An
anniversary is a
dayA day is a unit of time, commonly defined as an interval equal to 24 hours. It also can mean that portion of the full day during which a location is illuminated by the light of the sun...
that commemorates 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. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event. The word was first used for
CatholicCatholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
feasts to commemorate
saintA saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s.
Anniversary names
- Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
s (v.) are the most common type of anniversary, where the birth date of a person is commemorated annually. The actual celebration is sometimes moved for practical reasons, as in the case of an official birthday.
- Wedding anniversaries
-Official recognition:In the Commonwealth realms, one can receive a message from the monarch for 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries, and any wedding anniversary after that...
are also often celebrated on the same day of the year as the wedding occurred.
- Death anniversary
A death anniversary is a custom observed in several Asian cultures including China, Pakistan, Israel, Georgia, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Russia and Vietnam, as well as in other nations with significant overseas Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Jewish, and Vietnamese populations...
.
The Latin phrase
dies natalis (literally birth day) has become a common term, adopted in many languages, especially in intellectual and institutional circles, for the anniversary of the founding ("legal or statutory birth") of an institution, such as an
alma materAlma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
(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 BicentennialThe United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
. These could be the date of independence of the nation or the adoption of a new
constitutionA constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
or form of government. The important dates in a sitting monarch's reign may also be commemorated, an event often referred to as a 'Jubilee'.
Anniversaries of nations are usually marked by the number of years elapsed described with Latin words or Roman numerals.
Latin-derived numerical names
Latin terms for anniversaries are mostly straight forward, particularly those relating to the first twenty years (1-20), those relating to multiples of ten years (30, 40, 60, 70 etc.), and those relating to multiples of centuries or millennia (100, 200, 300, 1000, 2000, 3000 etc.) In these instances, the anniversary generally comes from a derivative of the Latin word for the respective number of years. However, when anniversaries relate to fractions of centuries (125, 150, 175, 250 years - i.e., 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, and 2.5 centuries), the situation is not as simple.
Roman fractionsThe numeral system of ancient Rome, or Roman numerals, uses combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to signify values. The numbers 1 to 10 can be expressed in Roman numerals as:...
were based on a
duodecimal systemThe duodecimal system is a positional notation numeral system using twelve as its base. In this system, the number ten may be written as 'A', 'T' or 'X', and the number eleven as 'B' or 'E'...
. From 1/12 to 8/12 they were described as multiples of twelfths (
unciaThe uncia was a Roman unit of length and of weight .-Republican coin:...
"twelfth"; the source of the English words
inch and
ounce) and from 9/12 to 11/12 they were described as multiple-twelfths less than the next whole unit - i.e., a whole unit less 3/12, 2/12 or 1/12 respectively. There were also special terms for quarter (
quadransThe quadrans was a low-value Roman bronze coin worth one quarter of an as. The quadrans was issued from the beginning of cast bronze coins during the Roman Republic with three pellets representing three unciae as a mark of value...
), half (
semisThe semis was small Roman bronze coin that was valued at half an as. During the Roman Republic, the semis was distinguished by an 'S' or 6 dots...
), and three-quarters (
dodransThe dodrans was an Ancient Roman bronze coin produced during the Roman Republic.The dodrans, valued at three-fourth of an as , was produced only twice:...
).
DodransThe dodrans was an Ancient Roman bronze coin produced during the Roman Republic.The dodrans, valued at three-fourth of an as , was produced only twice:...
is a Latin contraction of
de-quadrans which means "a whole unit less a quarter" (
de means "from";
quadrans means "quarter". Thus for the example of 175 years, the term is a quarter century less than the next whole (bi)century or 175 = (-25 + 200).
In Latin it seems that this rule did not apply literally for 1½. Whereas "secundus" is Latin for "second", or "bis" for "twice" these terms are not used such as in sesqui-secundus. Instead just sesqui (or ses) is used by itself. This may be because it relates to a ratio of one - thus it means "and a half" compared to "one". (It may also be because 1/8 in Latin is
sescuncia, sescunciae (from
sesqui- +
uncia, i.e., 1½
uncias) defined as one-and-a-half twelfths (3/2 × 1/12 = 1/8).)
Therefore care needs to be taken when determining anniversary names. Often unfortunate results occur when new anniversary names are coined by
adding,
subtracting or
multiplying the root elements inappropriately when dealing with either whole numbers or fractions.
| Anniversary |
Preferred Term |
Other Terms |
Comments |
| 1/2 yearly |
Biannual |
Semi-annual |
|
| 1 year |
Annual |
Yearly |
|
| 2 years |
Biennial |
|
|
| 3 years |
Triennial |
|
|
| 4 years |
Quadrennial |
|
|
| 5 years |
Quinquennial |
|
|
| 6 years |
Sexennial |
|
|
| 7 years |
Septennial |
|
|
| 8 years |
Octennial |
|
|
| 9 years |
Novennial |
|
|
| 10 years |
Decennial |
|
|
| 11 years |
Undecennial |
|
|
| 12 years |
Duodecennial |
|
|
| 13 years |
Tredecennial |
|
|
| 14 years |
Quattuordecennial |
|
|
| 15 years |
Quindecennial |
|
|
| 20 years |
Vigintennial |
Vicennial |
|
| 25 years |
Quadranscentennial |
- |
Probably a modern coined term. |
| 50 years |
Semicentennial |
Quinquagenary |
|
| 75 years |
Dodranscentennial |
| Dodrans The dodrans was an Ancient Roman bronze coin produced during the Roman Republic.The dodrans, valued at three-fourth of an as , was produced only twice:...
is a Latin contraction of de-quadrans which means "a whole unit less a quarter" (de means "from"; quadrans means "quarter". 75 years is a quarter century less than a whole century or 75 = (-25 + 100). |
| Dodracentennial |
Alternative Latin form of Dodranscentennial |
| Dequascentennial |
Alternative Latin form of Dodranscentennial |
| Semisesquicentennial |
Probably a modern coined term. Demisesquicentennial or Hemisesquicentennialis are other similar variants. |
| 100 years |
Centennial |
Centenary |
|
| 125 years |
Quasquicentennial |
|
Term is broken down as quasqui- (and a quarter) centennial (100 years). Quasqui is a contraction from quadrans The quadrans was a low-value Roman bronze coin worth one quarter of an as. The quadrans was issued from the beginning of cast bronze coins during the Roman Republic with three pellets representing three unciae as a mark of value...
"a quarter" plus the clitic conjunction -que "and". The term was coined by Funk and Wagnalls editor Robert L. Chapman in 1962. |
| 150 years |
Sesquicentennial |
|
Term broken down as sesqui- (one and a half) centennial (100 years) |
| 175 years |
Dodransbicentennial |
| Dodrans The dodrans was an Ancient Roman bronze coin produced during the Roman Republic.The dodrans, valued at three-fourth of an as , was produced only twice:...
is a Latin contraction of de-quadrans which means "a whole unit less a quarter" (de means "from"; quadrans means "quarter". 175 years is a quarter century less than the next whole (bi)century or 175 = (-25 + 200). |
| Dodrabicentennial |
Alternative Latin form of Dodransbicentennial |
| Dequasbicentennial |
Alternative Latin form of Dodransbicentennial |
| Dosquicentennial |
Dosquicentennial has been used in modern times and this is perhaps a modern contraction of "de-quadrans". However, it seems inappropriate to combine the terms que and de when dealing with such Roman fractions. In any event, if such a conjunction was appropriate then it would perhaps more likely have been "Dosquibicentennial" (but the result is little shorter anyway). |
| Demisemiseptcentennial |
Probably a modern coined term: demisemiseptcentennial; literally one-half (demi-) x one-half (semi-) x seven (sept-) x 100 years (centennial)—also demisemiseptcentenary. |
| Quartoseptcentennial |
Probably a modern coined term: quartoseptcentennial; literally one-quarter (quarto-) x seven (sept-) x 100 years (centennial)—also quartoseptcentenary. |
| Terquasquicentennial |
First used by Bell Laboratories in celebrating its 175th anniversary as a corporation. Is a coined word for an anniversary of 175 years, but the elements of the word literally refer to an anniversary of 375 years, as follows: ter- (3) × quasqui- (1¼) × centennial (100 years) |
| Septaquintaquinquecentennial |
Suggested by lexicographer Robert L. Chapman Robert Lundquist Chapman was an American English professor who edited several dictionaries and thesauri....
to William SafireWilliam Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter....
; first appeared in Safire's column, "On Language" (The New York Times Magazine, February 12, 1995). It is a coined word for an anniversary of 175 years, but the elements of the word literally refer to an anniversary of 35,000 years, as follows: septaquinta- (70) × quinque- (5) × centennial (100 years) |
| 200 years |
Bicentennial |
|
|
| 250 years |
Sestercentennial |
To express 2½ in Latin it would be expressed as "half-three". The term relates to being halfway [from the second] to the third integer. In Latin this is "SestertiusThe sestertius, or sesterce, was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions...
" which is a contraction of semis (halfway) tertius (third) - hence Sestercentennial. |
| Semiquincentennial |
Probably a modern coined term: semi- (half) × quin (5) × cen(t)- (100) × centennial (250 years) |
| Bicenquinquagenary |
Used by Princeton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1996, Reading, PennsylvaniaReading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
in 1998, and Washington and Lee UniversityWashington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
in 1999. It is a coined word for an anniversary of 250 years, but the elements of the word literally refer to an anniversary of 10,000 years, as follows: bi- (2) × cen(t)- (100) × quinquagenary (50 years) |
| Quarter-millennial |
Meaning one fourth of one thousand years. |
| 300 years |
Tercentennial |
Tricentennial |
|
| 350 years |
Sesquarcentennial |
A modern coined term; sesquarcentennial for 350 years is deduced here from the "SestertiusThe sestertius, or sesterce, was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions...
" definition for 250 years above. For 350 years it relates to being halfway from the third to the fourth integer; thus a contraction of semis (halfway) and quartus (fourth); hence Sesquarcentennial. |
| Semiseptcentennial |
Probably a modern coined term: semi- (half) × sept(7) × cen(t)- (100) × centennial (350 years) |
| 400 years |
Quadricentennial |
Quatercentenary |
|
| 500 years |
Quincentennial |
|
|
| 600 years |
Sexcentennial |
|
|
| 700 years |
Septcentennial |
Septuacentennial |
Probably a coined term; earliest known use in March 1988. Chiang Mai Septcentennial Stadium (Chiang Mai, Thailand) was completed in 1991. |
| 800 years |
Octocentennial |
|
|
| 900 years |
Nonacentennial |
|
|
| 1000 years |
Millennial A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
|
|
|
| 2000 years |
Bimillennial |
|
|
Anniversary symbols
Many anniversaries have special names.
Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home by
Emily PostEmily Post was an American author famous for writing on etiquette.-Background:Post was born as Emily Price in Baltimore, Maryland, into privilege as the only daughter of architect Bruce Price and his wife Josephine Lee Price of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania...
, published in 1922, contained suggestions for wedding anniversary gifts for 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50 and 75 years. Wedding anniversary gift suggestions for other years were added in later editions and publications; they now comprise what is referred to as the "traditional" list. Generally speaking, the longer the period, the more precious or durable the material associated with it. See
wedding anniversary-Official recognition:In the Commonwealth realms, one can receive a message from the monarch for 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries, and any wedding anniversary after that...
for a general list of the wedding anniversary symbols; however, there are variations in some national traditions.
Furthermore, there exist numerous partially overlapping, partially contradictory lists of
anniversary gifts (such as wedding stones), separate from the 'traditional' names.
The concepts of a person's birthday stone and zodiac stone, by contrast, are fixed for life according to the day of the week, month or astrological sign corresponding to the recipient's birthday.
Sources and External links