Celebrating 9 years of partnership or married life together is a lovely reason to treasure each other and one way of doing this is choosing a gift for your partner. Traditions have grown around the theme of the gift for each year. Read on to find out more about the ways this tradition has grown. And then peruse the list of gems I have found to help you celebrate your 9th wedding anniversary.
The origin story of wedding anniversary gift giving
So what is the origin of wedding anniversary gifts? Marriage has evolved from a transactional arrangement to a modern partnership with a good dose of love and maybe romance for good measure. Alongside this has grown a recognition that life is a whole lot happier all round if we recognise and cherish the contribution each partner has made towards a growing relationship.
How wedding anniversary gifts all began.
So let’s start in medieval Germany where wives might be crowned with a silver wreath after 25 years of marriage , whilst they might gift their husband a silver buckle. And for the few who reached a 50th anniversary, the same might be repeated but with gold this time.
What the Victorians were good at.
Leap forward to the Victorians who loved to create traditions ( Yes, we have a tree inside our houses during December. And no, we’re not quite sure why). Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were the epitome of a love match. They showered each other with opulent gifts for Christmas, birthday and wedding anniversaries.
The symbolism of a 9th wedding anniversary gift.
Modern and traditional gifts for a wedding anniversary start with delicate paper to mark year one and gradually become more robust and valuable to mark the years of dedication & commitment.
9 years of marriage is definitely a cause for celebration. Nine years of growing together & helping each other to flourish. The traditional gift for a 9th wedding anniversary is made from willow or pottery. Pottery represents the need to shape and mold the partnership over the years. And willow is a plant with deep, strong roots that can also be very flexible under pressure. Both can be used to create beautiful, stronger and useful objects.
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Gift ideas for a 9th wedding anniversary.
Here are a selection of gift ideas. Some come from my own shop where I create willow products from willow grown here in the UK. Most are nature based and where possible come from small, independent Uk businesses.
- Willow bird feeders. These best selling bird feeders offer an opportunity to engage with the natural world and can bring birds right up to the window where you can view them as you work, rest and play indoors. There is a great buzz to be had from hearing a small clunk as a robin pops by for lunch.
This version can be fixed to a window or hung from a tree. To keep the birds healthy it is suggested that from May to October the birds are fed daily with a suet ball and a small amounts of meal worms. A suet ball is included with your gift wrapped bird feeder.
2. A Happy Anniversary card with a willow keepsake.
This card with a detachable keepsake is the perfect solution for your anniversary. Choose between a willow heart, a willow star, a willow llama or, if you love a good pun, choose the willow deer with the attached card that reads … You are very deer to me.’
3. A pottery bird drinking / feeding station
This one of a kind Vierno bird drinking station has been made in collaboration with the National Trust and supports their work. Birds drink at least once a day and this beautiful piece ensures the water stays clean for all the thirsty visitors.
A Vierno Hedgehog Bowl is such a beautifully unique gift, such a reasonable price and is a great reason to get out into the garden and support wildlife. Hedgehogs can be fed on kitten kibble or wet dog / cat food.
5. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
You might view this as a children’s book but this tale of the riverbank and the the growing friendships of ratty, mole, badger and their high energy friend (we all know one of those) Mr Toad is the most heart warming read of making yourself vulnerable, trying new things, having adventures and enjoying the comforts of a good meal and a cosy home. Which might be a little similar to the experience of being married for 9 years!
The Wind in the Willows was originally published in 1908 and this 90th anniversary edition is beautifully illustrated by E.H Shepard. Buying throught this link to Bookshop.org also means that you will be supporting independent booksellers.
If your dearest is interested in craft and creativity using natural materials, this gem of a book offers practical and inspirational advice on how to use natural materials to create beautiful and useful objects for your home. Jenny Crisp is a beautifully skilled weaver who takes you step by step through a range of enticing willow weaving projects in this beautifully illustrated book.
This pottery date night looks like such good fun. The kit includes the clay, the succulent plants and a step by step video to take you through the creation process to make 2 of your very own unique pottery head plant holders.
8. A personalised pottery bud vase
Handmade by Lola Swain Designs in her UK based ceramic studio, this extremely beautiful and unique bud vase is imprinted with cow parlsey and can have up to 35 letters & numbers added to make it especially personal to you. To have such a one of a kind gift for your anniversary would be a treasure.
Made by the very talented basket maker Anna Liebmann this super cute willow keyring means your loved one will always think of you as they head off in the car (to buy you chocolate at midnight, or whatever your heart desires.) It’s so beautifully made and is a perfect find for hard to buy for partners.
10. A willow bird feeder / plant holder and card gift set
A handmade willow bird feeder comes gift wrapped and, with an enclosed suet ball, can be set up immediately to feed the birds. The gift card has the happiest of colourful lettering and the willow star is detachable so it can be kept as a keepsake. It may even find its way to your Christmas tree.
I hope this list proves useful. Where possible I have deliberately chosen nature based products that come from UK based makers or suppliers. Supporting the small businesses makes everyone’s lives richer.
