We've never been very traditional with either celebrations or anniversary gifts, but this year I'm excited. You see, I am allergic to gold, but I can wear silver, and I love it. So I'm crossing my fingers that my sweetie will come up with something special. (I did hint, shamelessly. I thought I was allowed, just this once.)
But I started to wonder who came up with the idea of specific gifts associated with each year's anniversary. It seems that the tradition of giving silver and gold on the twenty-fifth and fiftieth anniversaries goes back at least to the middle ages. Precious metals were valuable and lasting, and it was thought couples reaching those milestones should be rewarded for their fortitude. Of, course, this only applied to those well-off enough to afford the silver and gold. It's the Victorians, however, we have to thank for the proliferation of yearly gifts.
Then the Americans got in on the act. The symbolic gifts were listed by Emily Post in 1922, then set out even more formally by the American National Retail Jeweler Association in 1937--no surprise, that.
Some of these items seem pretty random. Paper? Cotton? Wood? Leather? And they don't exactly go in an order of increasing durability. Fruit and flowers, for instance, come 4th, after leather.
Here are some creative ideas to fit the list, if anyone is inclined to stick with it.
So, Reds and readers, have you celebrated marriages or partnerships with traditional gifts? And tell us is you've given or received any unusual anniversary gifts!
RHYS BOWEN: We never checked on the various anniversary gifts, in fact I'd have been very annoyed if John had given me paper or wood instead of jewelry or a dinner! I did get a silver ingot for 25 years, a ruby ring for 40 and a ring for Golden. But the best thing for our golden was taking the whole family to a resort in Cabo for a week. We had an amazingly wonderful time from youngest to oldest. Much more significant and me, or able than things!
HALLIE EPHRON: This is appropriately timed--Jerry and I are celebrating our 50th anniversary as I type. Yes, we married young and got lucky. He's also retiring after 47 years of college teaching, so we have double to celebrate. Anniversary gifts?? We've never exchanged them, or if we did it wasn't memorable. Most years I get flowers or a potted orchid, which I love. The last ring I wanted I bought for myself.
Tonight it will be about food -- friends coming over to celebrate with us. And in two weeks we're going to Tuscany where I'll be teaching a 10-day writing workshop for Minerva Education https://www.minervaeducation.net.
LUCY BURDETTE: Congrats on all the wonderful anniversaries and Jerry's retirement--that is a huge milestone and the cake was gorgeous! We will be celebrating 27. We started some years back giving ourselves a trip to New York City and tickets to a couple of shows. I couldn't ask for anything better!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: This year will be our 24th! In September. And we were talking just the other day about how it cannot possibly be that long. If you'd said--three years, I wouldn't be surprised. But that is all very reassuring, don't you think? Gifts. We are TERRIBLE at gifts. Terrible. I think one year we got each other--I am shaking my head now. Fitbits? SO silly. Is there a Fitbit anniversary? I don't need anything, you know, in the world. (So funny--that reminds me: the second day we ever knew each other, he said to me: "What kind jewelry do you like?" And I said--excuse me, I have to go call my mom.) But you all have inspired me. And Lucy, I love your NYC and a show idea!
DEBS: Congratulations to Hallie and Jerry on your 50th!! And to Rhys and John, of course, who have already been there/done that.
Tomorrow I'll tell you what really cool thing (I hope!) we are doing to celebrate this big year!
READERS, how about it? Any weird or wonderful anniversary gifts?
