Traditional VS. Modern Anniversary Gifts

Most people are familiar with the traditional materials listthe last. This arrangement is intended to honor the
that good etiquette requires us use as a guide whenlongevity of the commitment. The new list retains the
selecting a gift to commemorate a weddingspirit of the traditional list, but loses the some of the
anniversary. If you are like most people, you might findsense of etiquette in the original. Although more
it a bit challenging to convert the materials on the listconvenient, the modern list sacrifices the
into an acceptable gift idea. There may be morethoughtfulness previously required to make a good gift
choices available to you than you realize. Do you knowfrom the more mundane materials on the old list.
that an updated "modern" gift list is available which isHowever, the modern list is more extravagant
becoming more and more popular? This article(expensive) than the original, which in some cases may
touches on the history of the traditional list, highlightsbe more appreciated than a thoughtful but humble gift
the differences between the modern and traditionalfrom the traditional list. The following is the widely
lists, and helps you decide which is right for you.Partsaccepted modern list, through the 60th year:* First -
of the traditional list have existed since medieval times.Clocks
Historians can trace the origins of silver and golden* Second - China
anniversaries to medieval Germany, where garlands* Third - Crystal/ Glass
made of these metals were presented as gifts for the* Fourth - Appliances
25th and 50th years of marriage. The rest of the list* Fifth - Silverware
may not be as traditional as you think. I was surprised* Sixth - Candy/Iron
to learn that the traditional list, as we know it today, did* Seventh - Desk Sets
not exist until 1937. In that year, the American National* Eighth - Bronze/Pottery
Retail Jeweler Association published a list, which* Ninth - Linen/Lace
associated a material for each Anniversary up to the* Tenth - Leather
15th year and then each fifth year after that up to the* Eleventh - Jewelry
60th Anniversary. The following is the materials list* Twelfth - Pearls
from 1937, through the 60th year:* First - Paper* Thirteenth - Textiles/Furs
* Second - Cotton* Fourteenth - Gold Jewelry
* Third - Leather* Fifteenth - Watches
* Fourth - Fruit/Flowers* Twentieth - Platinum
* Fifth - Wood* Twenty-Fifth - Silver
* Sixth - Candy/Iron* Thirtieth - Diamond
* Seventh - Wool/Copper* Thirty-Fifth - Jade
* Eighth - Bronze/Pottery* Fortieth - Ruby
* Ninth - Pottery/Willow* Forty-Fifth - Sapphire
* Tenth - Tin/Aluminum* Fiftieth - Gold
* Eleventh - Steel* Fifty-fifth - Emerald
* Twelfth - Silk/Linen* Sixtieth - Diamond JubileeFor most couples, I
* Thirteenth - Lacerecommend using the modern list. When selecting a
* Fourteenth - Ivorygift from the modern list you have the benefit of more
* Fifteenth - Crystalspecificity, for example a desk set is much more clear
* Twentieth - Chinathan copper/wool. With the modern list, you won't risk
* Twenty-Fifth - Silverinsulting your spouse by rewarding 10 years of
* Thirtieth - Pearlcompanionship with a pitiful tin or aluminum gift. Believe
* Thirty-Fifth - Coralme, she won't be satisfied with the excuse of tradition.
* Fortieth - RubyAlso, good luck finding the ivory candlesticks for year
* Forty-Fifth - Sapphire14! Unless you really enjoy the creative challenge of
* Fiftieth - Goldusing the traditional list, try the modern list this
* Fifty-fifth - Emeraldyear.Slade Hartwell, Webmaster at
* Sixtieth - DiamondThe modern anniversary materialsRomance Relationship Advice: We offer tons of
list presents us with a contemporary, easier to useromance and relationship help such as: great articles,
alternative. The modern list has no clear beginning, butadvice, love poems, book reviews, gift ideas, romantic
like the original, each year's gift is more precious thantravel guides, a relationships forum, and more.