One of the first exciting dates for a married couple is the 4th wedding anniversary, and knowing the name of this event and what makes it remarkable, you can organize a bright home celebration.
There is no point in ignoring this day because it is not an anniversary. It is better to use it for original congratulations to spouses and the presentation of symbolic gifts. This will help stock up on warm feelings until the next anniversary.
In the 4th year of marriage, a linen wedding is celebrated.
4 year wedding anniversary – linen, wax or rope wedding?
The fourth wedding anniversary is a solemn date that symbolizes the strength of feelings, the confidence of partners in each other, their willingness to overcome difficulties together and build a happy future.
This event has several names: in Germany the 4th anniversary is called amber, in the Netherlands - silk.
In Russia, such a wedding is usually called linen, wax or rope:
- Linen wedding. Linen is a strong material whose fibers are closely intertwined. Likewise, spouses who have been married for 4 happy years become one in their actions, actions, and views on the future. At the same time, linen is not such a bright material as, for example, chintz, symbolizing the first wedding anniversary. This is a hint that the life of the spouses is no longer so enchanting and festive. Romance fades into the background, life is settled, it’s time to set high goals and achieve them.
- Wax wedding. Wax is plastic and pliable, so it is perfect as a symbol for a date such as 4 years of marriage. By this time, the husband and wife become more attentive to each other, acquire worldly wisdom, the ability to please, and adapt to their partner. Like soft wax, the spouses change their “shape” (habits, character) and firmly unite into a single figure.
- Rope wedding. This name is also easy to explain - by the 4th anniversary, partners are woven together like rope fibers. It is believed that from this moment on, separating husband and wife becomes much more difficult than in the first years of marriage.
Name
The four-year anniversary has three names:
- Linen – the symbol is linen and the material made from it. After all, this material is much stronger, stronger and denser than representatives of previous wedding dates, its fibers are tightly intertwined, like the spouses themselves by this period of time, it is already difficult to separate them. It is considered a fairly expensive fabric, so since ancient times it has symbolized wealth and prosperity, as well as spiritual integrity. The anniversary in question became a kind of start to material savings and arrangement of life, because the family was no longer quite young and it was time to think about the future and not waste money.
- Rope - explained by the fact that the married couple is intertwined with each other, as if with ropes, and it is already very difficult to break it.
- Wax - this name is especially popular in Europe. Everyone knows that wax is flexible, as is the relationship between spouses at this stage. Lovers are trying to adapt more and more to each other and make compromises.
Linen wedding traditions, rituals, signs
In the old days, on this date, spouses, in order to maintain a harmonious marriage, made amulets and gave them to each other, performed rituals to strengthen feelings, fidelity, and childbirth. To look into the future, special attention was paid to signs.
Traditions
According to one of the traditions, on the wedding day (4 years), the wife’s godparents visited the spouses to give beautiful linen items. Sometimes, as a gift, the godfather presented a spinning wheel or a chest for storing things, and the godmother presented hand-sewn linen products. The husband and wife responded by treating the godparents to a loaf of bread, pies with various fillings, and home-made wine.
There were other traditions of honoring this day:
- For the holiday, the wife had to weave a shirt from flax with her own hands and give it to her husband. All work was kept secret. The product was created without fitting in order to check how well the wife had time to study her husband. If the shirt fit, the husband put it on and didn’t take it off all day. By how well the shirt fit, they determined whether the wife knew her husband well and what kind of craftsman she was.
- All invited guests gave the spouses symbolic gifts for a linen wedding: the eldest relative - a doll-amulet made of flax, the rest of the relatives - the stems of this plant.
- To test how united the young people were, the guests organized the following fun: the spouses were tightly tied with a rope using complex knots. If a husband and wife fail to free themselves from shackles within a certain time, it means that their marriage will be long-lasting.
Amulet doll made of flax to save the family.
Rituals
The fourth wedding anniversary is a day filled with the special magic of love.
On this holiday, various rituals were performed to help make the life of the spouses “sweet and smooth”:
- From the day following the wedding ceremony, the young wife began to weave linen. She did this only on those days when her husband showed attention to her, gave her gifts and joy. On the morning of the 4th anniversary, the wife covered her lover with a woven cloth. If the fabric covered a man’s entire body, he was considered a caring husband; if not, he should have thought about whether he was building his family life correctly.
- On the day of the celebration, the husband made a linen doll, which the couple placed in the red corner of the house. The amulet was intended to preserve the couple's happiness throughout the year, and on the 5th anniversary it was burned.
- On the holiday, in order to attract prosperity and well-being to the home of the newlyweds, guests sprinkled them with flax seeds.
Signs
In ancient times, there were beliefs according to which, on the 4th anniversary, it was easy to determine what future family life would be like. One of these signs is also suitable for modern married couples.
In the morning, a pair (double) candle is lit in the bedroom. If the flame burns without crackling or soot, mutual understanding awaits the couple.
The candle burned out to the end - to a long and strong marriage, suddenly went out - to separation. When the flame of one of the intertwined candles goes out, it means that the love feelings of one of the partners will soon fade away.
According to the sign, if a candle burns evenly, then this means a good, quiet life.
How to celebrate a linen wedding
An event such as the 4 years that a couple has lived since their wedding day is celebrated in a close circle. Be sure to invite parents from both sides, godmothers and fathers, beloved relatives and friends.
The couple sets the table at home - now they need to think not about lavish celebrations of family holidays in restaurants, but about how to increase the budget and build a reliable foundation for a bright, comfortable future.
A linen tablecloth is laid on the table, napkins are laid out, wild flowers, candles are placed, as well as figurines of young people held together with red thread.
Honey, sweets, and pies must be placed on the table. It is believed that they bring harmony and happiness to the family, as Yu.S. writes. Anokhina.
Pies with various fillings: fish, meat, mushrooms, berries must be decorated and sprinkled with flax.
The more pies the housewife has prepared, the richer, more interesting and prosperous the married life will be.
The table is covered with a linen tablecloth, and linen napkins are selected to match the tablecloth. Bouquets of blooming flax and figurines made of flax stems decorate the festive table.
Anniversary decorations: interior and festive table
When celebrating a linen wedding, you need to pay special attention to decorative elements made from this material. These could be tablecloths, curtains, napkins. Long embroidered linen towels will decorate any room very well.
It is advisable to serve on the table simple, unpretentious, but satisfying and tasty dishes that used to be in any home, even a poor one: boiled and fried potatoes, sauerkraut, pickles, various vegetables, mushrooms with onions and butter. Although this is not a strict requirement, and if the hostess wants to show off her culinary skills by preparing an exquisite treat, good luck!
What to give for 4th wedding anniversary
Presentation of gifts can take place either in a private setting, when the spouses are alone, or during a feast. This tradition allows lovers to remind each other of the strength of their feelings, and provides guests with the opportunity to express their admiration and wish the couple well.
What can you give your husband for a linen wedding:
- Car seat covers.
- Collection wine in a linen case.
- A souvenir based on interests in stylish packaging using linen - a pen, a fisherman's set, a gadget for the home or car, an amulet or jewelry, perfume.
- Linen clothing - shirt or trousers.
What to give your wife for a linen wedding:
- Set for creativity: embroidery, candle making, canvas painting.
- Linen clothing: robe, shirt, dress, etc.
- Stylish sofa cushions decorated with embroidery.
- Handmade souvenirs made from linen and other natural materials.
A touching bouquet of blooming flax will come in handy at a flax wedding. Blooming flax can be presented in a pot (they are sold in flower shops) or in a beautiful flowerpot.
Gift ideas from guests:
- Home textiles: kitchen towels, tablecloths, curtains, bedspreads, paired aprons.
- Bath set with linen products.
- Photo album in beautiful design.
- Amulet in the form of a linen doll.
What should you not give?
You should not give your spouse watches, knives and other sharp objects, even in a beautiful canvas package. It is believed that watches steal precious time, and a knife given as a gift will attract misfortune or illness.
How to accept watches and cutlery as a gift? Give the donor a coin, and thereby you will neutralize bad predictions.
It is also not recommended to accept gifts in the form of candles from guests, since wax absorbs energy, and it is not always positive for those who give it.
Your wife will love this linen cosmetic bag.
General gifts for family
Many acquaintances, relatives or colleagues prefer to make gifts of a general nature that both spouses will use. They have a neutral and non-committal tone:
- Set of linen bed linen;
- Decorative pillows for the sofa;
Pillows for young people
Linen pillows - A set for family trips to the bathhouse/sauna, which includes linen sheets and hats;
- You can order exclusive summer car seat covers. Such a gift will not be cheap - about 250-500 USD;
Car covers - Since flax is used to make not only fabric, but also food, a bottle of expensive flaxseed oil or a gift set of flax seeds would be a great gift for those who love a healthy lifestyle;
- Skin care cosmetics are made from valuable flaxseed oils; for example, you can give a set of massage creams. The spouses will definitely appreciate it!
Congratulations on the linen wedding: pictures, postcards
You can congratulate your significant other on their anniversary with a beautiful picture or postcard. It’s easy to send a virtual gift via instant messenger or social network.
A linen wedding is a good reason to forget about everyday difficulties for a while, remind each other of your feelings and spend time in the company of those closest to you. Even when the holiday is over, you need to remember that the happiness of the spouses depends only on themselves, and the basis of a strong family is respect and mutual understanding.
We celebrated our 4th anniversary, and the family has its first significant anniversary ahead - a wooden wedding for the 5th anniversary. And after 6 years of marriage, a series of “metal” anniversaries (cast iron, copper, tin) is coming. We will definitely tell you how they are celebrated and what they give on their wedding day.
