6 years after the wedding: the name and features of its celebration
Six years of marriage is not a “round” date, however, it is very important for spouses and people close to them. To make this solemn event unforgettable, it is worth preparing and observing some traditions.
What is the name of the anniversary?
The six-year anniversary of the wedding day is called the cast-iron wedding. The interpretation of the name of the anniversary is interesting. At first glance, cast iron is a strong metal, however, if it is carelessly treated, it is easily deformed. Marital life of 6 years is also a rather long term. The husband and wife become confident in each other, they know each other well enough. But this is not a reason to relax, because family ties and love, like cast iron, do not tolerate carelessness.
Interestingly, the cast iron acquires the greatest strength when heated at high temperatures. It seems to remind the spouses of the need to keep a high “degree” of relations - not to forget about love, tenderness, passion. Psychologists talk about the crisis of relationships, the first of which falls on a 3-year-old, the second 5, 6 or 7-year period of living together. And again the name “cast-iron wedding” is the best example of the family experience that the “young” have accumulated. Now their family is strong enough, the relationship looks "impressive", but it is worth to stop working on them, as a crisis or "destruction of cast iron" can occur.
In short, a cast-iron wedding is an opportunity for the spouses to look at their marriage from a different angle. Relationships to this period can be devoid of romance and seem something taken for granted, indestructible and ordinary. However, it is during this period that couples may lie in check for the strength of their marriage. You can withstand it, showing careful attitude to each other, remembering the importance of sincerity, tenderness in the family. Another name for this anniversary is the rowan wedding. It is explained by the fact that bunches of ripe berries have long symbolized the family hearth.
Traditions
Cast-iron wedding, like most of these dates, has long been celebrated in Russia. A few days before the sixth birthday of the family, the spouse cleaned cast-iron dishes and utensils to shine, and on the day of the celebration proudly put them on the street for public display. Undoubtedly, in this tradition there is a connection with the name of the celebration, and the desire of the housewife to demonstrate her own skills and abilities, which she acquired in marriage. It is not surprising that the mother-in-law was the first and one of the main guests on this day. Her task was to examine all corners of the house of her son and daughter-in-law, to see how well the latter copes with housekeeping.
For this, the mother-in-law took a white handkerchief and conducted them to all corners of the house. The result, regardless of whether it was positive or negative, was shown to the guests. Also, during the cast-iron anniversary, it was customary to cook food exclusively in metal dishes of the same name. At the end of the festive feast, the guests were handed a cast-iron in which they put the coins. The greater the “gathering”, the more prosperous and rich the coming joint years will be. Having guided the guests, the spouses took the iron-pot again and put little notes in it written with those cherished desires. Then the cast iron was removed away from prying eyes. It was believed that the desired come true within a year.
In the Baltics, the name “cast-iron” wedding is rarely heard, here there is a more poetic epithet called rowan. If by the 6-year anniversary the family still has no children, then the young relatives, who had already become mother, presented a “newlywed” bunch of rowan grapes. And the French, known for their romantic moods and easy attitude to life, called the sixth birthday of the family candy. "Newlyweds" on this day take as a gift houses of candy and caramel, which symbolize the sweet life in abundance.
How to celebrate?
If we take into account the traditions of the past, then the most preferred option for the celebration will be a small family celebration, where the hostess of the house, like many centuries ago, will be able to demonstrate her skills as a hostess, wife, mother. By the way, most young families do just that for economic reasons - yet the date is not “round”. Since cast iron is associated with pans, the main dish is better to make a big meat pie. In a cast iron skillet such dishes are especially successful.
Cake can be made in the form of a pig-iron cup with a joking inscription, which is given for perfect family life. As a rule, such a gift is prepared by guests. Even if a small company of relatives gathers at the table, take care of themed interior design. You can opt for a combination of white and golden or warm yellow, light brown. They will symbolize cast iron.
A little more space of fantasy will give the name "ashberry wedding." It is logical that white, red and green shades will rule the ball. The main color is better to choose white, because the remaining two with heavy use will tire. Autumn wedding can be decorated with natural rowan clusters. They can be the main bouquet on the table or be placed in the napkin ring, in the plates or next to them for each guest.
If family gatherings seem boring to you, it is not forbidden to arrange a festivity on a grand scale. It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on it. It is enough to arrange walks on cars, paving an interesting route, taking snacks and disposable dishes. In this case, be sure to schedule a visit to the bridge and prepare a cast-iron lock with keys in advance. It will need to be fixed on the bridge, and the keys are thrown into the water.
Some couples perform this ceremony on the day of marriage registration, but it is after 6 years that the tradition looks more logical and symbolic. The spouses went together part of the way, and at the same time a very difficult part of it (remember that we talked about relationship crises a little higher). The castle symbolizes that they are ready to go further, take care of the family. You can even combine these holiday scenarios. Happy to spend it with friends and young relatives, riding a car, having a picnic. In the evening, celebrate anniversary with parents and senior relatives at a gala dinner.
It is possible to beat the custom of “letting” the iron pot around the guests in a modern way, which is existing in ancient times - instead of coins, invite your loved ones to drop notes with wishes into it. Having guided the guests, you can, like our Slavic ancestors, begin to write cherished wishes on the leaves and drop them in the pot. This will bring together spouses, will become a kind of planning for the coming year. By the way, exactly one year later, you can get notes and discuss what has come true, and what wishes may already seem insignificant. By the same analogy, you can omit notes describing memorable moments, thanks to your half, your family’s achievements. Moreover, this tradition can also be adopted to celebrate subsequent anniversaries.
Another tradition can embody in-law. To do this, she should acquaint the guests and the daughter-in-law with the tradition that existed earlier - to check the cleanliness of the dwelling with a handkerchief. After that, you should humorously beat the “test session” - put on white gloves and check, of course, where they cannot get dirty (bedding, upholstered furniture).Then the mother-in-law can proudly demonstrate the remaining white gloves after checking and hand over a comic letter, a medal or a cup with the title of “The Cleanest / Economic” to the daughter-in-law, etc.
Choosing anniversary gifts
If you follow the tradition, then the spouse (and guests) should give gifts of cast iron or things stylized under this material. Unlike some dates, when they donate jewelry made of gold, silver with precious and semi-precious stones, the cast-iron wedding does not imply this. The husband can give his wife (according to tradition) something from the kitchen utensils. However, adjustments should be made to the modern mentality - such a gift can offend a woman.
A man can be given weights or dumbbells (connection with cast iron), metal cigarette case, flask for alcohol, ashtray. Invited guests when choosing a gift should remember that both spouses should use them. It is desirable that they have a relationship or associated with cast iron. Such a gift can be cast iron cookware, various boxes, figurines, vases.
However, modern housewives may not be happy with such a gift - it is too bulky and old-fashioned. A way out of the situation can be a present of wrought iron castings for the interior - a beautiful foot shop with twisted cast iron legs, a mirror in an intricate pattern-frame made of cast iron, angular and ordinary bath shelves. Such products always look unusual, expensive and airy.
If the heroes of the occasion like picnics or have a cottage, you can give a cast-iron brazier with grills, skewers. Forged items can represent the initials "young", their last name, weave into hearts. Such a gift, of course, will “cost a pretty penny”, but you can make it a collective one. Definitely, it will be more useful and more pleasant than a faceless cast-iron figurine. Holders of cottages or country houses can be presented with a cast-iron grating for the fireplace, tongs and similar tools. A good option - street lights, small benches.
An interesting presentation option is precious coins that are always associated with metal. Such a gift is also an investment. It is better to consult a specialist and buy really valuable coins. Do not forget to tell about their value in the financial market endowed.
Pig-iron products are less and less common in the life of a modern person, which is associated with their great weight, bulkiness, and high cost. However, with their help, you can beat the more modern counterparts. For example, to present the “newlyweds” with an old iron from iron first, and then hand over a modern model with a steam generator and a lot of “bells and whistles”. Naturally, the gifts need to somehow be linked with each other and with the holiday, for example, with the help of a beautiful parable.
One of the variants of the "cast-iron" gift is a candlestick. But if you donate it only, the "young" are unlikely to find a use for it. It should be supplemented with aromatic candles, a pair of glasses on thin legs (can be engraved) and a bottle of good wine. Agree, now the gift looks like a mini-set for a romantic evening and, perhaps, the "newlyweds" will want to use it immediately after the guests. Undoubtedly, such a gift will be remembered, and its donor will be remembered with a kind word.
If the cast-iron theme is not close to you, and the anniversary is at the beginning or middle of the autumn, interpret it as mountain ash. Gifts will be relevant in a rich red color, that is, rowan hue. Here jewelry with precious and semiprecious stones of corresponding shades will be appropriate. The hue of the winter berry is rich and bright, which is associated with deep love, sensuality of partners, passion. A spouse can on this day present scarlet lace underwear or a certificate to the salon of underwear.
Always appropriate gift for the couple will be bed or table linen, towels, blankets, interior textiles. It is not necessary to choose products in red, you can stay on neutral shades with floral ornaments, better - the image of clusters of mountain ash. It is not necessary to give exclusively cast-iron pans, pots and pans. You can choose an elegant tea or coffee set for 6 persons (by the number of years lived). If desired, it can be placed on a cast-iron or any other metal tray, decorating it with rowan leaves, berries.
Do not forget about the colors. Spouse is better to present his wife a bouquet of her favorite flowers. Guests can bring Alstroemeria, sunflowers, callas, Hypericum. If by this time the mountain ash has turned red, feel free to include the branches with berries in the composition.
You will find out how to make meat pie for a cast-iron wedding in a pan in the next video.