passed, it will always be nice to see old photos and videos that will make you feel warm.
Celebrating the fifth anniversary in different countries
For example, in Germany, a wooden wedding is celebrated especially magnificently and on a grand scale. Spouses on this day repeat the wedding ceremony, but less formally and solemnly. The celebration is held with a touch of fun. Decorations at the celebration are usually made of wood. Often, the solemn hall is decorated with spruce branches.
It should be noted that the fifth wedding anniversary is called wooden both in the USA and in the Scandinavian countries. In fact, there are not so many differences between the celebrations of the fifth year of the wedding in Russia and in other countries.