2nd Anniversary Gift

It is always a momentous occasion when a marriage endures for a significant number of years. This is most especially true when celebrating marriages lasting for 25 up to 50 years. Compared to those, one would tend to think that the 2nd anniversary of a wedding is not such a big deal.

But then again, maybe it is. After all, in these cynical times the most jaded among us would have us believe that marriages are meant to be broken. As it appears more and more marriages end quickly and unhappily these days, it would seem to be quite a feat if a couple manages to stay together for even more than a year. In this case, it is certainly worth celebrating when a love endures all odds even in such a relatively short span of time. Many have always thought so, and indeed, there actually are certain items that are traditionally given as gifts to commemorate a 2nd wedding anniversary.

As per tradition, cotton symbolizes great prosperity and has been customarily given as a 2nd wedding anniversary gift. There are many types of cotton items that would make excellent gifts, such as plush towels, handkerchiefs, carpets, bed sheets, pillowcases, or garments, to name only a few. Whereas cotton is the traditional 2nd anniversary gift, china (not the country, but porcelain wares) is the customary contemporary gift for this occasion. Beautiful and elegant, it is a perfect match for the way that the romantic among us see the nature of love. China comes in many forms, from porcelain dishes, cups and pottery to figurines and even jewelry.

The traditional gemstone for a 2nd anniversary is the garnet, which takes its name from the Middle English word “gernet,” which means dark red. Fittingly, red actually is the traditional color of the 2nd anniversary. But while garnets are usually red, there are some varieties that come in other colors, from yellow, green or black. But in whatever hue that it may come in, this gem naturally makes a beautiful 2nd anniversary gift in jewelry form, whether embedded in a ring or a pair of earrings, or as the centerpiece of a pendant.

Of course, nothing says “I love you” more than offering flowers. The traditional 2nd anniversary flower is the cosmos, which is said to signify modesty. Not that expressing one’s love and celebrating the second year of a strong marital bond is anything to be modest about. Popular as ornamental garden plants, there are different varieties of cosmos that come in a range of beautiful colors. The Cosmos atrosanguine or Chocolate Cosmos, with its dark red petals, would make an appropriate 2nd anniversary gift. Befitting its name, it emits a chocolate-like fragrance; it might be best given with an actual box of chocolates.

When it comes to love, there is perhaps no greater number than 2. After all, it does take 2 to make a couple. And while it may not appear to hold as much weight as a silver or golden anniversary, the 2nd (cotton?) anniversary is no less significant and holds its own in the abundance of wonderful gifts shared in celebration of it.