Traditional Anniversary Gift List

Here is the tradition gift list for anniversaries. The first gift is the traditional item and the one in parenthesis is the modern variation. I have added some suggestions to these to help you brainstorm gift ideas.

• First: Paper (clocks). A newspaper from the day the couple was married; a drawing or painting of the couple

• Second: Cotton, calico, straw (china). High-thread count cotton blankets/sheets; a weekend at a romantic bed-and-breakfast in the Cotton Belt

• Third: Leather (crystal, glass). A cattle drive; horse-back riding, leather flight jackets and flying lessons

• Fourth: Books and/or fruits and flowers (electrical appliances). Make your own book about the couple or a "How We Met"book; a picnic in a field of flowers, plant a fruit tree in your backyard

• Fifth: Wood (silverware). A home made wooden anything - spice rack - shelf; Go kayaking or out on a rowboat; a redwood fence or deck; A trip to the beach to collect driftwood

• Sixth: Sweets, iron (wood). A weekend of total indulgence in Hershey, Pennsylvania; a trip on the Iron Horse (railroad)

• Seventh: Wool, copper, brass, bronze (desk sets, pen and pencil sets). Bronze statues or a bronze molding of your cake top or other important memorabilia; art reproductions from the Bronze Age; Coppertone tanning lotion and an island vacation

• Eighth: Rubber, electrical appliances, bronze (linens, laces). Inner-tubing or white water rafting; racquetballs and court time

• Ninth: Pottery, willow (leather). A potter's wheel; a willow tree; Blue Willow china

• Tenth: Aluminum, tin (diamond jewelry). A new ring set, a tin or aluminum paperweight, antique tin items, a tin of their favorite cookies/candies

• Eleventh: Steel (fashion jewelry, accessories). A steel sculpture; steel watch, stainless steel picture frames

• Twelfth: Linen, silk, nylon (pearls, colored gems). silk apparel, silk roses, pearl necklace/earrings
  

• Thirteenth: Lace (textiles, furs). Lace curtains, table runners, or bedspreads; lacy apparel

• Fourteenth: Ivory, agate (gold jewelry). A trip to the Ivory Coast, ivory sculptures

• Fifteenth: Crystal, glass (watches). A crystal ball with your predictions for a long and happy future together; 15 crystal goblets

• Twentieth: China (platinum). China reproductions from museum exhibits; a trip to Chin, chinese bonsai

• Twenty-fifth: Silver (sterling silver). A visit to the jeweler for a custom—designed piece of jewelry; a beautiful silver picture frame and an appointment for a portrait sitting

• Thirtieth: Pearl, personal items (diamond). Matching pearl-handled umbrellas; an oyster diving adventure; a collection of books by author Pearl S. Buck

• Fortieth: Ruby, garnet (ruby). Ruby jewelry or cuff links, bottle of red wine

• Fiftieth: Gold (gold). A compact disc player and a collection of Golden Oldies; a trip to the Golden Gate Bridge in romantic San Francisco, gold jewelry