Anniversary Gifts

So recently, while I drive to and from work, I have had ideas about anniversary gifts, and questions have come to mind.

 --> Does one need to give their spouse a gift?
 --> What is the reason behind gift giving?
 --> What will my husband think if I get him a gift?
 --> Should I expect a gift in return?

So I looked up suggested gifts for anniversaries as I've heard there are recommendations... and this is what I found:

Anniversary	Traditional	Modern
1st	Paper	Clocks
2nd	Cotton	China
3rd	Leather	Crystal/Glass
4th	Fruit/Flowers	Appliances
5th	Wood	Silverware
6th	Candy/Iron	Wood
7th	Wool/Copper	Desk Sets
8th	Pottery/Bronze	Linens/Lace
9th	Willow/Pottery	Leather
10th	Tin/Aluminum	Diamond Jewelry
11th	Steel	Fashion Jewelry
12th	Silk/Linen	Pearls
13th	Lace	Textile Furs
14th	Animals*	Gold Jewelry
15th	Crystal	Watches
20th	China	Platinum
25th	Silver	Silver
30th	Pearl	Diamond
35th	Coral	Jade
40th	Ruby	Ruby
45th	Sapphire	Sapphire
50th	Gold	Gold
60th	Diamond	Diamond

And then, just recently, an opportunity to give him an early gift of something he needed arose, and so I gave him something that would help him in his work, and that he could use anywhere... it wasn't wood nor was it silverware, but then... does it have to be?

A gift should be something from the heart, right? It should be something for the other person that shows that you are thinking about them. It shouldn't matter the price that is spent on said gift either.

I jokingly told him that he now had 3 months to think of and come up with something for me that was around the same price. He jokingly replied, I'll get you divorce papers, they are worth 3 grand! Over 10 times the price I paid for his gift. I told him quickly that I didn't need nor want them, and that should he give them to me, I'd just give them back and say "nope not happening". He laughed too and said "Good! Just as well!"

Looking at this list of recommended gifts... it seems so strange to me. Why do you need to give wood or silverware on a 5th anniversary? Why textile fur or lace on a 13th? These things just make little sense to me.

Personally, if I were to be able to spend the day with him, and to show him just how much he is loved, and be shown just how much I am loved, then I would be a happy woman. For me, our anniversary, while marking how many years we have been together, isn't an overly important day, as I am thankful for each and every day with him. Even the ones we argue on... because that's part of a healthy and happy relationship. As long as there is an apology or understanding reached afterward. 

What do you think? Are gifts important? Should one be expected to get their spouse a gift? What is the importance of spending money on someone just once a year?