Mr Anniversary Gift

An anniversary (from the Latin anniversarius, from the words for year and to turn, meaning (re)turning yearly; known in English since c. 1230) is a day that commemorates and/or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event; 365 days (plus a possible leap day) in the case of a solar year, or approximately 354 days in the case of an Islamic lunar year, or approximately 354 or 384 days later in the case of the Jewish year, or otherwise one year later, would be the first anniversary of that event. The word was first used for the Christian feasts to commemorate the saints.

Birthdays are the most common type of anniversary, where the birth date of a person is commemorated anually. The actual celebration is sometimes moved for practical reasons, as in the case of an official birthday.

Wedding anniversaries are also often celebrated on the same day of the year as the wedding occurred.

The Latin word dies natalis (literally birth day) has become a common term, adopted in all languages, especially in intellectual and institutional circles, for the anniversary of the founding ('legal or statutory birth') of an institution, such as an alma mater (college or other school). Even in ancient Rome, we know of the [dies] Aquilae natalis ('birthday of the eagle', anniversary of the official founding of a legion).

Most countries around the world celebrate national anniversaries, for example the United States Bicentennial. These can be the date of independence of the nation or the adoption of a new constitution or form of government.

Anniversaries of nations are usually given by the number of years elapsed in Latin words or Roman numerals.

Technorati Tags : anniversary, meaning, definition, wiki