| Most people are familiar with the traditional | | | | precious than the last. This arrangement is |
| materials list that good etiquette requires | | | | intended to honor the longevity of the |
| us use as a guide when selecting a gift to | | | | commitment. The new list retains the spirit |
| commemorate a wedding anniversary. If you are | | | | of the traditional list, but loses the some |
| like most people, you might find it a bit | | | | of the sense of etiquette in the original. |
| challenging to convert the materials on the | | | | Although more convenient, the modern list |
| list into an acceptable gift idea. There may | | | | sacrifices the thoughtfulness previously |
| be more choices available to you than you | | | | required to make a good gift from the more |
| realize. Do you know that an updated "modern" | | | | mundane materials on the old list. However, |
| gift list is available which is becoming more | | | | the modern list is more extravagant |
| and more popular? This article touches on the | | | | (expensive) than the original, which in some |
| history of the traditional list, highlights | | | | cases may be more appreciated than a |
| the differences between the modern and | | | | thoughtful but humble gift from the |
| traditional lists, and helps you decide which | | | | traditional list. The following is the widely |
| is right for you.Parts of the traditional | | | | accepted modern list, through the 60th year:* |
| list have existed since medieval times. | | | | First - Clocks |
| Historians can trace the origins of silver | | | | |
| and golden anniversaries to medieval Germany, | | | | * Second - China |
| where garlands made of these metals were | | | | |
| presented as gifts for the 25th and 50th | | | | * Third - Crystal/ Glass |
| years of marriage. The rest of the list may | | | | |
| not be as traditional as you think. I was | | | | * Fourth - Appliances |
| surprised to learn that the traditional list, | | | | |
| as we know it today, did not exist until | | | | * Fifth - Silverware |
| 1937. In that year, the American National | | | | |
| Retail Jeweler Association published a list, | | | | * Sixth - Candy/Iron |
| which associated a material for each | | | | |
| Anniversary up to the 15th year and then each | | | | * Seventh - Desk Sets |
| fifth year after that up to the 60th | | | | |
| Anniversary. The following is the materials | | | | * Eighth - Bronze/Pottery |
| list from 1937, through the 60th year:* First | | | | |
| - Paper | | | | * Ninth - Linen/Lace |
| | | | |
| * Second - Cotton | | | | * Tenth - Leather |
| | | | |
| * Third - Leather | | | | * Eleventh - Jewelry |
| | | | |
| * Fourth - Fruit/Flowers | | | | * Twelfth - Pearls |
| | | | |
| * Fifth - Wood | | | | * Thirteenth - Textiles/Furs |
| | | | |
| * Sixth - Candy/Iron | | | | * Fourteenth - Gold Jewelry |
| | | | |
| * Seventh - Wool/Copper | | | | * Fifteenth - Watches |
| | | | |
| * Eighth - Bronze/Pottery | | | | * Twentieth - Platinum |
| | | | |
| * Ninth - Pottery/Willow | | | | * Twenty-Fifth - Silver |
| | | | |
| * Tenth - Tin/Aluminum | | | | * Thirtieth - Diamond |
| | | | |
| * Eleventh - Steel | | | | * Thirty-Fifth - Jade |
| | | | |
| * Twelfth - Silk/Linen | | | | * Fortieth - Ruby |
| | | | |
| * Thirteenth - Lace | | | | * Forty-Fifth - Sapphire |
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| * Fourteenth - Ivory | | | | * Fiftieth - Gold |
| | | | |
| * Fifteenth - Crystal | | | | * Fifty-fifth - Emerald |
| | | | |
| * Twentieth - China | | | | * Sixtieth - Diamond JubileeFor most |
| | | | couples, I recommend using the modern list. |
| * Twenty-Fifth - Silver | | | | When selecting a gift from the modern list |
| | | | you have the benefit of more specificity, for |
| * Thirtieth - Pearl | | | | example a desk set is much more clear than |
| | | | copper/wool. With the modern list, you won't |
| * Thirty-Fifth - Coral | | | | risk insulting your spouse by rewarding 10 |
| | | | years of companionship with a pitiful tin or |
| * Fortieth - Ruby | | | | aluminum gift. Believe me, she won't be |
| | | | satisfied with the excuse of tradition. Also, |
| * Forty-Fifth - Sapphire | | | | good luck finding the ivory candlesticks for |
| | | | year 14! Unless you really enjoy the creative |
| * Fiftieth - Gold | | | | challenge of using the traditional list, try |
| | | | the modern list this year.Slade Hartwell, |
| * Fifty-fifth - Emerald | | | | Webmaster at |
| | | | |
| * Sixtieth - DiamondThe modern anniversary | | | | Romance Relationship Advice: We offer tons |
| materials list presents us with a | | | | of romance and relationship help such as: |
| contemporary, easier to use alternative. The | | | | great articles, advice, love poems, book |
| modern list has no clear beginning, but like | | | | reviews, gift ideas, romantic travel guides, |
| the original, each year's gift is more | | | | a relationships forum, and more. |