Paper
Anniversary
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
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