Friday the 13th might be unlucky. But lucky you if you are approaching your 13th wedding anniversary year, because we have tonnes of facts and tips to help you make it extra special for your wife.

Do you know what the traditional gift is on the 13th anniversary year? How about the customary flowers for anniversary number 13? And, if you are out shopping for jewellery to give on her 13th wedding anniversary, what should you be buying?

If you answered “I really haven’t got a clue”, “A dozen red roses every year, isn’t it?” and “It’s bound to be diamonds or pearls” you need to read this page: 13th anniversary gift advice.

Besides spilling the beans on the main customs/ traditions for lucky number 13, we’ve also packed this page with loads of useful extra information. Stuff like the myths and beliefs surrounding the gemstone or flowers. And, there’s handy pictures to, so you will know what you should be looking out for when shopping.

Facts, figures and pictures aside, you also discover a whole host of great gift ideas on this page. And, soon, you’ll be able to shop directly from the page — we are going to be importing the best gift ideas relevant to each anniversary year from the tens of thousands available from dozens of retailers across the web.

Check out our 13th wedding anniversary gift ideas page.

The 13 year wedding anniversary is one of those anniversaries with customary gifts, flowers and jewellery associated with it. Basically, there’s a long established tradition of giving a certain type of gift. Often this means it must be made of or feature a specific material. In the case of the 13th anniversary, the gift should contain lace — if you want to keep with tradition.

Of course, tradition means old and the world has moved on a lot since these customs became established. So, not to be beholden to the past forever, a modern interpretation has developed. It offers an more contemporary anniversary gift theme for each anniversary year covered by the tradition. For the 13 year anniversary, that alternative is textile or (heaven-forbid!) fur.

Quite a few of the anniversary years have a customary and/or contemporary gift associated with them, so it’s worth checking to avoid a social faux pas or disappointing the recipient. Plus, sticking to the theme does make the anniversary gift seem more special — like more thought went into it — and less random!

Besides the gift, if you’re planning on giving flowers too (and why wouldn’t you?!) you should also be aware of well established (though less well known) floral customs for wedding anniversaries. You shouldn’t be ’surprising’ your wife with red roses every year! Tradition has it that Hollyhock should be included in your bouquet for the 13th anniversary year.

If you’re planning on giving jewellery, you need to know of the custom regarding what jewellery should be given for each anniversary. Yes, another set of rules! Any jewellery given for the 13th wedding anniversary should ideally contain either Moonstone, Malachite or Citrine. These are all semi-precious stones (thankfully), which should help keep the cost down!

Of course, if you read our page about the 13 year wedding anniversary, you could pick up all this information AND a whole bundle of ideas of what to actually give. Ideas that meet the requirements of all the traditions. Yes, indeed — there is an easier way! So, what are you waiting for — get to it!