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Traditional VS Modern Anniversary Gifts

by: Slade Hartwell

Most people are familiar with the traditional materials list that good etiquette requires us use as a guide when selecting a gift to commemorate a wedding anniversary. If you are like most people, you might find it a bit challenging to convert the materials on the list into an acceptable gift idea. There may be more choices available to you than you realize. Do you know that an updated “modern” gift list is available which is becoming more and more popular? This article touches on the history of the traditional, highlights the differences between the modern and traditional lists, and helps you decide which is right for you.

Parts of the traditional list have existed since medieval times. Historians can trace the origins of silver and golden anniversaries to medieval Germany, where garlands made of these metals were presented as gifts for the 25th and 50th years of marriage. The rest of the list may not be as traditional as you think. I was surprised to learn that the traditional list, as we know it today, did not exist until 1937. In that year, the American National Retail Jeweler Association published a list, which associated a material for each Anniversary up to the 15th year and then each fifth year after that up to the 60th Anniversary. The following is the materials list from 1937, through the 60th year:

First – Paper
Second – Cotton
Third – Leather
Fourth - Fruit/Flowers
Fifth – Wood
Sixth - Candy/Iron
Seventh - Wool/Copper
Eighth - Bronze/Pottery
Ninth - Pottery/Willow
Tenth - Tin/Aluminum
Eleventh – Steel
Twelfth - Silk/Linen
Thirteenth – Lace
Fourteenth – Ivory
Fifteenth – Crystal
Twentieth – China
Twenty-Fifth – Silver
Thirtieth – Pearl
Thirty-Fifth – Coral
Fortieth – Ruby
Forty-Fifth – Sapphire
Fiftieth – Gold
Fifty-fifth – Emerald
Sixtieth - Diamond

The modern anniversary materials list presents us with a contemporary, easier to use alternative. The modern list has no clear beginning, but like the original, each year’s gift is more precious than the last. This arrangement is intended to honor the longevity of the commitment. The new list retains the spirit of the traditional list, but loses some of the sense of etiquette in the original. Although more convenient, the modern list sacrifices the thoughtfulness previously required to make a good gift from the more mundane materials on the old list. However, the modern list is more extravagant (expensive) than the original, which in some cases may be more appreciated than a thoughtful but humble gift from the traditional list. The following is the widely accepted modern list, through the 60th year:

First – Clocks
Second – China
Third - Crystal/ Glass
Fourth – Appliances
Fifth – Silverware
Sixth - Candy/Iron
Seventh - Desk Sets
Eighth - Bronze/Pottery
Ninth - Linen/Lace
Tenth – Leather
Eleventh – Jewelry
Twelfth – Pearls
Thirteenth - Textiles/Furs
Fourteenth - Gold Jewelry
Fifteenth – Watches
Twentieth – Platinum
Twenty-Fifth – Silver
Thirtieth – Diamond
Thirty-Fifth – Jade
Fortieth – Ruby
Forty-Fifth – Sapphire
Fiftieth – Gold
Fifty-fifth – Emerald
Sixtieth – Diamond Jubilee
For most couples, I recommend using the modern list. When selecting a gift from the modern list you have the benefit of more specificity, for example a desk set is much more clear than copper/wool. With the modern list, you won’t risk insulting your spouse by rewarding 10 years of companionship with a pitiful tin or aluminum gift. Believe me, she won’t be satisfied with the excuse of tradition. Also, good luck finding the ivory candlesticks for year 14! Unless you really enjoy the creative challenge of using the traditional list, try the modern list this year.

About The Author
Slade Hartwell, Webmaster at http://www.ezromantic.com/home.html
We offer tons of romance and relationship help such as: great articles, advice, love poems, book reviews, gift ideas, romantic travel guides, a relationships forum, and more.

Beautiful, Quality personalized gifts become treasured keepsakes for many years. Give a gift with a personal touch.

In a hurry? We can email your name meanings print to you in PDF format so you can print it on your own paper! Click here to order a PDF Name Meaning Print.




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Personalized Gift Categories All Categories Unique Mother's Day Gift Angel Themed Papers Baby Birth Record Wedding Gift Wedding Themed Papers What's New 1. Teacher Paper - First Name Meaning Print 2. Initial Expressions Mother's Day Gift 3. Fresh Flowers Paper 4. Flower Petals Paper 5. Daisy Paper Top Sellers 1. Name Meaning in PDF Format - Name Meaning Print 2. Daisy Paper 3. 11x14 Mat Frame for Your First Name Meaning Print 4. Wedding Doves Background - Personalized Gift 5. Wedding Lace Paper - First Name Meaning Print Advanced Gift Search		Traditional VS Modern Anniversary Gifts by: Slade Hartwell Most people are familiar with the traditional materials list that good etiquette requires us use as a guide when selecting a gift to commemorate a wedding anniversary. If you are like most people, you might find it a bit challenging to convert the materials on the list into an acceptable gift idea. There may be more choices available to you than you realize. Do you know that an updated “modern” gift list is available which is becoming more and more popular? This article touches on the history of the traditional, highlights the differences between the modern and traditional lists, and helps you decide which is right for you. Parts of the traditional list have existed since medieval times. Historians can trace the origins of silver and golden anniversaries to medieval Germany, where garlands made of these metals were presented as gifts for the 25th and 50th years of marriage. The rest of the list may not be as traditional as you think. I was surprised to learn that the traditional list, as we know it today, did not exist until 1937. In that year, the American National Retail Jeweler Association published a list, which associated a material for each Anniversary up to the 15th year and then each fifth year after that up to the 60th Anniversary. The following is the materials list from 1937, through the 60th year: First – Paper Second – Cotton Third – Leather Fourth - Fruit/Flowers Fifth – Wood Sixth - Candy/Iron Seventh - Wool/Copper Eighth - Bronze/Pottery Ninth - Pottery/Willow Tenth - Tin/Aluminum Eleventh – Steel Twelfth - Silk/Linen Thirteenth – Lace Fourteenth – Ivory Fifteenth – Crystal Twentieth – China Twenty-Fifth – Silver Thirtieth – Pearl Thirty-Fifth – Coral Fortieth – Ruby Forty-Fifth – Sapphire Fiftieth – Gold Fifty-fifth – Emerald Sixtieth - Diamond The modern anniversary materials list presents us with a contemporary, easier to use alternative. The modern list has no clear beginning, but like the original, each year’s gift is more precious than the last. This arrangement is intended to honor the longevity of the commitment. The new list retains the spirit of the traditional list, but loses some of the sense of etiquette in the original. Although more convenient, the modern list sacrifices the thoughtfulness previously required to make a good gift from the more mundane materials on the old list. However, the modern list is more extravagant (expensive) than the original, which in some cases may be more appreciated than a thoughtful but humble gift from the traditional list. The following is the widely accepted modern list, through the 60th year: First – Clocks Second – China Third - Crystal/ Glass Fourth – Appliances Fifth – Silverware Sixth - Candy/Iron Seventh - Desk Sets Eighth - Bronze/Pottery Ninth - Linen/Lace Tenth – Leather Eleventh – Jewelry Twelfth – Pearls Thirteenth - Textiles/Furs Fourteenth - Gold Jewelry Fifteenth – Watches Twentieth – Platinum Twenty-Fifth – Silver Thirtieth – Diamond Thirty-Fifth – Jade Fortieth – Ruby Forty-Fifth – Sapphire Fiftieth – Gold Fifty-fifth – Emerald Sixtieth – Diamond Jubilee For most couples, I recommend using the modern list. When selecting a gift from the modern list you have the benefit of more specificity, for example a desk set is much more clear than copper/wool. With the modern list, you won’t risk insulting your spouse by rewarding 10 years of companionship with a pitiful tin or aluminum gift. Believe me, she won’t be satisfied with the excuse of tradition. Also, good luck finding the ivory candlesticks for year 14! Unless you really enjoy the creative challenge of using the traditional list, try the modern list this year. About The Author Slade Hartwell, Webmaster at http://www.ezromantic.com/home.html We offer tons of romance and relationship help such as: great articles, advice, love poems, book reviews, gift ideas, romantic travel guides, a relationships forum, and more. Beautiful, Quality personalized gifts become treasured keepsakes for many years. Give a gift with a personal touch. In a hurry? We can email your name meanings print to you in PDF format so you can print it on your own paper! Click here to order a PDF Name Meaning Print.
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Traditional VS Modern Anniversary Gifts