Traditional Anniversary Gifts
If your anniversary is coming up, or if a happy couple in your life is nearing a particular date, you would do well to choose a gift accordingly, and bestow the good luck and celebration well deserved.
Wedding ceremonies are full of superstitions, folk rules passed on through generations which elderly relatives insist you follow to inspire good luck and a happy marriage. Once you get hitched, the traditions don’t stop, and every year you must celebrate the anniversary of your vows – and heaven help you if you forget how many years it has been. Each milestone anniversary has a traditional gift, or rather a traditional material a gift must consist of, which represents the height to which your marriage has soared since you first promised “I do”. Here is a list of those milestone anniversaries and the material which represent each one.
1st Anniversary: Cotton
An appropriate gift might be a cotton tablecloth or bed sheets.
2nd Anniversary: Paper
An appropriate gift could be a scrapbook or photograph album.
3rd Anniversary: Leather
Perhaps a little something to spice up the bedroom.
5th Anniversary: Wood
Decorative kitchen ware such as a fine wood salad bowl or item of furniture.
7th Anniversary: Wool
Any finely woven woolen item will do – perhaps a tartan blanket for the bedspread.
10th Anniversary: Tin
I have no idea… a tin cup maybe? These are obviously rather dated traditions.
12th Anniversary: Silk or Fine Linen
Again, a bed sheet set or tablecloth and napkins would be a good option.
15th Anniversary: Crystal
Self explanatory – a set of crystal goblets, a vase, particularly of the hand-blown variety. Stay away from anything too tacky.
20th Anniversary: China
Again self-evident. Often an elderly family member will pass down a china set that has been a family heirloom.
25th Anniversary: Silver
An engraved silver spoon or cup, with the couple’s name and the date.
30th Anniversary: Pearl
A mother-of-pearl enameled gift item is a good idea.
40th Anniversary: Ruby
Ruby-colored objects will do for this anniversary… perhaps a set of candle holders or sherry glasses.
50th Anniversary: Golden
This is a big achievement for any couple. Don’t skimp on the gift, especially if it’s a relative. However, gold-plate is acceptable.
75th Anniversary: Diamond
Well, who really stays together that long anyway?
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