Look Back To 2012: What Happened That Year

The Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics in one extraordinary summer.

Here's 2012 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 2012

• 'Somebody That I Used to Know' by Gotye was the year's best-selling single.
• 'Gangnam Style' became the first video to pass a billion views on YouTube.
• The Justice Collective's 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' was the Christmas number one.

In the news in 2012

• The Diamond Jubilee was marked in June with a river pageant and a concert.
• The London Olympics ran from 27 July, with Danny Boyle's opening ceremony.
• The Leveson Inquiry reported in November.

On screen in 2012

• Netflix launched in the UK in January.
• Skyfall was the biggest film at the British box office to that point.
• The Olympic and Paralympic coverage took over the schedules for a month.

In sport in 2012

• Super Saturday, 4 August: Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all won gold within 45 minutes.
• Bradley Wiggins became the first British winner of the Tour de France.
• Andy Murray won the US Open and Olympic gold; Manchester City won the league with Aguero's last-minute goal.

Everyday life in 2012

• The Olympic torch relay passed within ten miles of most of the population.
• Games Makers in purple and red became the image of the summer.
• 4G launched in the UK in October.

If you were born in 2012

• Anyone born in 2012 was born in the Olympic and Diamond Jubilee summer.
• They are the same age as Netflix in Britain.
• Anyone born in 2012 turns 30 in 2042, 40 in 2052, 50 in 2062, 60 in 2072 and 70 in 2082.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 2015
• Look back to 2014
• Look back to 2013
• Look back to 2011
• Look back to 2010
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• 2010s party playlist
• Phone party games
• How to run a quiz night
• Decade music round questions
• Guess the year quiz
• The 2020s so far
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was Super Saturday?

4 August 2012, when Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah won Olympic athletics golds in the space of 45 minutes in the London Stadium.

What was the Christmas number one in 2012?

'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' by the Justice Collective, recorded for Hillsborough-related charities.

How old is someone born in 2012?

Subtract 2012 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2052, 50 in 2062, 60 in 2072 and 70 in 2082.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.