Family Kids and Teens

Even though the paper anniversary says that we still hold to traditional gift-giving when it comes to wedding anniversaries, we also have modernized the tradition.  So the paper anniversary gift can still be of paper, or it can be of that particular paper item’s equivalent, or it can be a combination, a hybrid modern and traditional paper anniversary gift.

The popular tradition of giving a money tree is wonderful (especially for the newlyweds who can usually use the extra money, but what if we can’t afford to decorate that paper anniversary tree, and have very few friends of the couple who could contribute?  How about decorating a tree with other paper items, vouchers to wash the car once a week, dog-sit, baby-sit, or house-clean?   

Too cheap?  How about, as one vendor suggests at Hallmark, tickets to travel, to see a show, or even to a movie both husband and wife would enjoy?  (One year, my friend took his wife to see “Jerry McGuire,” for instance—which is a great movie for men and women.  It wasn’t their paper anniversary but it was a great anniversary idea!) 

In other words, think of all the ways a paper anniversary gift (or paper) can be “expressed”, if you will.  Wall papering the couple’s kitchen (if they are keen on having someone re-model their home as a surprise, that is) might be great, or getting them a year’s subscription to their favorite news journal or magazine, or buying them a lovely book or set of books would also be a thoughtful approach. 

And then, as I noted earlier, there are the paper anniversary “equivalents”: since, a one writer suggested, few still use personal stationary or hand-held address books these days, given computer technology, how about getting them a hand-held electronic address book/note pad—also known as a PDA?  Then there’s paper roses, paper sculptures, and other clever paper items if you don’t wish to give a translated version…. 

I’m not sure how the translation came about, but the traditional gifts list has been updated to a modern list, so it may help to see the two lists, traditional and modern, divided by a slash:  

1st First Paper / Clocks    

2nd Second: Cotton / China    

3rd Third: Leather / Crystal/Glass    

4th Fourth: Fruit/Flowers / Appliances    

5th Fifth: Wood / Silverware    

6th Sixth: Candy/Iron / Candy/Iron    

7th Seventh: Wool/Copper / Desk Sets    

8th Eighth: Bronze/Pottery / Bronze/Pottery    

9th Ninth: Pottery/Willow / Linen/Lace    

10th Tenth: Tin/Aluminum / Leather    

11th Eleventh: Steel / Jewelry    

12th Twelfth: Silk/Linen / Pearls    

13th Thirteenth: Lace / Textiles/Fur    

14th Fourteenth: Ivory / Gold Jewelry    

15th Fifteenth: Crystal / Watches    

20th Twentieth: China / Platinum    

25th Twenty-fifth: Silver / Silver    

30th Thirtieth: Pearl / Diamond    

35th Thirty-fifth: Coral / Jade    

40th Fortieth: Ruby / Ruby    

45th Forty-fifth: Sapphire / Sapphire    

50th Fiftieth: Gold / Gold    

55th Fifty-fifth: Emerald / Emerald    

60th Sixtieth: Diamond / Diamond