The eighth Wedding Anniversary is symbolised by the gift of bronze or
pottery. The contemporary wedding gift for this anniversary is
either linen or lace.
The age of bronze resulted in many artifacts associated with
weddings and marriage. Bells, often used to communicate the great events
in a community, including a wedding ceremony, were made out of bronze.
Keys, used to guard what is valued, in some ancient cultures were
placed in the hands of a married woman but never in the hands of an
unmarried one.
The flower associated with the eighth wedding anniversary is
clematis and the gemstone is the Aveturine or multi-coloured Tourmaline.
Aventurine
helps to reinforce decisiveness and amplify leadership qualities. Good for
calming anxiety and fears.
Traditional gifts for the eighth wedding anniversary includes
bronze bookends,
sculpture, international pottery, kitchen canisters, plant with bronze pot,
dinnerware.
Since bronze itself is an alloy
of two metals - a fusion of copper and tin - the eighths wedding
anniversary is ideal to celebrate the union not only of the couple, but of
the two families from which they come. This could be just an
anniversary with the couple and their parents, or include all immediate
family members.
Each side of the family could be
asked to bring their favourite dish, while the couple make take this
opportunity to evolve a favourite dish of their own.