I found this chart of wedding anniversary gifts on the back of one of those free calendars businesses sometimes give out and thought is was a nice reference. It is general information and some of it may be slightly off, but it is mainly from Wikipedia and the back of a free business calendar. This makes me want to go to a wedding anniversary party. It would be interesting to know how many couples get to the 75 year anniversary, it probably like 10 or 20% as most people do not even live that long or one of the spouses passes. Seventy-five years is impressive and nice or least could be nice. I have met people with 40-something year anniversaries, but I cannot recall 75.
After a Google search I was surprised to learn the history of anniversary gifts date back to the Holy Roman Empire and it was not until 1937 every year had a specific gift up the 25th year and then every 5th year thereafter. After searching Google I added the yearly gemstone and flower gifts below. The gifts vary by country (although there are commonalities among all gifts by country, with nearly all countries having tin, silver, etc.) and can be given between the couple and or from guests at a themed anniversary party.
- 1 year…………..paper…………………………carnation………………..mother of pearl
- 2 years…………cotton………………………..lily of the valley……….garnet
- 3 years…………leather……………………….sunflower………………..moonstone
- 4 years………..fruits and flowers………….hydrangea………………blue topaz
- 5 years………..wooden……………………….daisy……………………..rose quartz
- 6 years………..sugar or candy……………..calla………………………amethyst
- 7 years………..wool or copper……………..freesia……………………onyx
- 8 years………..bronze or pottery………….lilac……………………….tourmaline
- 9 years………..pottery or willow…………..bird of paradise……….lapis lazuli
- 10 years………tin………………………………daffodil…………………..crystal
- 11 years………steel…………………………….tulip………………………turquoise
- 12 years………silk or linen………………….peony…………………….jade
- 13 years………lace…………………………….chrysanthemum………citrine
- 14 years……..ivory…………………………..dahlia……………………..opal
- 15-19 years…crystal…………………………rose………………………..rhodolite
- 20-24 years..china……………………………aster………………………emerald
- 25 years…….silver……………………………iris…………………………tsavorite
- 28 years………………………………………….orchid
- 30 years… …pearl…………………………….lily…………………………pearl
- 35 years…….coral
- 40 years……ruby……………………………gladiolus………………….ruby
- 45 years…….sapphire
- 50 years……golden………………………..yellow rose, violet……..gold
- 55 years………………………………………………………………………..emerald
- 65 years…………………………………………………………………………sapphire
- 75 years………………………………………………………………………..diamond
Below are some good wedding anniversary sites from a Google search. I liked reading how some sites had creative ideas like movie tickets and or favor coupons and or putting a poem in a bottle for the first year anniversary paper gift.
- http://anniversariesbyyear.com/ – this site actually mentions more specific gifts for years 15 to 24. It is more thorough than the list above. and has ideas like a leather wallet or watch.
- personalcreations.com – does have some nice anniversary gift ideas that fit into the categories from the list above
- zales.com – jewelry site, as gemstones are a possible gift
- hallmark.com – has nice blog post with creative ideas
- http://www.chiff.com/entertain/gifts-anniversary.htm – has a nice blog post on anniversary gifts and has party and gift ideas for baby showers and family reunions etc.
- http://www.happywivesclub.com/25-awesome-anniversary-gift-ideas-for-under-25/
- http://www.buzzle.com/articles/50th-anniversary-gifts-for-friends.html – yellow roses are a good idea for anniversary gifts for friends