If you want to remind a person of everything that happened in the world on the day that they were born, then consider birthday newspapers for your friends and family. Sometimes it is fun to see what did happen, but since most people always include the big events maybe consider including some of the smaller events that went on. Consider customizing the birthday newspapers with items that will interest the person that you are giving them to, tailoring the events to their interest and make the birthday newspapers even more special because they are about the person.
The same advice goes for putting together a 50th anniversary gift basket. Make sure that the basket includes items that interest the couple, customize the baskets with items from hobbies they have together and enjoy or things that they can do together. This will make the 50th anniversary gift basket feel much more special because it is about the couple, not just a basket of wine and cheese that you picked out for them. Great gifts are ones that you put some thought into before giving rather than just picking out something off the shelf. Gifts really are all about the thought and those are the most remembered.