12th Wedding Anniversary

Traditional, Modern and Symbolic Anniversary Gifts

Below is a list of both traditional and modern gift materials, as well as classic flower and gemstone symbols, which mark a couple’s 12th wedding anniversary in countries around the world…

Traditional Gift – UK		Silk and Fine Linen
Traditional Gift – US		Silk
Traditional Gift – Spain		Silk
Traditional Gift – Germany		Nickel
Traditional Gift – Russia		Nickel
Traditional Gift – France		Silk
Traditional Gift – Italy		Silk
Flower Gift		Peony
Gemstone Gift		Jade
Modern Gift		Pearls and Coloured Gems

About 12th Wedding Anniversaries

The journey to your 12th wedding anniversary has no doubt been eventful – in a positive way, of course. Hopefully, you have been able to sail on smooth waters, although some couples will have encountered a few rough passages along the way.

That is what marriage is all about: overcoming any obstacles in a relationship, pressing ahead with even stronger bonds, and looking forward to seas ahead that are as smooth as silk. Just one reason why this 12th celebration of your marriage is popularly known as the Silk Anniversary.

How to Celebrate a 12th Wedding Anniversary

Celebrate this anniversary by taking time to indulge in a little luxury and pleasure. A tour of the silk trade routes in Asia is an extravagant way to celebrate your big day – but hugely rewarding and memorable.

If you’ve got the time and funds, go for it!  If not, a gift of silk lingerie (for her) or silk boxer shorts (for him) will set the scene for an unforgettable 12th anniversary celebration.

We all have a childhood dream that, when there is love, everything goes like silk, but the reality is that marriage requires a lot of compromise.” Quoted by Raquel Welch

12th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him, Her… and the Couple

A modern-day gift for the 12th year is linen, so clothing would be the perfect choice, especially if your anniversary falls in the warmer months.

One of the symbolic gemstones for this anniversary is jade, regarded as a symbol of good and beauty. The other is opal, a stone which – when worn close to the skin – is believed to reflect your emotions.

Both gemstones offer many diverse jewellery gift options for couples celebrating 12 years of marriage. How about jade cufflinks for him, and a beautiful jade pendant for her?

The classic flower for a 12th wedding anniversary is the peony, magnificent when in bloom and beautifully fragrant. It traditionally symbolises a joyful life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity and devotion.

Planting a peony in your garden would make a wonderful gift, as well as being a constant reminder of your 12th wedding anniversary. Or maybe put together a bouquet of 12 of these attractive blooms for an especially romantic and meaningful anniversary gift.

You don’t always have to follow tradition, however. Perhaps instead arrange a candlelit dinner for two at your favourite restaurant, or a night at the theatre followed by a luxury overnight stay in a boutique hotel.

12th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him

What can I buy my husband for our 12th wedding anniversary?

We have anniversary gifts for all budgets. If you cannot find exactly what you want here, check out our other anniversary pages for more ideas.

12th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Her

What should I buy my wife on our 12th wedding anniversary?

Finding the right gift – whether it is traditional or modern – can sometimes prove to be a little difficult. Hopefully, you will be able to find the ideal anniversary gift idea here.

12th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him & Her

Travel & Experience Gifts

• Location visit
• Travel gift vouchers
• Special 12th wedding anniversary getaway and meal
• Luxury afternoon tea for two
• Skydiving and parachute jumps
• Luxury spa day for two
• Design your own Perfume Gold Experience for two.

Jewellery

The traditional 12th wedding anniversary gemstones are jade and opal.

• Earrings
• Pendants
• Rings
• Necklace
• Tie Pin
• Cufflinks

Something Different & Unique

• Buy some eye-catching silk artwork.
• Take a local arts & crafts course together (for example, silk painting).
• Enjoy a luxury holiday in one of the destinations along the venerable Silk Road.
• Visit Macclesfield’s Silk Museum, followed by a meal at The Silk Trader pub.

However you decide to celebrate your 12th wedding anniversary, make sure the special day showcases the fine silky threads that hold your marriage together – and which shape a future journey of enduring love.

12 Fun Facts About Silk

According to Confucius, Lei Zu (the wife of the Yellow Emperor Huangdi) discovered silk in 2,700 BC after a cocoon dropped into her tea. As she attempted to remove it, silk thread unravelled. Urban legend or not, she is now revered throughout China as the Goddess of Silkworms (Seini-Than).

1. China is the world’s largest silk producer – 150,000 metric tonnes annually, which is 78 per cent of the total.
2. Shanghai is considered the capital of silk fashion, with the cheongsam (or qipao, a one-piece Chinese dress) still popular as evening or party attire.
3. The Silk Road dates to 130 BC when the Han government sent an envoy to enhance relationships with small nomadic states west of China. The Chinese transported silk, tea and other products along the route, exchanging them for horses with small kingdoms in the western part of China.
4. By the latter half of the first century BC, the Silk Road was the world’s longest ancient overland trade route.
5. Winding through the deserts of northern China, the Silk Road also became one of two natural land routes for Buddhists and monks to enter China – the other was through Yunnan, known as the Tea Horse Road or Southern Silk Road.
6. China is credited with pioneering silk dyeing in different colours. During ancient times, natural dye sources were used, including red from madder root, yellow from Jinzi fruits, dark red from ochre and white from mineral dye.
7. Thought to date to between 2600 and 2300 BC, half a silkworm cocoon was unearthed in 1927 in Shanxi Province. Ribbons, threads and woven fragments dating to 3000 BC have also been found in Zhejiang Province.
8. Zhejiang Province is known as the “King of Silk” as it produces one-third of China’s raw silk, brocade and satin.
9. In addition to making clothes, silk has been applied in medicine and has served as a currency, as well as being used to make the first type of luxury paper in China.
10. Chinese doctors have applied silk prostheses to treat diseased arteries.
11. Billions of silkworms that die during the silk-making process are eaten rather than being wasted. 
12. They are seasoned, boiled, fried or stewed in a dish that translates as “tasty, crispy silkworm” and which curious foodies say is similar to French fries. After the silk is removed, the shrimp-size silkworm pupae are taken to hotels and stir fried in garlic, ginger, pepper, soy sauce and oil.

Next Anniversaries

13th wedding anniversary
14th wedding anniversary
15th wedding anniversary
16th wedding anniversary
17th wedding anniversary