year anniversary gifts: anniversary year presents

The traditional anniversary year gift list -- the one that says the 60th anniversary is diamond or the 50th is gold – was considered archaic by some. In recent times it has been supplemented with a parallel 'contemporary' anniversary year gift list. This list covers more years than the traditional (more of those in-between major milestones) and, as it says, features more modern anniversary gift requirements.

But year anniversary gifts is less than half the story of anniversary giving. Indeed, many a man may have convinced themselves that a dozen red roses are what's required on every anniversary year. They are wrong -- at least according to the accepted list of anniversary year flowers.

Florists aren't the only traders playing the tradition card; the jewellery industry is in on the act too. For many an anniversary year (certainly the first 15 anniversaries and all the major ones thereafter) there are recommended gemstones for anniversary year jewellery. Any jewellery you give should (if custom is to be observed) feature a particular stone or metal.

Of course, all this wedding anniversary advice was originally intended to give some meaning to your gift and to help narrow choice. It's up to you whether you stick with 'tradition' (whether genuine or invented) or go your own way. The most important thing is that you arrive at the right anniversary gift for her. How you do that is up to you, but "it's traditional" does give you a great story to tell the wife.

Happy anniversary gift shopping!