50th Anniversary Gift

We still hold to traditional gift-giving when it comes to wedding anniversaries.  (See below for what to give each year.) The 50th anniversary gift is no exception.  But what do we do when, say, that traditional 50th anniversary gift is supposed to be of gold?  Do we give real gold?

Let’s say we are more creative than that (or have much less spending money than that).  First, think of all the ways gold can be “expressed”, if you will.  There’s gold paint, for starters.  And what can you paint in gold for a loved one, friend, or acquaintance celebrating a 50th anniversary?  Paintings, yes, if we’re lucky enough to be truly artistic (not the paint-by-numbers type of artist, that is).  Paint a knick knack gold; trim a picture frame with gold; or even paint a room in the home of the couple, for a very risky but personal 50th anniversary gift.  (IF you know the people will want it, like it, and approve of your remodeling their home, that is).

There are gold yarns and threads—great for matching gold sweaters, mittens (yes, if they are old enough to have been married 50 years, they likely get cold hands very easily)….  Or if you are good with needlepoint, a gold mural, hanging, pillow, or other crafted item will be lovely.  That embroidery floss that has gold flecks in it is beautiful.

If you want to give a small trinket, but one that would make a special, meaningful 50th anniversary gift, look for the necklaces that are gold plated heart halves.  That is, each necklace is one half of a heart, cut to fit perfectly with its mate when held together with it!  Or, look for the little vial of real gold flakes or nuggets.  Add a chain or ribbon, and the couple could hang it in a special place in the bedroom or elsewhere for prosperity or continued luck, etc...

Of course, books with the word “gold” in the title, or weekend trip tickets to a locale that has “Gold” in the name or gold in the activity would be original and still traditional, too.  Good luck, stretch that creativity, and give my best to the marrieds.

And not to forget the other traditional hallmarks, here’s a list of the other materials for the other anniversary years:

1st First year: paper
2nd Second year: cotton/straw
3rd Third year: leather
4th Fourth year: fruit/flowers
5th Fifth year: wood
6th Sixth year: candy/iron
7th Seventh year: wool/copper
8th Eighth year: bronze/pottery
9th Ninth year: pottery
10th Tenth year: tin
11th Eleventh year: steel
12th Twelfth year: silk/linen
13th Thirteenth year: lace
14th Fourteenth year: ivory
15th Fifteenth year: crystal
20th Twentieth year: china
25th Twenty-fifth year: silver
30th Thirtieth year: pearl
35th Thirty-fifth year: coral
40th Fortieth year: ruby
45th Forty-fifth year: sapphire
50th Fiftieth year: gold