Alternate meaning: Anniversary (Asimov) An anniversary (from the Latin anniversarius, meaning returning yearly) is a day that commemorates and/or celebrates an event that occurred on the same day of the year some time in the past. The word was first used to commemmorate the saints. The word is often more generically used for different time periods (e.g. a "one month anniversary"). Contents 1 Anniversary names 1.1 Latin-derived numerical names 2 Anniversary symbols 3 See also 4 Links Anniversary names Birthdays (see that more extensive article) are the most common type of anniversary, where the birth date of a person is commemorated. The actual celebration is sometimes moved for practical reasons, as in the case of an official birthday Wedding anniversaries are also often celebrated on the same day of the year as the wedding occurred. The Latin word dies natalis (literally birth day) has become a common term, adopted in all languages, especially in intellectual and institutional circles, for the anniversary of the founding ('legal or statutory birth') of an institution, such as an alma mater (college or other school). Even in ancient Rome, we know of the [dies] Aquilae natalis ('birthday of the eagle', anniversary of the official founding of a legion). Most countries around the world celebrate national anniversaries, for example the United States Centennial. These can be the date of independence of the nation or the adoption of a new constitution or form of government. Anniversaries of nations are usually given by the number of years elapsed in Latin words or Roman numerals. Latin-derived numerical names Triennial - 3 years Quadrennial - 4 years Quinquennial - 5 years Sexennial - 6 years Septennial - 7 years Octennial - 8 years Novennial - 9 years Decennial - 10 years Vicennial - 20 years Semicentennial - 50 years Demisesquicentennial - 75 years Centennial - 100 years Quasquicentennial - 125 years Sesquicentennial - 150 years Terquasquicentennial - 175 years Bicentennial - 200 years Tercentennial or tricentennial - 300 years Quadricentennial - 400 years Quincentennial - 500 years Sexacentennial - 600 years Septuacentennial - 700 years Octocentennial - 800 years Nonacentennial - 900 years Millennial - 1000 years Bimillennial - 2000 years Anniversary symbols Many anniversaries have special names. Generally speaking the longer the period, the more precious and/or durable the material associated with it. 1 year is a paper anniversary 2 years is a cotton anniversary 3 years is a leather anniversary 4 years is a linen anniversary 5 years is a wood anniversary 6 years is an iron anniversary 7 years is a wool anniversary 8 years is a bronze anniversary 9 years is a copper anniversary 10 years is a tin (or aluminium) anniversary 11 years is a steel anniversary 12 years is a silk anniversary 13 years is a lace anniversary 14 years is an ivory anniversary 15 years is a crystal anniversary 20 years is a china (porcelain) anniversary 25 years is a Silver Jubilee or silver wedding anniversary 30 years is a pearl anniversary 35 years is a coral (or jade) anniversary 40 years is a ruby anniversary 45 years is a sapphire anniversary 50 years is a Golden Jubilee - not to be confused with the 'golden birthday' (not at a fixed age) 55 years is an emerald anniversary 60 years is a Diamond Jubilee 65 years is a Blue Sapphire anniversary 70 years is a Platinum Jubilee. 75 years is an Alabaster wedding anniversary or Radium wedding anniversary 80 years is an Oak wedding anniversary There may exist variations in national traditions. Furthermore, there exist rather confusingly only partially overlapping, partially contradictory lists of anniversary gifts (such as wedding stones), separate from the 'traditional' names. The concepts of a person's birthday stone, birth stone and zodiac stone, by contrast, are fixed for life according to the day of the week, month or astrological sign corresponding to the recipient's birthday. See also mensiversary - 1 month Links Creative Anniversary Calculator Search Term: "Anniversary" Categories: Anniversaries