Anniversary
An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded. Most countries celebrate national anniversaries, typically called national days. These could be the date of independence of the nation or the adoption of a new constitution or form of government. There is no definite method for determining the date of establishment of an institution, and it is generally decided within the institution by convention. The important dates in a sitting monarch's reign may also be commemorated, an event often referred to as a jubilee. Birthdays are the most common type of anniversary, on which someone's birthdate is commemorated each year. The actual celebration is sometimes moved for practical reasons, as in the case of an official birthday or one falling on February 29. Wedding anniversaries are also often celebrated, on the same day of the year as the wedding occurred. Death anniversaries mark another distinct category of remembrance.
The Latin phrase dies natalis literally means birth day. This term has become common in many languages, especially in intellectual and institutional circles. It refers to the anniversary of the founding of an institution such as an alma mater. In ancient Rome, the dies Aquilae natalis was the birthday of the eagle. This marked the anniversary of the official founding of a legion. Anniversaries of nations are usually marked by the number of years elapsed. These numbers are expressed with Latin words or Roman numerals. Latin terms for anniversaries are mostly straightforward, particularly those relating to the first thirty years. They cover multiples of ten years like 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 etc. Multiples of centuries or millenniums follow similar patterns. Examples include 100, 200, 300, 1000, 2000, 3000, etc. When anniversaries relate to fractions of centuries the situation is not as simple. Roman fractions were based on a duodecimal system. From one twelfth to eleven twelfths they were expressed as multiples of twelfths. The worduncia meant twelfth and became the source of the English words inch and ounce.
AnniversaryLatin-derived termOther termsComments show how complex naming becomes over time. A quarter century less than the next whole bicentury equals 175 years. Dodrans is a Latin contraction of de-quadrans which means a whole unit less a quarter. De means from and quadrans means quarter. Thus 175 = 200 minus 25. In Latin it seems that this rule did not apply precisely for certain cases. While secundus is Latin for second and bis for twice these terms are not used such as in sesqui-secundus. Instead sesqui or ses is used by itself. A table lists specific intervals like 6 months Semiannual and 1 year Annual. Paper marks 1 year while Cotton marks 2 years. Leather appears at 3 years and Linen at 4 years. Wood reaches 5 years and Iron hits 6 years. Wool covers 7 years and Bronze 8 years. Copper spans 9 years and Tin extends to 10 years. Aluminum follows Tin and Steel begins at 11 years. Silk arrives at 12 years and Parsley offers a humorous alternative. Lace marks 13 years and Ivory 14 years. Crystal reaches 15 years and Sapphire 16 years. Orchid appears at 17 years and Quartz 18 years. Jade covers 19 years and Silver 25 years. Pearl marks 30 years and Coral 35 years. Ruby reaches 40 years and Sapphire 45 years. Golden celebrates 50 years and Emerald 55 years. Diamond honors 60 years and Platinum 70 years. Oak marks 80 years and Granite 90 years. Obsidian reaches 100 years and Quasquicentennial 125 years. Sesquicentennial covers 150 years and Dodransbicentennial 175 years. Bicentennial marks 200 years and Sestercentennial 250 years. Tercentennial reaches 300 years and Quadricentennial 400 years. Quincentennial hits 500 years and Millennial 1000 years.
Many anniversaries have special names tied to specific materials. Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home by Emily Post published in 1922 contained suggestions for wedding anniversary gifts. These covered 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, and 75 years. Wedding anniversary gift suggestions for other years were added in later editions and publications. They now comprise what is referred to as the traditional list. Generally speaking the longer the period the more precious or durable the material associated with it. There are variations according to some national traditions. There exist numerous partially overlapping partially contradictory lists of anniversary gifts such as wedding stones. These separate from the traditional names. The concepts of a person's birthday stone and zodiac stone differ significantly. They are fixed for life according to the day of the week month or astrological sign corresponding to the recipient's birthday. This creates a permanent association unlike the changing annual lists. A humorous or mock wedding anniversary celebrated in Northern Germany and the Netherlands chosen because it is halfway to the silver anniversary appears at 12 years. Sapphire is separately used for other anniversaries including 65 years. Diamond is separately used for the 75th anniversary its use for 60th years being popularized by Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Memorial plaque presented by the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission in Washington D.C. in 1951 shows how nations mark time. Swedish celebrities including Miss Sweden Johanna Lind Camilla Henemark Alexandra Charles and Christina Schollin celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mae West at Berns in Stockholm in 1993. Anniversaries of nations are usually marked by the number of years elapsed expressed with Latin words or Roman numerals. There is no definite method for determining the date of establishment of an institution and it is generally decided within the institution by convention. The important dates in a sitting monarch's reign may also be commemorated an event often referred to as a jubilee. Used by the United States Bicentennial marks 200 years. Used by Dartmouth College in 2019 Sestercentennial covers 250 years. Used by Brown University in 2015 Semiquincentennial reaches 250 years. Bisesquicentennial equals bi- plus sesqui- times centennial. Bicenquinquagenary used by Princeton University in 1996 Reading Pennsylvania in 1998 and Washington and Lee University in 1999. Chiang Mai Septcentennial Stadium completed in 1991 illustrates modern usage. Also mentioned in the 2008 animated film WALL-E with a Septuacentennial Cupcake in a Cup. First appeared in Safire's column On Language The New York Times Magazine the 12th of February 1995.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
What is the definition of an anniversary?
An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded. Most countries celebrate national anniversaries, typically called national days. These could be the date of independence of the nation or the adoption of a new constitution or form of government.
When did Emily Post publish her book on wedding anniversary gifts?
Emily Post published Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home in 1922. This work contained suggestions for wedding anniversary gifts covering 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, and 75 years. Wedding anniversary gift suggestions for other years were added in later editions and publications.
How many years does it take to reach a silver anniversary?
Silver marks 25 years in traditional anniversary lists. Pearl marks 30 years while Coral covers 35 years. Ruby reaches 40 years and Sapphire appears again for 65 years.
Who celebrated the 100th anniversary of Mae West's birth in 1993?
Swedish celebrities including Miss Sweden Johanna Lind Camilla Henemark Alexandra Charles and Christina Schollin celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mae West at Berns in Stockholm in 1993. Anniversaries of nations are usually marked by the number of years elapsed expressed with Latin words or Roman numerals.
What is the meaning of the Latin phrase dies natalis?
The Latin phrase dies natalis literally means birth day. This term has become common in many languages especially in intellectual and institutional circles. It refers to the anniversary of the founding of an institution such as an alma mater.