Wife Appreciation Day

Wife Appreciation Day - Friday, September 20, 2024

Relationship Family Love Women

National Wife Appreciation Day, celebrated on the third Sunday of September (September 20), gives those of us (men, women, trans, fluid, etc.) who are lucky enough to have wives an extra chance to show them how much they mean to us. Our wives keep us grounded and centered. They inspire us to work hard, play hard, and to always have something to bring to the table to show that we’re improving ourselves. Wives ask us to take out the trash and empty the dishwasher and change the oil (stereotypical but true), which is good with us because those things need to get done anyway, and we like the idea of our ladies having that extra fifteen minutes or half-hour to just be in their space. These women that we’re bound to, body and soul, are so many things to so many people: their spouses, naturally — but also the kids (if they have them), the in-laws (which they almost certainly have), and, if we’re right about how generally awesome they are, everyone they interact with on a daily basis, in ways large and small. And of course, this holiday is especially important for wives who may feel left out on Mother’s Day.

No matter whether you have been married for one year, ten years, or 50 years, you need to appreciate your wife. You need to show her how much she means to you. Of course, for some men, this can come naturally. For others, it can be difficult. It’s not because of a character flaw or an error on your behalf. It’s simply because some men don’t like to show their feelings or they find it difficult to communicate with them. We feel you, but on Wife Appreciation Day, you have the perfect excuse to make sure that your wife knows how much she is appreciated. 

Learn about Wife Appreciation Day

Wife Appreciation Day is about showing your wife how much you love her and how much she means to you. We often don’t tell people we appreciate them enough! When you have been with someone for quite some time, it can be easy to overlook all of the things they do. Whether this is cooking you a meal in the evening or making you smile on a daily basis, it is important to reflect on how much your wife brings to your life and make her aware of this. 

Buying a ring for your partner to show love and appreciation is an age old tradition; not just for an engagement or wedding, but for anniversaries too. In fact, a lot of people are astounded by how long this has been occurring. It dates as far back as the second century BC. The act of giving a ring as a representation of love was done by a comic Roman poet known as Plautus. Only a couple of years later, in the fourth century, the act was Christianised. 

History of Wife Appreciation Day

Wife Appreciation Day is an exciting event that gives husbands a chance to demonstrate just how much they love and appreciate their wife. It has been listed in Chase’s Calendar of Annual Events since it was first established and has been hugely popular ever since.

There are so many things that a supportive and loving wife does for her husband, and this is a chance for husbands to look back and remember all the big and little things that add up to so much.

How to celebrate Wife Appreciation Day

Husbands may want to order a beautiful bouquet of her favorite flowers, and/or arrange a fabulous surprise, such as making a reservation at her special restaurant, booking to see a spectacular show; or taking her on a romantic mini-break. Alternatively, they may want to get her a gift of designer perfume or a unique piece of jewelry, both of which are always gratefully received!

If you want to do something romantic for your partner, rose petals should certainly be involved! However, there is a lot more you can do with rose petals than simply scattering a few on top of your bed. First and foremost, one of the cutest and most surprising ways to use rose petals is to empty one of your partner’s drawers she uses on a daily basis, such as her underwear drawer. You can then fill the drawer with rose petals and other little treats. Or, why not leave petal notes around the house or inside a book they are reading? You can write little romantic notes on a number of petals. This is much easier to do with petals from silk flowers as opposed to fresh flowers. 

Instead of using rose petals in the bedroom, another idea is to cook your partner a romantic meal and use petals to adorn the table. If you are giving your loved one a gift, filling the box with rose petals is always a beautiful gesture. Another lovely way of using petals from silk roses is to fill your partner a lovely bubble bath when they get in from work, sprinkle some petals and place candles around the tub. You can also place petals carefully in a way to display your emotions, i.e. you could place them in the shape of a heart or you could spell out ‘I love you’

Why not purchase a ring for your partner? This could be a special gift or to renew your vows! When purchasing a ring, you need to consider what the style of ring symbolises. After all, this is what a ring is all about. One of the most popular styles is undoubtedly the three-stone ring. A lot of people like this ring because the three stones are a representation of the past, present and the future. Another popular option is to go for a diamond band. This is a well-liked choice because people believe the complete set of diamonds symbolises the eternal nature of you and your partner’s love. In addition to this you could always opt for a gemstone ring and select the gemstone based on its meaning. 

Aside from symbolisation, what else should you consider when purchasing a diamond ring for your partner? The metal of the ring is an important thing to take into account. From white gold, to titanium, to yellow gold, to silver; the options are endless. It is recommended that you opt for something that matches in with the metal your partner usually wears in relation to her everyday jewellery. You should also consider going down the custom made route. By doing this you can have a ring that is completely tailor made to suit your partner. This ensures that you have something created that they will love. You can even incorporate your own unique symbolisation as well. Furthermore, the ring is going to mean a lot more when it is the only one in the world. 

Of course, you do not need to spend a fortune in order to show your wife how much you love and appreciate her. There are plenty of other ways you can do this. Why not write her a heartfelt poem for example? This is something that will be appreciated just as much as any material gift, if not more! If you’re not good with words, it can be difficult to convey how you are feeling, but we definitely recommend trying to put together something yourself. Yes, there are some great poems online that you can use, but at least make sure they are combined with a sentence or two of your own so that there is a personal element that is special to your relationship. 

History of Wife Appreciation Day

The historical research on National Wife Appreciation Day is scant indeed, but 2006 is accepted as the first year the holiday officially “went on the books.” That is, it isn’t yet recognized as a U.S. government holiday, but rather, in 2006 it became widely acknowledged and celebrated by couples country and worldwide.

We don’t know what specifically about 2006 caused the “spark that lit the fire.” However, that happened to be the year former Beatle Paul McCartney separated from his wife Heather Mills, a fact that may be notable because the legal rift was opened between them only three days after Mother’s Day that spring. Could the songsmith have bungled his wife’s expectations as a mom so badly that she wanted to live apart, only 72 hours after whatever blow-up happened? And if so, could McCartney have used his juggernaut-like influence in pop culture to help engineer a second chance that same fall, by getting the right eyes on the right proposals for a Wife Appreciation Day?

Well, even if our theoretical rationale is correct, the holiday has ironically turned out to be a gift to everyone but McCartney and Mills, as the couple’s divorce was finalized in 2008. We see it all as a cautionary tale: never miss an opportunity to be demonstrative with your affections, to your whole family, yes, but on National Wife Appreciation Day, to her, your one-and-only.

Wife Appreciation Day timeline

1984

Courtesy of “The Great Communicator”

Honoring the commitment and readiness of military families, then-President Ronald Reagan institutes Military Spouse Day as the Friday preceding Mother’s Day each year.

1920

After a long, arduous battle

The women’s suffrage movement beats seemingly insurmountable odds (against not only fathers and brothers but also husbands in many cases), and gains the right of women to vote in local, state and federal elections, an achievement that required a Constitutional amendment, the 19th.

1911

It’s not easy to beat government

The U.S. Congress finally relents to the efforts of Anna Jarvis on behalf of all women, especially women like her mother Ann, a Civil-War non-combatant hero, and establishes Mother’s Day, a precursor to today’s National Wife Appreciation Day.

269 A.D.

“A head” of his time?

​​The priest Valentine of Rome is martyred, one of a few different men named Valentine whose names are to become reference points for (St.) Valentine’s Day, with Valentine of Rome’s flower-crowned skull still exhibited in the Basilica.

Wife Appreciation Day FAQs

What should I give my wife on National Wife Appreciation Day?

Well, there’s always the traditional chocolates, flowers and cards (with maybe a gift card inside). But pay attention, because we know more than one wife who has come to consider such “generic” gifts a signal that you don’t really know her. So we recommend really putting some thought into it, before you pull the wallet out. What, to her, has special meaning? What are her rarely-talked-about loves? Yes, a case for her phone would be cool, but who is she, and who is she to you? Get her a gift that speaks to these things, and you’re aces.

I work weekends and I can’t get that Sunday off. What do I do?

It’s perfectly reasonable to celebrate on another day that you both agree upon. But what’s better, in our opinion, is to surprise her by springing the whole thing early, rather than late. That way she won’t have to worry whether you’ll remember the rescheduled National Wife Appreciation Day celebration you agreed on for after the official date. Relief is a good soil to harvest smiles from.

Should I tell our kids they need to shop for their mom too?

We find it best to feed their minds with an explanation that National Wife Appreciation Day is just for the two of you, and on Mother’s Day the whole family will once again shop at the mall or go out to eat or whatever, but that this day is just for you and her. You could plant hints, in a nice way, that one day they’ll have their own spouses and children, so right now they can do kid stuff with no worries. You may actually want to hire a sitter, if you know what we mean. There’s an old saying, “Happy wife, happy life.”

FIVE “WIVE’S TALES”

  1. There are fewer wives today

    ​The marriage rate in the U.S. has plummeted. Once, 72 percent of Americans got married. Today, that number is down to 50 percent.

  2. ​Two are better than one

    There are an estimated 252,000 same-sex married couples in the U.S. And support for gay marriage continues to increase.

  3. Everyone loves a royal wedding

    ​Except maybe King Solomon’s friends. According to the Bible, he married 700 wives.

  4. “Don’t call me little lady!”

    ​America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, stood 6-foot-4. His wife, Mary? She was just 5-foot-2.

Wife Appreciation Day Activities

  1. Arrange a spa day

    It's a rare wife who isn't up for a little pampering from time to time. So schedule a spa day for her on or around National Wife Appreciation Day, and let her get some much-needed attention.

  2. Spread the good news

    The “socials” make it easy to share information, so be sure to send out a few tweets, or post on Facebook telling the world how much you appreciate your wife. Use the hashtag #WifeAppreciationDay, too!

  3. Do all the chores

    Yes, we know both partners do a lot around the house. But today for your wife, you can do even more. How about giving her a day off where she doesn’t have to lift a finger, no matter what task needs taking care of. Bite the bullet. She’ll love you for it.

Why We Love Wife Appreciation Day

  1. We adore them

    Our wives amaze us. They are our calm in the eye of the storm, and we know life can get stormy. When we think about it we get a little wistful, so let us just say we're super grateful that they care so much about us.

  2. Wives don’t get enough credit

    Many of the amazing things our wives do every day go unrecognized. That's partially because wives are often expected to do them without drawing attention to how much work may be involved. Well, we're here to say that we do appreciate those things, and want to show it.

  3. It’s a special kind of day off

    National Wife Appreciation Day can be a nice surprise if we let our wives know that Sunday morning that they don't have to do a single thing all day.

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