A few weeks ago I went to the Hallmark store to buy my parents a wedding anniversary card. When I checked out, the young man slipped in a free 2007 calendar. In the back of the calendar is a list of the traditional anniversary gifts, such as paper on the first anniversary, as well as the updated modern list of gifts.

Anniversaries, it seems, have been hit by inflation. Take a look:

Items that are now given earlier [item, new anniversary, traditional anniversary]:

– china, 2, 20
– crystal, 3, 15
– silk/linen, 8, 12
– lace, 8, 13
– pearl, 12, 30
– diamond, 30 and 60, 60
– gold, 14 and 50, 50

Items that have been demoted and are now given later [item, new anniversary, traditional anniversary]:

– wood, 6, 5
– leather, 9, 3

New items [item, anniversary]:

– clock, 1
– appliances, 4
– silverware, 5
– desk sets, 7
– fashion jewelry, 11
– textiles/furs, 13
– watches, 15
– platinum, 20
– jade, 35

Items that no longer make the cut [item, anniversary]:
– paper
– cotton
– fruit/flowers
– candy/iron
– wool/copper
– bronze/pottery
– pottery/willow
– tin/aluminum
– steel
– coral