The tradition of giving designated gifts for specific wedding anniversaries is said to have originated in medieval Germany, though some scholars make a case for it extending as far back ancient Rome. But all evidence points to it being codified in the Victorian era. The 1859 edition of the reads, “[O]ne month from marriage makes a sugar wedding; one year makes a paper wedding.” It continues to tick off the milestones: asserted the same designations, except for diamond, which it assigned to the perhaps more reasonable (if only slightly) 60th anniversary.
