The traditional anniversary gifts by year start with paper for the 1st anniversary, cotton for the 2nd, leather for the 3rd, fruit or flowers for the 4th and wood for the 5th. The big milestones are tin for the 10th, china for the 20th, silver for the 25th, ruby for the 40th, gold for the 50th and diamond for the 60th. A separate modern list, used mostly in the United States, swaps some of these for gifts such as clocks (1st), china (2nd) and crystal (3rd).
Anniversary gifts by year: years 1 to 15
Anniversary | Traditional gift | Modern gift |
|---|---|---|
1st | Paper | Clocks |
2nd | Cotton | China |
3rd | Leather | Crystal or glass |
4th | Fruit or flowers | Appliances |
5th | Wood | Silverware |
6th | Iron or sugar | Wood |
7th | Wool or copper | Desk sets |
8th | Bronze | Linen or lace |
9th | Pottery or willow | Leather |
10th | Tin or aluminium | Diamond jewellery |
11th | Steel | Fashion jewellery |
12th | Silk or linen | Pearls |
13th | Lace | Textiles or furs |
14th | Ivory | Gold jewellery |
15th | Crystal | Watches |
Milestone anniversaries from 20 to 80
After 15 years, the lists jump in steps of five. These are the anniversaries most people celebrate with a party.
Anniversary | Traditional gift | Modern gift |
|---|---|---|
20th | China | Platinum |
25th | Silver | Silver |
30th | Pearl | Diamond |
35th | Coral | Jade |
40th | Ruby | Ruby |
45th | Sapphire | Sapphire |
50th | Gold | Gold |
55th | Emerald | Emerald |
60th | Diamond | Diamond |
65th | Blue sapphire (UK) | |
70th | Platinum (UK) | |
75th | Diamond and gold (US) | |
80th | Oak (UK) |
The 65th, 70th and 80th themes are mainly British. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip marked their platinum (70th) anniversary in 2017.
Where the anniversary list came from
The idea is older than the gift list. Naming a 25th anniversary "silver" and a 50th "gold" goes back to German-speaking countries in the 1500s.
In English-speaking countries, gifts for each year became popular in the 1800s. Early lists suggested paper for the first anniversary, wood for the fifth and tin for the tenth. In 1937 the American National Retail Jewelers Association published a longer list that filled in more years, and many of its materials are still in use.
The modern list came later and leans toward things you can buy in a shop: clocks, appliances, watches. Neither list is a rule. Most couples pick the one they like, or mix them.
Why the materials get stronger each year
The traditional list moves from fragile to lasting materials. Paper and cotton are soft and easy to damage. Wood, iron and bronze are tougher. Silver, gold and diamond barely change over a lifetime. The order is a simple picture of a marriage growing stronger with time, which is why the most valuable materials sit at the 25th, 50th and 60th.
Gift ideas that fit each early theme
You don't have to give the raw material. A gift that nods to it works just as well.
1st (paper): a printed photo book of the first year, framed wedding vows, concert or travel tickets, or a letter you write by hand.
2nd (cotton): good bed sheets, a cotton robe, or a custom print on a cotton tote or cushion.
3rd (leather): a wallet, a watch strap, a journal or a leather bag tag with the wedding date.
4th (fruit or flowers): a fruit tree for the garden, a flower subscription or a dinner at the restaurant from your first date.
5th (wood): a carved keepsake box, a wooden map of the place you married, or a tree planted in your names.
10th (tin or aluminium): a tin of their favourite treats with a note for each year, or an engraved aluminium photo print.
How to count your anniversary
Your first anniversary falls one year after the wedding date, on the same calendar day. If you married on 29 February, there is no matching date in most years, so couples usually celebrate on 28 February or 1 March.
To find which anniversary is coming up, subtract the wedding year from the current year. If the date has already passed this year, that is the anniversary you have just had. The Age Calculator can do this for you. Enter the wedding date as the date of birth, and it shows the years, months and days since. Its "next birthday" date is your next anniversary.
What is the traditional gift for a 1st anniversary?
Paper. The modern alternative is clocks.
What is the 5th anniversary gift?
Wood is the traditional gift. The modern list suggests silverware.
What is the 10th anniversary gift?
Tin or aluminium on the traditional list, and diamond jewellery on the modern one.
What anniversary is silver, and which is gold?
Silver is the 25th anniversary and gold is the 50th.
What is the 60th anniversary called?
The diamond anniversary. Some lists also call the 75th a diamond anniversary.
Do I have to follow the list?
No. The lists are traditions, not rules. Many couples use them only as a starting point for ideas.
Sources
Wedding anniversary, Wikipedia (history and traditional US and UK lists)
The ultimate guide to anniversary gifts by year, Inside Weddings (traditional and modern lists)
Wedding anniversary gifts by year, Woman & Home
