When a person turns 21, they are said to have entered full adulthood, which opens up expanded legal opportunities and rights. When a family comes of age, it is spoken of as a strong, reliable family union.
This is a good reason to get together with the whole family (including children who have gone to study) and celebrate the family's birthday - the 21st wedding anniversary. Even if the children do not come, the spouses should still remember the date of creation of the family and ask what kind of wedding is celebrated in the 21st year of marriage according to the folk calendar.
What kind of wedding is this, what is it called?
Regardless of what the wedding on 21 years of marriage is called, most couples do not celebrate this date. Meanwhile, it has such a romantic name - opal wedding, which means that popular beliefs attribute high qualities to this age of the family:
- beauty;
- reliability;
- energetic force.
These are the characteristics of opal, a semi-precious mineral very popular in jewelry. Remembering how many years they have been living together, many couples are happy to celebrate their opal wedding with their family.
21 years of marriage is an important date for spouses
The stone is opal
Opal gets its name from the Sanskrit word upalah - stone. The scientific name of the mineraloid is amorphous silica (silicon dioxide hydrate). This stone is popular among jewelers. There are many varieties of opal, all of which differ in color, transparency, brilliance and hardness. Noble opal is distinguished by its beautiful play of colors. The color can be from milky white to black, the palette is rich in shades: yellow, green, pink, blue, brown. There are both transparent and translucent varieties.
It is believed that opal brings its owner health, happiness, success in business and love, and gives the owner confidence and the ability to compassion. The stone was endowed with positive properties. With its help, you can increase passion, sensuality, and find out about the infidelity of your other half. If an opal suddenly brought misfortune to its owner, then this was a response to negative thoughts.
The opal wedding is the first whose symbol is a gemstone.
Opal is endowed with mystical properties. With the help of this stone you can make wishes. This is usually done while holding the stone in the left hand. You need to carefully peer at its surface and pattern, discarding all unnecessary thoughts.
It was not by chance that opal was chosen as the symbol of the 21st anniversary. It personifies the precious love of spouses placed in the frame of family life. For so many years, husband and wife have become one, mutual understanding, boundless respect, and harmony reign between them. It is no longer possible to separate the couple, and living apart is no longer possible.
Options for congratulations on the opal anniversary of marriage
Since it is not customary to invite guests to an opal wedding, friends and relatives make do with congratulations on the family’s 21st anniversary by telephone or other means. Adult children can also join in the congratulations.
Cool
It is not necessary to remind the spouses what wedding is being celebrated in the 21st year of marriage; you can make your congratulations quite cool:
“Congratulations to you guys on your 21st wedding, and we must admit that we are simply in awe. In the morning - get up, breakfast, children to school, you - to work, in the evening - clubs, sections, dinner, lessons. Weekends and vacations - only together. And so 21 years! And you, unlike the majority, over the years have not gotten tired of flashing before each other’s eyes, not tired of listening and hearing each other, not tired of loving! It’s worth opening the champagne right now, which we wish you from the bottom of our hearts, and also all the best to you.”
Beautiful
An adult child may well prepare a beautiful congratulations to his parents on their 21st wedding anniversary:
“Dear mom and dad, I will soon turn 21, as will our family. For me this is a whole life, so it’s hard for me to imagine that you, my beloved parents, were once not together. After all, as far as I can remember, you have always been one, you are for me irreplaceable helpers, advisers and defenders, without whom I cannot imagine myself. I don’t know if I can find my soul mate as successfully as you, dad, but at least you and mom showed me an example of true love, loyalty and mutual understanding, which is what I will strive for in search of my destiny.”
Congratulations in prose
In verse
A reminder of the opal wedding is well woven into the congratulations in verse:
A glorious pebble - opal, a multi-colored mineral, today in your life it has become a new milestone of happiness. Congratulations, friends, May your family live in love, I wish you and your children happiness from the bottom of my heart.
Try to compose a short poem. Don’t worry if you don’t get a “masterpiece”, the main thing is that the verse will be personal.
In verse
Legends and beliefs of the symbol of the 21st anniversary of opal
Not a single precious stone has given rise to as many signs and superstitions as the opal stone has caused. Here is one of the legends that is popular in India.
The rainbow goddess was so beautiful that many men wanted to achieve her love and favor. Sometimes she had to flee from annoying fans. One day, running away from the men pursuing her, the goddess realized that there was no salvation, that they were about to catch up with her, and then she hit the ground and crumbled into a thousand beautiful opal stones.
Therefore, in many countries, at different times, opal was considered a symbol of happiness, trust, hope, tender love and sympathy. But the attitude towards this stone with its mysterious changeable color was not always simple; negative meanings were also attributed to it: empty dreams and deceptive hopes, illusions that interfere with living in the present.
- Opal has strong energy. Opal directs its magical properties in such a powerful flow that a weak, unbalanced person simply cannot cope with them and becomes unhappy. Therefore, this mineral is not suitable for amulets for those with an unstable character. It can become a real “stone of evil” for them, as it gives rise to suspiciousness, suspicion, quarrels, and fear.
Although more is said about the positive properties of this stone.
- In lithotherapy, opal is considered a universal remedy associated with almost all internal human organs, since it contains all seven colors of the spectrum. Particularly useful for heart disease. Also, he is credited with the ability to bring the body into balance physically, emotionally and mentally. In addition, wearing it helps rid the body of toxins, cleanses the digestive, circulatory systems and kidneys.
- Opal is credited with having protective properties against infectious diseases. In particular, it is recommended to wear it for prevention during a flu epidemic or during a cold. Used as a remedy to relieve headaches and toothaches.
- It has a positive effect on the nervous system: it calms, reduces irritability, helps overcome insomnia, and relieves melancholy.
- Strengthens intuition and develops creativity, attracts inspiration, which contributes to the speedy achievement of success. By the way, opal’s connection with clairvoyance and predicting the future makes it one of the favorite stones for people interested in magic.
- It is believed that opal is able to drive away dark thoughts and fears from a person, make his mind clear, and protect him from melancholy and depression. This is an excellent communication assistant. It helps to establish relationships with new people and strengthen existing friendships, helps to overcome various communication difficulties and misunderstandings.
- It acts in the same way in love - it promotes reciprocity and strengthens relationships. Opal, especially white opal, promotes tolerance.
- Another area of application for opal is the eyes. It is believed that it restores visual acuity. It is useful to peer into the opal for a few minutes a day, observing the play of light and rainbow reflections - this will improve your vision and can reduce intraocular pressure.
As a talisman, it supports both evil and good intentions and talents of its owners. In one case, for example, he can keep the same person from base whims and passions, and in another, on the contrary, push him to forbidden pleasures.
What to give to your husband or wife
In the traditions of celebrating the opal anniversary - 21 years of marriage - there are no special reservations regarding what to give to the wife or husband - and this is understandable, considering what kind of wedding is being celebrated:
- decorations;
- cufflinks;
- tie pins;
- keychains;
- boxes and any other items inlaid with opal would be appropriate.
A woman, of course, will be pleased to receive a bouquet of flowers in an arbitrary odd number.
An excellent addition to congratulations to a husband from his wife on his 21st wedding anniversary is a hand-baked cake with multi-colored confectionery sprinkles, symbolizing the beauty of opal.
What to cook for an opal wedding?
If you intend to welcome guests at home, cover the table with a white tablecloth and decorate it with flowers in light colors. The dishes can combine any shades of opal. You can prepare a festive treat yourself or order it to your home.
There may be several snacks on the table: salads and pickles, aspic and all kinds of rolls. You can delight your guests with homemade pies, such as a cabbage and mushroom pie or a fish pie in the shape of a fish with smoked salmon. As a main course, you should prepare a roast according to the original recipe.
With all the variety of dishes, guests always look forward to sweets. For dessert, an original decorated cake is perfect, for example, a chocolate sponge cake with butter cream or a light mousse cake covered with multi-colored glaze.
An opal wedding or a family coming of age is not only the result of the most difficult and happiest period in life, but at the same time the beginning of a new stage when marriage acquires unbreakable bonds. The very fact that the opal wedding took place is a reason to thank each other for the experience and happiness of being together. Thank fate for this happiness with your little holiday, and it will give you many more years of happy family life.
What to give to friends on this day
On the day of an opal wedding, friends usually don’t bother about what to give the spouses, since most couples prefer to spend this day quietly and unnoticed, in the family circle. If the family has a tradition of celebrating the family’s birthday every year and inviting guests, you should think about gifts for an opal wedding. By and large, on the 21st anniversary, families give anything as long as the gift is engraved “With an opal wedding”:
- flash drive;
- desk clock in the office;
- a set of writing instruments;
- a solid diary;
- organizer;
- GPS navigator;
- car video recorder;
- camp grill with a set of skewers;
- tourist tent;
- an original cartoon painting or made in an interesting modern technique.
The choice of gift is not limited to those items that hint at what kind of wedding is being celebrated in the 21st year of marriage, so you can give anything that your heart and imagination suggest.
Why was it called that?
The years of family life are passing, and the solemn wedding is already far behind. Many anniversaries have been celebrated, and now the 21st wedding anniversary has arrived - the opal wedding. It is named after opal, which has long been considered a stone that attracts love and fulfills hopes, a symbol of patience and wisdom; it is also used as a talisman for talented and creative people.
On the one hand, the stone is endowed with favorable qualities for family life, but on the other hand, it is said to bring quarrels. And in which family there are no discords and quarrels, because only by learning to find a way out of the current conflict situation, a couple will be able to maintain close, reverent relationships for many years.
Pictures and cards suitable for the event
Pictures or postcards on the theme “21 years together” will serve as a beautiful addition to congratulations on your opal wedding day. The images used on them are traditional:
- wedding rings lying on an open white rose flower;
greeting card
- a pair of snow-white swans gliding across the blue surface of the water;
Pair of swans
- a handful of uncut opal stones;
Or jewelry with them
- bouquets, beads, glasses of champagne, cakes.
Glasses of champagne and a festive bouquet
There are ready-made wishes on cards; they can serve as a hint with what words to congratulate the spouses on their opal wedding.
Congratulations card
Memorable gifts
On an opal wedding, of course, it is customary to give opal.
This stone brings spouses closer together and makes their union strong. But first of all, it’s worth remembering that the husband must give his wife a bouquet of 21 red roses. This symbolic and very beautiful gift will delight your spouse and symbolize strong and devoted love!
- Jewelry is the perfect gift for an opal wedding. A woman can be given pink, green or blue opal. Of course, it is better to focus on her taste and choose the color of the stone that she likes best.
- Jewelry with opal can be anything - earrings, a ring or a large ring, a large pendant, beads, a bracelet. You can give a set of jewelry.
We recommend: Wedding anniversary gift for husband
- You can give your husband black or green opal. It could be a ring, a rosary, beautiful cufflinks or a pin, a tie clip, or even a keychain.
- But the main gift on this holiday is love and devotion. Give each other an unforgettable evening, don’t find fault with little things, learn to forgive and often tell your other half how much you appreciate her, why you love her, and what you’re proud of.
An opal wedding can be celebrated in different ways - it is also not prohibited within the family circle, if there is such a desire. The most important thing is to understand that this is not just a reason to raise glasses and receive gifts, this is an important date on which a lot needs to be thought about and understood.
Start from this day a new happy stage of life, and may your family be harmonious and prosperous! Author: Vasilina Serova
How to celebrate your marriage anniversary
It is not customary to celebrate the 21st anniversary of marriage noisily. It is better for spouses to spend the whole day together - in nature or go to a cafe or book a table in a restaurant.
A good option is a romantic dinner by candlelight at home, with soothing music and exotic fumes from an aroma lamp.
If you want a noisy holiday, everything is in your hands, invite your guests and have fun. After all, it’s not often that you get the chance to dedicate your time to relaxation, so you need to make the most of the opportunity.
Opal wedding traditions
When celebrating their twenty-first wedding anniversary, spouses often immerse themselves in memories. They can dedicate this day to each other, remembering their wedding day or first date. If you wish, you can arrange a walk to places with pleasant memories.
In European countries, mature couples, celebrating their wedding anniversary, renew their vows of fidelity and love. You can solemnly perform this beautiful ritual in the open air in a picturesque place in the presence of guests.
On the eve of their twenty-first anniversary, spouses can give themselves an unusual gift. To do this, they must collect old or broken jewelry without a pair and give it to a jeweler for melting. As a result, they receive new paired jewelry, for example, rings, which will become a real talisman and symbol of their family life.
