Nobody knows exactly where this gift list came from, but traditional gifts for specific anniversaries have been around since at least the late 1800s. Adapting these traditional gifts for Valentine’s Day will make last-minute shopping easier, at least in theory.
Year 1: Paper. This is a breeze. Send a card, and you’re set. Better yet, make one. The cost is minimal, but the gift itself is personal and, if you do it right, very romantic.
Year 2: Cotton. A T-shirt commemorating your anniversary is always a crowd-pleaser, right? A larger-than-life silkscreened photo of your face will be something your sweetie will wear every day.
Year 3: Leather. Your interpretation is up to you.
Year 4: Fruit or flowers. It seems like that should come before leather, doesn’t it?
Year 5: Wood. No, that doesn’t just mean a chunk of tree. Something made out of wood: A keepsake or small work of art.
Year 10: Tin or aluminum. OK, this isn’t the most romantic, but if you’ve managed to stay together this long, you’ve hopefully developed a sense of humor about one another.
