Traditional Anniversary Gifts By Year
From Your 1st To Your 75th Anniversary

Traditional anniversary gifts by year started in Germany in the Middle Ages with husbands giving their wives a garland of silver on their 25th anniversary and a garland of gold on their 50th anniversary.

And then in 1922 Emily Post wrote her book Etiquette which explained in great detail the way things should be done. After a section on weddings and the expense of who pays for what when you are married there were 8 anniversaries listed:

Plus there was of course the right way of doing anniversaries and here they are!

" Wedding anniversaries are celebrated in any number of ways. The "party" may be one of two alone or it may be a dance. Most often it is a dinner, and occasionally, an afternoon tea. In Germany a silver wedding is a very important event and a great celebration is made of it, but in America it is not very good form to ask any but intimate friends and family to an anniversary party-especially as those bidden are supposed to send presents. These need not, however, be of value; in fact the paper, wooden and tin wedding presents are seldom anything but jokes. Crystal is the earliest that is likely to be taken seriously by the gift-bearers. Silver is always serious, and the golden wedding a quite sacred event. Most usually this last occasion is celebrated by a large family dinner to which all the children and grandchildren are bidden. Or the married couple perhaps choose an afternoon at home and receive their friends and neighbors, who are, of course, supposed to brings presents made of gold." Emily Post, Etiquette 1922

Since then the traditional anniversary gift list has been added to and there are a number of important anniversaries that now have some fantastic gifts, the traditional anniversary gifts by year as we know it was compiled by the American National Retail Jeweler Association in 1937, so it is not surprising that there are a number of jewelry based anniversary gifts!

Here is the full list of traditional anniversary gifts to help you find the perfect anniversary gift for this years anniversary.

Plus traditional wedding anniversary gifts.

You could also have a look at the modern anniversary gift list if you want a bit more variety - but be warned there are some expensive gifts on there!