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If you are like Laurel and me, you have seen the list of Traditional Anniversary gifts many times. The actual list was first published in 1937, but I believe it is a codification of older etiquette. There is also a "Modern Anniversary" list. But I've seen that list since I could first read, and I've been reading for over four decades. So the word "Modern" seems to be a bit of a misnomer. Anything that predates the creation of Arbys is not Modern.
Laurel and I were having breakfast, feeding our one and 1/12 year old, and we decided we should come up with a new list, to serve as the standard for the next forty years. It turned out not to be that hard, and we finished before breakfast was over. And we decided to post it on the internet so that you, the world, could read it and Learn. Follow our list, and have a happy marriage!
-Doug and Laurel
P. S. We only did the first 25 years. Check back here in 20 years and we'll put some more up.
| Anniversary |
Good: Traditional |
Better: "Modern" |
Best: Doug and Laurel |
| First |
Paper |
Clocks |
Lint |
| Second |
Cotton |
China |
Plants |
| Third |
Leather |
Crystal/Glass |
Computers |
| Fourth |
Fruit/Flowers |
Appliances |
New House |
| Fifth |
Wood |
Silverware |
No, our current one is perfectly good |
| Sixth |
Candy/Iron |
Candy/Iron |
Computers |
| Seventh |
Wool/Copper |
Desk Sets |
Grapes |
| Eighth |
Bronze/Pottery |
Bronze/Pottery |
A DVD that was not discounted or on sale (assuming
DVDs are still around) |
| Ninth |
Pottery/Willow |
Linen/Lace |
Computers |
| Tenth |
Tin/Aluminum |
Leather |
Expensive books |
| Eleventh |
Steel |
Jewelry |
Poker Chips |
| Twelfth |
Silk/Linen |
Pearls |
Computers |
| Thirteenth |
Lace |
Textiles/Furs |
Baaaaaaah! (Frances contributed that one) |
| Fourteenth |
Ivory |
Gold/Jewelry |
Miscellaneous |
| Fifteenth |
Crystal |
Watches |
Computers |
| Sixteenth |
|
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A trip to Amsterdam. Or Disney World. No, Amsterdam!
Disney World! |
| Seventeenth |
|
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Gift Certificates |
| Eighteenth |
|
|
Computers |
| Nineteenth |
|
|
Remodeling |
| Twentieth |
China |
Platinum |
A Big Box of Surprises |
| Twenty-first |
|
|
Computers |
| Twenty-second |
|
|
Emeralds |
| Twenty-third |
|
|
Rubies |
| Twenty-fourth |
|
|
Diamonds (and computers) |
| Twenty-fifth |
Silver |
Silver |
Silver |
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