The yearly return of the date on which an important event happened, often celebrated with special observance or festivities.
From Latin 'anniversarius' (returning yearly), combining 'annus' (year) and 'versus' (turned/returning). It entered English in the 1300s and originally referred primarily to religious commemorations.
Anniversaries are deeply rooted in human psychology—we mark time by returning to significant moments, which is why cultures from ancient Egypt to modern Japan have formal anniversary celebrations. The word itself contains the calendar in it!
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