What is the difference between traditional and modern anniversary gifts?

The traditional list is the older one and runs on materials: paper, cotton, leather. The modern list was added in the twentieth century and runs on things: clocks, china, crystal. Either is right; many couples mix them.

What anniversary is paper?

The first. Paper stands for a new start with room to write on, so letters, books, tickets and prints all count.

What is the gift for the 25th and 50th anniversaries?

Silver for the 25th and gold for the 50th, on both the traditional and the modern lists.

Is there an anniversary gift for every year?

Every year from the 1st to the 20th has one, then every fifth year after that. The years in between have no set gift, so anything thoughtful fits.

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Anniversary gifts by year

The traditional anniversary gifts are paper for the 1st, cotton for the 2nd, leather for the 3rd, wood for the 5th, tin or aluminum for the 10th, crystal for the 15th, china for the 20th, silver for the 25th, pearl for the 30th, ruby for the 40th, gold for the 50th and diamond for the 60th.

WEDDING DATE

OR PICK THE YEAR

1st

1st anniversary

Paper

MODERN: CLOCKS

A letter you wrote, a book with a note inside, tickets for something.

Anniversary boxes What to write in the card

The full list, year by year

Traditional and modern anniversary gifts by year
YEAR	TRADITIONAL	MODERN	AS A GIFT
1st	Paper	Clocks	A letter you wrote, a book with a note inside, tickets for something.
2nd	Cotton	China	Good sheets, a soft throw, a pair of robes.
3rd	Leather	Crystal or glass	A leather notebook or wallet, or two good glasses.
4th	Fruit or flowers (linen in the UK)	Appliances	A plant that lasts, or a basket of the best fruit you can find.
5th	Wood	Silverware	A cutting board, a wooden box for keepsakes, a tree to plant.
6th	Iron (sugar in the UK)	Wood	A cast iron pan, or something sweet that is hard to buy.
7th	Wool or copper	Desk sets	A wool blanket, warm socks, copper mugs.
8th	Bronze	Linen or lace	Linen napkins for the table you share.
9th	Pottery	Leather	Handmade mugs, a pottery class for two.
10th	Tin or aluminum	Diamond jewellery	A tin of their favourite tea or cookies, or a real piece of jewellery.
11th	Steel	Fashion jewellery	A good steel water bottle, or a knife that will last.
12th	Silk or linen	Pearls	A silk scarf or pillowcase.
13th	Lace	Textiles or furs	Something soft to wear at home.
14th	Ivory (now ivory-coloured things)	Gold jewellery	Something cream-coloured and lovely, never real ivory.
15th	Crystal	Watches	Crystal glasses for a toast, or a watch.
16th	Silver hollowware	Silver hollowware	A silver bowl or serving piece.
17th	Furniture	Furniture	The chair you keep talking about.
18th	Porcelain	Porcelain	A porcelain vase or tea set.
19th	Bronze	Bronze	A bronze piece for the home.
20th	China	Platinum	A set of good china, or a platinum band.
25th	Silver	Silver	Silver: a frame, a keepsake, a party.
30th	Pearl	Diamond	Pearls, or a trip back to where it started.
35th	Coral	Jade	Something coral or jade, or a trip to the sea.
40th	Ruby	Ruby	Rubies, red wine, a red-letter dinner.
45th	Sapphire	Sapphire	Sapphire jewellery or something deep blue.
50th	Gold	Gold	Gold, and the whole family in one room.
55th	Emerald	Emerald	Emeralds, or a garden in full green.
60th	Diamond	Diamond	Diamonds, and every photo you can find.
65th	Blue sapphire	Blue sapphire	Blue sapphire, and a celebration.
70th	Platinum	Platinum	Platinum, and a letter from everyone they love.
75th	Diamond and gold	Diamond and gold	Diamond and gold, and a party they will talk about.

When the material is hard to wrap

Some years are easy (paper, wood, cotton) and some are not (tin, steel, bronze). Either way, a box of good things with a card in your own words does the job. My anniversary boxes are packed by hand in Canada, shipped free, with your message written on the card. What to write in an anniversary card has lines if you are stuck, and anniversary gift ideas by year goes deeper on each one.

Questions

What is the traditional gift for each anniversary?: The traditional anniversary gifts are paper for the 1st, cotton for the 2nd, leather for the 3rd, wood for the 5th, tin or aluminum for the 10th, crystal for the 15th, china for the 20th, silver for the 25th, pearl for the 30th, ruby for the 40th, gold for the 50th and diamond for the 60th.
What is the difference between traditional and modern anniversary gifts?: The traditional list is the older one and runs on materials: paper, cotton, leather. The modern list was added in the twentieth century and runs on things: clocks, china, crystal. Either is right; many couples mix them.
What anniversary is paper?: The first. Paper stands for a new start with room to write on, so letters, books, tickets and prints all count.
What is the gift for the 25th and 50th anniversaries?: Silver for the 25th and gold for the 50th, on both the traditional and the modern lists.
Is there an anniversary gift for every year?: Every year from the 1st to the 20th has one, then every fifth year after that. The years in between have no set gift, so anything thoughtful fits.