Anniversary Gifts

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Anniversary Gifts By Year

Happy Anniversary!
Many couples like to select a gift that reflects their anniversary year. This article looks at the traditional and modern anniversary gifts by year associated with each anniversary. If you are looking for something less traditional then check out Anniversary gifts for Her, Anniversary gifts for Him, or romantic getaways. You may also be interested in finding some Wedding Anniversary Quotes and Sayings to personalize Free Anniversary eCards to your husband, wife, friends or relatives. 

The Origin of Traditional Anniversary Gift Lists
Traditional anniversary gift lists are believed to date back to medieval Germany, when a wife was given a silver wreath by her friends and neighbours to commemorate 25 years of marriage, and a gold wreath after 50 years. Over time, this tradition expanded to cover other anniversaries. 

 Since then other countries have adopted lists of wedding anniversary gifts by year and, although there is some variation between countries, most agree on the major anniversaries, namely: 5th Wooden, 10th Tin, 15th Crystal, 20th China, 25th Silver, 30th Pearl, 40th Ruby, 50th Golden, 60th Diamond.

 Modern Anniversary Gifts
The traditional and modern lists for the U.S. were originally complied by the Chicago Public Librarians. Before 1937, only the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversaries had an associated gift. However, in 1937 the Jewelers of America introduced an expanded list.

Traditional Anniversary Flowers
There is also a list of flowers for each anniversary by year. This seems to have even more variation between country, presumably because of the regional availability of certain flower species.

 Anniversary Gifts By Year
The following chart shows the traditional anniversary gifts, modern anniversary gifts and traditional flower associated with each anniversary year:

Anniversary Gifts By Year
"Paper Roses" for the First Anniversary
Anniversary Gift Ideas:

If you are struggling to think of gifts to fit each category, take a look at JustPaperRoses. 

 They have taken the classic bunch of roses to a whole new level. Starting with "Paper Roses" for the 1st anniversary, they have developed a bunch of roses for each anniversary made out of the traditional material for that year, e.g. cotton for the 2nd anniversary, leather for the 3rd, etc. 
Anniversary Gift Ideas for the First Five Years:
Here are some other suggestions for the first five years of anniversaries:

 One year anniversary: 
Traditional (Paper): Books, Magazine subscriptions, posters, board games, paper flowers
Modern (Clocks): Grandfather, anniversary, cuckoo clocks, wrist watches, sundials and more

Two year anniversary: Cotton
Clothes, gloves, T-shirts

Coats, shoes, boots, slippers, handbags, purses and wallets

Four year anniversary: Silk & Linen
Lingerie, tablecloth, clothes, ties

Five year anniversary: Wood
Furniture, board games (chess set, backgammon), hand-carved wooden bowls, wood flowers


I hope you found this article interesting. You might also be interested in the Top 10 Gifts NOT to Give Your Wife on Your Anniversary! and Why Do Men Forget Anniversaries?

Happy Anniversary!

Geoff 

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