To think this is strange

[YummyButter]

Genuinely curious about this one.

Does anyone else find it strange to buy other people cards, gifts etc. for their wedding anniversaries? Seems to be the norm in my partners family, but it's so strange to me lol

I think husbands and wives should obviously get for each other if they want to, but should it really be a thing that other people buy for other couples anniversaries?

I honestly don’t believe people are genuinely bewildered by this. I get that some people just aren’t that bothered about celebrating anniversaries, but it’s not like trying to understand why someone would engage in ritual sacrifice or become a hermit. Celebrating anniversaries are pretty common.

Those of you making or faces because your parents or in-laws ‘expect’ an anniversary card, would it really kill you to send one? To do a small thing that would make someone you presumably care about happy?

There was a thread a while back from somebody who claimed she ‘didn’t understand’ why her parents wanted her to send them an anniversary card, because ‘It’s not like I was there. Why would I celebrate an event I didn’t attend?’ Presumably, unless she had a time machine, she wasn’t at their births either - did she ignore their birthdays too? And it really isn’t any more difficult than remembering a birthday.

Someone else on the same thread said, ‘You remember another adult’s anniversary? Seriously?’ when I said I always sent my parents an anniversary card. My parents, for heaven's sake! You’d have thought I’d memorised the date Mabel from the fag shop got married.

It's for the couple, surely. Why would other people buy gifts.

Having been to 40 plus weddings in my lifetime though some are no longer with us. It would cost a fortune to send cards plus all the inlaws whose weddings I didn't attend as I wasn't around at that point. I certainly don't expect cards from anyone but DH tbh but will mark milestone Anniversaries for others.

@FireflyRainbow

It's for the couple, surely. Why would other people buy gifts.

Cards I understand. Gifts no, unless a big Anniversary.

My husband and I don't even celebrate our anniversary...I might buy him a card for our upcoming 20th, but frankly we'll probably let that one slide too.

The concept of even remembering other people's anniversaries unless invited to help them celebrate a milestone one is just alien to me.

We don't send cards, gifts or acknowledge others' anniversaries. We've only acknowledged if there was a big do.
We don't bother with our own, save for sloppy cards. Been married many years.