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