I love this season. Love the Christmas music, the shopping, the lights, I just love everything about this holiday.
There is one thing I hate about it though:
My birthday.
Nobody wants to go out on Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas to celebrate a birthday. Everybody is ALWAYS busy. And if they are not busy, I get re-gifted gifts, gifts wrapped in Christmas paper and/or a gift that they saved from Christmas.
It’s a rip off.
I’m older now, so it doesn’t bother me as much anymore. I don’t even want a gift, but it would be nice to be able to go out and celebrate it once in a while.
As I look back, I must have gotten totally ripped off as a kid. I bet I would have gotten double the presents had my birthday fallen in the summer months. My Mom & Dad did a great job with my birthday though. They always managed to get my close friends there. They never wrapped presents from them in wrapping paper, and I really don’t think they gave me a left over Christmas present. They did good.
But, still Christmas Birthdays are a rip off.
I haven’t even mentioned the fact that you just blink and the whole season is gone. Christmas flies by and my birthday goes with it! Most others can look forward to a fun party in a different month, but nope, not me.
Until now.
I’ve decided I am changing my birthday. That’s right folks, I am now going to celebrate my HALF birthday in the summer time! No Christmas paper will be there on a hot day, that I can guarantee!
I’ve got it all figured out!
Unless, of course , somebody decides that my birthday theme should be Christmas in July. 😉
xoxo,
Stacy
Smiling Mommy Blog 
Dec 13, 2011 @ 12:57:18
What an awesome solution!
So this Christmas will be your half birthday for your new birthday, which is your half birthday. Right?
So happy Half Birthday — almost.
😉
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:56:35
My birthday is December 26. My mother named me Caroline so that I would not forget that I am her Christmas Carol…ugh. I have all of the same symptoms as you and have thought about changing my BD to June. I am so over my birthday.
Dec 23, 2011 @ 20:52:23
YOUR RIGHT I DON’T LIKE BORN DEC.28 BUT DO I GET ANYTHING NO I DO NOT GET NOTHING NO ONE WANTS TO SHOP NO ONE AND I HATE IT …………BUT GLAD YOU’LL CHANGING THOSE BD DATES BECAUSE AFTER HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY I WANT CHANG MINES
Mar 17, 2012 @ 12:44:15
Whatever makes you happy…do it.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 12:57:52
Anyone I know with a Christmas birthday always says so proudly! I guess everything has its disadvantages, though.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:02:22
Ugh. My birthday is Dec 26th. You’re so right!!
And whats even worse – I did it to my poor son too. At least he is a week early though.
We’re planning on throwing a bigger half birthday party for him this summer, just like my mom did for me.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:43:01
Same with me, born December 26…people want to shop that day…they don’t care about you. : )
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:02:45
Happy Early Birthday!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:04:15
So true, and it’s applicable to all dates within the range of Xmas. Birthdays within 5 days either way of Xmas bring out the cheapness in people – meaning that most people you know will say ‘this doubles up as your birthday and xmas present’ when you forked out twice for them and been available for their events. Definitely a half-day in comparison to others, rather than twice the celebration.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 06:31:25
Yes December birthdays are all annoying BUT at least you can still do whatever you like on your actual day – us Christmas babies never can 😦
Dec 15, 2011 @ 02:30:21
I think that the cheapness window can be extended to at least 10 days. As today is my birthday I have experienced the birthday/Xmas combo-gift countless times.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:04:29
Congratulations–on making the decision to change your birthday, and on being Freshly Pressed. I am an older woman, and about 10 years ago, I too changed my birthday. It used to be 2 weeks into January. Everyone was broke, on a diet and outside, it was sleeting. Who wants to party under those conditions? No one wants to see cake. Now I celebrate sometime around the solstice in June. I choose a day when a band is coming to town I want to see or some other special event and I party!!! And others want to party with me!!! It’s not about presents or any such juvenile thing, it’s about celebrating being alive.
I have not regretted making the change for a moment. When the actual day comes around in January, I don’t want to hear it mentioned. The only person I have failed to get on board with this change is my mother.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:06:14
I feel your pain, my birthday is Valentine’s Day (not near it, the ACTUAL day!). Good luck getting people to remember to call to say Happy Birthday, much less agree to attend a birthday party; and I’ve just given up on the concept of receiving a gift from anyone but my mom and hubby. Everyone’s caught up with chocolates, paper hearts, and the like. Oh well, such is life, right?
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:06:45
Great post! And I would certainly change my birthday if this were my case!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:10:38
The saddest thing is the all-in-one everything. Gifts and celebrations especially. Haha
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:12:47
How dare Jesus steal your birthday, especially since its not his real birthday!
Congrats on FP Btw.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:18:19
This is great! I can totally relate because I was born on Christmas. As I become older, it doesn’t bother me to receive presents, but a day to celebrate ME would be nice! I act opposite though, I am the Grinch when it comes to Christmas, i hate everything about it: music, presents, and my birthday. I think I too will celebrate my half birthday! Happy Birthday!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:19:23
My grandson’s birthday is the day after Christmas and he will be 11 he has his cake and gifts from the family on Dec 26, But on June 26, he has a big party, which can be a pool party a sleep out party or an inside party we call it his 11 1/2 birthday. He loves it!!!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:25:01
My brother’s birthday is Jan 3rd, everyone is too wiped from the holidays to bother! Mine’s usually the same weekend as Thanksgiving, not quite as sucky as Christmas weekend, but I’m typically passed over in the gift department, not that I’m complaining or anything 😉 Congrats on FP and Happy Birthday!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:31:06
My birthday is a week before Christmas, and It’s never bothered me. People just don’t always have the money to buy even MORE gifts this time of year. It’s not all about how many gifts your parents manage to give you, anyway. And I like having a Christmas tree for my birthday. 😛
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:31:14
Congrts n Clebrts
Hpy Birthday
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:35:59
My birthday is two days after, I know what you mean. And try getting a Birthday party organised at Christmas! Rarely happened as a kid because everyone was busy or out of town.
My daughters’ and husband’s birthdays are in June so at least we get some parties in the middle of the year!
Congratulation on being freshly pressed!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:36:25
My birthday is in early December…prime holiday party-finals-shopping-stress time! I feel your pain… 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:46:02
I think it’s totally appropriate to pick another date and celebrate. You can even do it a month later. My son’s birthday is February 2, not Christmas but still not far from it. We try to think ahead because the shelves are sometimes still bare by then. When we can, we buy him outdoor stuff in hopes of warmer weather just around the corner. An uncle in the family had a Christmas birthday and rules: no Christmas paper, no Christmas anything. After 5 o’clock, it was no longer Christmas. It was HIS birthday.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:46:59
My little cousin’s birthday is this weekend, and I’m afraid he’s probably getting short-changed as well. Happy birthday anyway!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:52:49
My sister’s birthday is on Dec. 29th. She always made a big deal of letting everyone know it was her birthday. As a result, she never got cheated. My daughter’s birthday is on the 22nd. We usually celebrate it the week before with family, and then have a little something on the actual day. She seems to take it all in stride. Depends on how you are treated and how you look at things. : )
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:55:27
My birthday is Dec 27, but for the past few years I’ve also been celebrating my half birthday! Christmas birthday definitely suck, so I totally understand!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:55:52
I envy your husband. One less important to remember!! 🙂
Look at the bright side; everyone remembers the day, no excuses for forgetting it & skipping the present (be it Christmas paper wrapped). My father celebrates two birthdays, his actual and his official. My Grandparents registered his birth about a month later. The officials put his birthday the day it was registered. Nobody found out for another five years until he was ready for school. He continued to live with two birthdays.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 13:56:12
Moving your birthday to summer is a great service to those who give you gifts. It is very hard to come up with both a Christmas gift and a birthday gift for the same day of the year. So going to summer time means people can give you surf boards and sneakers and such. Nice of you to expand the range of gift possibilities.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:02:00
I’m very proud and happy to be borne on estimated Jesus’ birthday !
Proud because it’s a great honour to have something so similar with Saviour.
Happy, because no b-party is so beautiful and joyful as a Christmas.
I’ve also lucky, that my parents always have take much care, that I get both presents.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:06:53
My youngest son’s birthday is a week before Christmas. It is awful. We have done everything in our power to make his birthday a completely separate event but it hasn’t always been easy. His friends sometimes go out of town for winter break and to visit family for the holidays so we’ve had to sometimes have his birthday party a week or two in advance.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:11:07
My birthday is December 23 and I agree completely. When I was a kid, it was awesome, I got more presents than my sister. But my parties were always two weeks early or late. Then it dawned on me that my sister (b-day in June) was really the lucky one.
On the bright side, my mom did recently admit that I was named after Santa Claus (Nicole=St. Nicholas). 🙂
But I agree, Christmastime birthdays are a rip off!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:11:51
My birthday is Dec. 28th. I feel your pain.
I like the idea of celebrating my birthday on a different day. I may just have to try that. 🙂
Congrats on being freshly pressed!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:16:27
Any tips for friends who want to make people with Christmas birthdays feel special? No Christmas wrapping paper, check. Anything else? I have so many friends with birthdays that week, and I always wish I could do something to differentiate the holidays more for them.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:21:22
And I thought I had it bad having a January birthday. When I was little we had ‘little somethings’ – when it was my birthday, my brother and sister would get a little present too. When it was theirs, I would. It worked, because their birthdays were May and June and mine was January.
Congrats on Freshly Pressed!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:22:04
My dad’s birthday is the 27th & Cupcake’s birthday is the 19th, so they both got screwed
But Cupcake’s Gramma celebrates her half birthday with cupcakes and a toy, so that’s not too bad. Hunny’s birthday is always right before, during, or after Thanksgiving (depending on what weekday it falls on). I think that stinks, too. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and HAPPY 1/2 BIRTHDAY and CONGRATS ON FP!!
Dec 19, 2011 @ 07:44:34
Happy Birthday to cupcake 😉
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:32:10
Now that’s a bloody fantastic idea! 😀 What a perfect sollution to this. Hehe!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:32:52
Cousin’s birthday is on Xmas, he gets twice as many presents on one day – that’s a great deal there!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:35:34
I stumbled upon this today b/c I am a working mother also and I commiserate with others in our plight! My husband’s birthday is 2 days before Christmas and I try to keep it separate so the kids treat daddy’s birthday special, even if his own parents don’t! He feels your pain! Keep up the fun writing. 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:36:16
Mine is on Christmas Eve, but my family as a boy always made it my birthday and my own (now I have grown up children) still do.
It means I get presents two days in a row. (But I have to wait a year for any more.)
I do feel for those who have a birthday on Dec 25th or New Year’s Day, though.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:38:56
My mate was born on Christmas day. We used to go up the pub for a drink on Christmas day morning before going back to our own families for Christmas dinner.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:40:14
I was going to suggest a June celebration of your “half” birthday. I had a friend one time who did that and it was so much more special than trying to celebrate during Christmas.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:46:41
Half birthdays are a must, for Xmas babies or in general! I’ll tell my bestie about this solution, given that she shares her bday with “the most wonderful time of the yearrrr!” Happy bday and blogging!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:50:28
This is a fun post topic.
Though my birthday does not fall during the holidays, I am very familiar with birthdays that do. My grandmother’s birthday was on Christmas Eve; my husband’s and father’s birthday are on 12/28; my father-in-law and his wife’s birthdays are only a few days before Christmas; and my twin nephews’ birthdays are also only a few days before Christmas.
So, needless to say, this time of year is very busy for us, as not only do we have a lot of Christmas shopping, we also have to buy a lot of birthday gifts. It’s a lot to remember! When my grandmother was alive, since hers was SO close to Christmas, we would get a Christmas birthday card, which was kind of novel. But even if you receive gifts for the birthday, there is never as much time during the busy holiday season just to celebrate your birthday, as it all gets mixed together.
Thanks for sharing your predicament with us. 😉
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:53:27
Oh, honey, you’re preaching to the choir. My birthday is on Valentine’s Day and I always got screwed. While I was living the single life, I used to have to spend my birthdays alone because all my friends went out with boyfriends or dates. If I didn’t have a date, I was home. So, I hear ya. And believe me, I feelya.
Val
http://valentinedefrancis.wordpress.com
Dec 13, 2011 @ 14:55:28
My father’s birthday is December 23rd. I could always tell that he didn’t think much of such a clash. But we’d make a big deal when it mattered– on his 40th and 60th birthdays. It actually played to his favor– people dropped by for the open houses as if they were just another winter holiday party.
My mother wanted much the same when her 60th came up last September (especially with a photo memories book)… but her foil was that it came close to Labor Day weekend. The celebration remained to just family because everyone else had their own plans.
By the way, *I* am a summer baby, with a birthday in early August. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Lately I am just happy if the extended family comes to the park, the kids run around, we have a good meal, and socialize a bit. That about captures the essence.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 15:17:29
That SUCKS!!
My birthday is in August so as soon as my birthday was over I started looking forward to Christmas. And as soon as Christmas was over I started looking forward to my birthday :-p
Dec 13, 2011 @ 15:39:33
My mom’s birthday is the 23rd of December, and we’ve always made sure to keep that HER special day. We’ll either take her someplace nice or prepare something special at home – whichever she prefers! She always gets separate gifts for birthday and christmas, because even if they’re so close, her birthday is still her day!
I hope celebrating your half-birthday makes it better! 🙂 Congrats on being freshly pressed!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 15:40:40
I feel like I could have written this! As a kid, my parents did great too (birthday wrapping paper, a clearly separate birthday party, etc) but it still sucks. When I was a kid, my mom tried a couple of times to tell me that my birthday was actually JUNE 27 (six months later) but apparently I was too smart and said “This isn’t my real birthday!” When I have kids of my own, I’m going to try extra hard to make sure this doesn’t happen to them (although I suppose it’s my own fault, because I wasn’t supposed to arrive until January). Nice to hear someone else rant about this too!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 15:47:07
my sister is a christmas eve baby. but i assure you, she is in no way deprived. she gets birthday gifts from santa. she also gets half-birthday gifts…on my birthday. not cool. i think she’d be the first to admitt she makes out like a bandit.
http://www.icouldntmakethisshitup.wordpress.com
Dec 13, 2011 @ 15:50:35
My siblings & I were all home schooled, so our social group was rather small. Thus, birthdays usually consisted of a set of grandparents and our aunt, uncle, & 2 cousins. So my then-7yr-sister was thrilled when she joined ballet and made friends with the girls in her class. She was excited to finally have people to invite to her birthday party, besides just family. To her dismay, however, we found out her August birthday occurred after ballet let out for summer break. So, during the year she was in ballet, she had her birthday party in March so she would still be connected with her friends. And since I also have an August birthday when it usually 100 degrees where we live, & way to hot to do anything fun outside the way I like, I usually wait to have a “birthday party” until September or October.
It’s your birthday, you can have it when you want to! 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 15:51:29
I’m with you Stacy. My birthday is in early December (the day before my grandma’s), so I never got my own cake and I got a lot of “we didn’t give you a birthday gift so you’ll get a bigger Christmas gift” kind of statements from my family. It was a total bummer.
Now that I have gotten older, I landed at a job (10 years ago) working with five others. What happened there? Yep, you guessed it. After 365 days to choose from, my boss’ birthday is the same day… I just can’t seem to escape my “day” getting usurped by someone else…
Honestly, though, it is glad to know that this stuff bugs someone other than me…
Really appreciate your post (and I like the 1/2 birthday idea – maybe I should give that a try too)!
;O)
Dec 13, 2011 @ 15:52:28
As a fellow Christmas day birthday (with the exact same name-a Twilight Zoneish), I wholeheartedly agree!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 15:53:45
This made me sad. My baby turns one this year and yup… he is a December baby. Dec 29th. I’ve known since I first found out I was pregnant with him that he is going to be ripped off for the rest of his life. Already people are telling me they won’t be coming to his FIRST birthday because it will be New Years Eve and they don’t want to travel, or have plans, or yadda-yadda. I feel so sad for him and he doesn’t even have a clue yet. I was thinking about the half birthday idea too. Both of his half brothers were born in August, days apart, and I think he should just ride in that parade and have his birthday with them. Or is that cheating them? Oh bother! I can’t win. 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:09:00
Being a Dec. 26 birthday girl, myself … I know your pain! Humm .. can’t remember the last birthday party I had, maybe when I was 6 years old.
However, my parents took sympathy from my earliest days. They said Christmas was wonderful, but the best day of all … was the “day after Christmas”, which was my birthday. That made me feel very special and I still remember their words each year.
But now I’ve decided … when everyone is gathered around the table for Christmas dinner, I’m setting out a birthday cake along with all the other desserts.
It won’t be Merry Christmas AND Happy Birthday, but Happy Birthday to ME and a Merry Christmas to ALL!
But you’ve got a great idea, I just might try a 1/2 birthday celebration, as well. Why not?
Sending you early Happy Birthday wishes!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:09:34
Enjoyed reading;)! My son’s birthday is in January which I have never liked because it is so close to Christmas. I love the idea of doing it when you want and when the weather is great! Congrats on being freshly pressed!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:11:27
I admit it- my youngest daughter’s birthday is a week before Christmas and it wasn’t until she was a teenager and asked me to stop giving her snow pants for her birthday that I realized how much we had skimmed over her day in preparation for Christmas. Boo, hiss to Momma G.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:12:25
My older brother’s birthday is on December 27 so he always received his birthday presents on Christmas. I was smarter and born in June. I enjoy getting presents every 6 months. Of course my birthday is at the end of June when people are on holiday so I ended up celebrating my birthday with my family or alone.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:15:18
Ha, I beat you to it! I am a November child and I always hated that I could never have a decent garden party. The weather in November in Germany is just atrocious.
For my 30th birthday I simply changed that. I invited everyone 3 months early and we had a huuuge, wicked party in my Mom and Dad’s garden on the hottest day of the year, in August. Karaoke and all! Best birthday of my life!
So yeah, great decision. Enjoy all the half birthdays to come!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:16:30
I started the same thing a few years ago. I love ice cream cake, and just going out to do something fun. No one has time or money during the week between Xmas and New Years (also my Birthday). This also helps because you don’t have to tell your age on your half birthday.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:19:52
I feel your pain. My birthday is the 26th. My anniversary is the 28th. I thought that I would do my half birthday in June. Well, that happens to be the birth month of my wife and 3 of my 4 children (not to mention Father’s day). So I decided to keep it on 12/26. I like you do not care about presents, just want to hang out and have lunch or dinner. Even then you have to hear all of the complaining about how bad traffic is, how they can’t think of eating anything, how busy the restaurant is, or how much work they have to do as a result of taking two to three days off.
I finally decided the last two years that I would have whoever wanted to come to my house to have cake or dinner was welcome under one condition: NO COMPLAINING!!! About anything. I don’t complain about traffic, food selection, or how I am still over weight at your birthday. And I am certainly not saying, well we went over budget on Christmas so we couldn’t get you a birthday present in October.
AS our birthdays draw near, my we all find comfort in the fact that we all are in misery together.
Thanks for the rant. Happy Birthday to all of you with December Birthdays.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:26:04
cute…
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:28:08
I am thankful that my children have less ‘gift giving’ holidays for ones they are born around. My oldest is May 7th, which always falls on/around/near Mothers Day. And my youngest is October 29th. Thankfully he loves creepy gross things so his birthday is always nice xD
But a Christmas birthday would suck. My nephew has one and it’s the one thing I said… “Poor kid, to share his birthday with Christmas is going to suck” Maybe I should suggest half-birthdays for his mother now before he gets to old! xD
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:46:01
Haha, I love the idea of changing your birthday. Why not! My neice’s birthday is right around Christmas and I gotta admit, I give her a single Christmas/birthday gift each year 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 16:53:47
I only way I got to have a birthday party where people actually showed up was by doing it a month early. People are too busy around the winter holidays. I just try to make sure I’m working, cause otherwise I’m always alone on my birthday.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:02:23
I totally feel your pain. My birthday is December 28th and one year my parents gave me the tower to a stereo for Christmas and the speakers for my birthday. What’s worse is that my wife is having a C-section next week and so the birthday-in-the-shadow-of-Christmas legacy lives on as our first kid will be born on December 21st. It’s a terrible family tradition.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:14:50
Great post. Thanks so much!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:17:17
I can at least partially relate – our older son was born Dec. 29 (2 days later than his original due date, so we got a LITTLE more space). It was very hard as he was growing up to keep his birthday separate and special – and have a little money left over to spend on his birthday gifts. But he seems to have survived that particular childhood trauma well. He’s in his late 20’s now, and we still try to keep the birthday separate. But the thought of a 1/2 birthday is a great one. Kinda wish we’d thought of it years ago! By the way, congrats on being Freshly Pressed.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:35:19
Have you ever heard the “very merry unbirthday” song? You could probably find it by googling and teach it to your friends so they’re prepared!
I always liked my June birthday, halfway through the year.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:35:23
Hi Stacy – I have a Christmas birthday too and I look at it this way…I will ALWAYS AND FOREVER have my birthday off from work!!! :>) I look forward to having that one day to luxuriate in bed as long as I want and spend a quiet day with family. Then, I usually go out to the moves later in the evening, because that is about the only thing that’s open to do on Christmas (often, very good movies get released on 12/25; back in 2006, Dream Girls was released Christmas Day and I went to see it on my birthday). Every few years, I have the urge to celebrate bigger so I’ll usually gather friends at a restaurant a week or so early and go ice skating or something like that. So love it for what it is and Happy Birthday!!!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:41:29
you’ve reminded me of being about 8, deciding that my mid-december birthday was too far away and declaring one august day to be my new one! I may have to resurrect this idea – everyone’s broke in december from buying presents and busy, it’s rubbish! although i find it’s good to club together with other december-born friends to have a great big party at some random point later on! 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:43:20
My dad has a Christmas birthday, he’s always in that same situation. It seems like no matter what we do his birthday is always overshadowed by Christmas! 😦
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:57:38
My dad’s birthday’s on the 10th, so I have heard this before. However, if you get a present from us, and it is wrapped in wrapping paper (a rarity in my house) it’ll probably be Christmas paper because that’s all we have. 🙂 Still, I think that sounds like a good plan. I don’t know why my dad hasn’t done that already. 😀
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:59:16
I know how you feel but in a different way. My birthday is at the end of August which in south Louisiana is smack in the middle of hurricane season. No one wants to celebrate when there’s water flooding the roads and a tree threatening to fall through your roof.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 17:59:44
We’ve always felt bad for the “Christmas Birthdays” kids… It’s such a rip-off! We have friends with holiday birthdays and we’ve only heard that’s it sucks!
Both of our birthdays are in July, but a lot of people are always away on vacation. My first official birthday party was a pitiful failure…only two girls could attend. It was very sad. I’m certainly not bitter about it or anything…
The weather is usually nice… so that’s a plus.
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed and Happy (early) Birthday!
Hope this blog post convinces your friends to get you out and celebrating in style!! 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 18:02:28
Totally hear you, I was a holiday baby too. Great plan to celebrate half during the summer.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 18:02:42
My birthday is on Christmas day too! And you are right, must have been totally ripped off presents-wise. However, I like how everyone remembers it and you are always on holiday. The bad things are getting envious over other peoples’ presents (!) and waiting the whole year for the day to come!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 18:05:22
Happy Almost Birthday!!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 18:16:13
I thought I had it bad – with a birthday that falls on Thanksgiving every seven years and is generally too close to T-day for anyone to want to celebrate seperately. Family always wanted to just wait until Thanksgiving to celebrate. I have since completely banned birthday pie.
But you’re solution is ABSOLUTELY GENIUS! And I would take it even farther, and instead of picking a date, make your half birthday the (for example) second saturday of every july, so it ALWAYS falls on a weekend 🙂
Although, I seem to remember that kids with summer birthdays were bummed out because it was harder to get a party together without being able to distribute invitations at school…..
But you’re a big kid so it doesn’t matter! Yay!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 18:20:35
There are ups and downs no matter when yours falls — my birthday is July 4, so I never see my friends, because they’re all with their own families. And, while I never had tests or school on my birthday, I never got to carry balloons or have a class birthday party at school either.
Make your birthday as special and unique as you are, and forget all the woes that come with the date it falls upon 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 18:52:28
OMG my birthday is on December 29, and I have always dealt with this problem! Always nice to hear from others who struggle with the same issue 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 18:53:03
I agree that would have to be really rough, everyone else is off doing stuff with their family and friends to be able to make time for you. But, I would imagine that at least getting some birthday gifts even though they might have been in christmas wrapping paper was still enjoyable. I have a lot of bad birthday memories from childhood but some awesome ones also.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 19:21:40
I have a birthday on the 20th which means I get the best of both worlds. I don’t envy the Christmas birthday child though – you should pick a second birthday mid-year, like the Queen, she has two birthdays!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 19:38:24
Stacy, I know exactly how you feel! Even though mine is on the 19th, I love everything about Xmas aside from the fact that I can’t have a celebration remotely close to my real bday. I’ve done the half birthday before and I think it’s a great idea!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 19:46:14
I feel your pain! Even though I’m 27, I still have that twinge of resentment that my friends were never available for my skating rink party during the week of Christmas. “Family time” they’d say! Hmpf. I guess once I’m older, I might not mind that everyone forgets about my birthday. I’ll slide silently into my golden years and no one will even know what happened. 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 19:49:56
😀 That is what my friend growing up always wanted to do, hers is December 22nd. I don’t think her parents approved so it didn’t happen but she always hated her birthday. I think you should do it! Throw a big party and celebrate yourself.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 20:03:51
Two of my best friends plus my sister have Christmas birthdays. I’ll try really hard to make it special for each of them!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 20:15:10
A half birthday is a great idea! Here’s to hoping that everyone goes along with you!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 20:44:52
That’s sad, but great solution! My friend’s birthday is the 19th of December, and she tried to have a party this past summer, but one of her family members passed away, so she couldn’t 😦
P.S. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 20:45:06
I’ve always thought the same thing, my birthday falls in the middle of the year and I always felt bad for people who had their birthdays right next to Christmas. I told my hubby that we cant have any kids between November and February so their birthdays can be far enough away from Christmas lol
Dec 13, 2011 @ 20:56:42
You’re right. Christmas birthdays are rip off. Ugh! I hate it when they gave me a gift with a xmas theme. Makes me wanna say, ‘Hello? its my birthday. Birth. Day.!”
Do you know Zoey Redbird of the HOUSE oF NiGHT? She might as well agree in this. ahaahha.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 21:04:56
Ha! Good point! My birthday is in september, and provides a great fall party!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 21:22:08
I totally understand your demise. My daughter’s birthday is in December and everyone thinks they can get away with a double whammy present wrapped in Christmas paper. Poor kid. I don’t want her to think that birthdays and Christmases are all about presents. But on that one day that is hers, I just want her to feel special and not be overshadowed by the glitzy, hustle and bustle, commercialism of Christmas.
Also, it’s a pain looking for locations to celebrate her party at. I always end up limimtng guests to 6 because that’s all I can fit in my tiny apartment. Sometimes it’s cut down to half because the streets are buried in snow. Summer birthdays are way cooler, they can go to a pool, park, etc. If I want a real party where kids run around free, I have to pay for a place. And I hate Chuck E. Cheese so that’s not even a solution for kids party.
Sorry for my long rant. And kudos on celebrating a half birthday. I thought about doing that for my daughter.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 21:37:41
Half birthday was my first thought, I love it!!!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 21:48:25
This is hilarious! And I feel for you at the same time! My sister’s birthday does not fall on the same day as yours, but her’s is on the 8th. So i end up having no time to come up with what I should get her for her christmas gift as I usually end up getting stuff she’s wanted for her birthday! =P
But yeah, it’s so true… having both celebrations fall on the same day is kind of like missing out on one. ORRR i guess we can look at the glass half full and say it’s an extra happy celebration? =P Ahaha! I know you probably don’t feel that way XD
Dec 13, 2011 @ 22:19:32
I knew someone who had a birthday around Christmas. As a kid they would have their birthday in the summertime. I would not want to wait a whole year to celebrate Christmas and a birthday at the same time.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 22:28:07
I completely agree with you, i also am a child of the holiday season and it is so bad that my birthday is two days before Christmas, meaning everyone just celebrates my birthday on the same day and then they forget about it.. Great post, Thanks for sharing.. 🙂
Dec 13, 2011 @ 22:36:37
I know exactly how you feel. I am also a ripped off Christmas baby. I just started taking matters into my own hands lol! Love your idea though! I may use that.
Dec 13, 2011 @ 22:57:27
I know EXACTLY how you feel! My birthday is the day after which is the same. No one wants to do anything and you get the two-fer presents. I just took matters into my own hands. Love the idea of the half birthday though! I think I’ll use it. Oh and happy birthday from one Christmas baby to another!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 23:28:15
My birthday is the day after Christmas! I completely feel your pain! Everyone is too tired to be bothered the day after Christmas!
Dec 13, 2011 @ 23:41:17
i’m a december 15 baby. when i was little, my parents would have two birthday parties for me. in june or july, i’d have a birthday party where all the presents were for me. in december, i’d have a birthday party where all the presents were donated to toys for tots. it was awesome!
when i got older and this arrangement was no longer an option, i realized the suckitude of a december birthday. but since i don’t enjoy celebrating my birthday, having it during the holiday season is a good way to fly under the proverbial radar.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 00:13:18
So true, my husband and son both have Christmas birthdays 😦
good luck with celebrating your half birthday :)!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 00:19:54
Oh man, I hope you get double the presents! If not that totally sucks even more 😦
Dec 14, 2011 @ 00:20:38
I so feel your pain, my bday is Dec 23, it sucks. I have to practically beg people to go for dinner and I only manage to get the handful of people I get because I moved and am home visiting so I guilt them in to it. lol
I also get the “this one present is for both your bday and xmas” a lot! Really? Really?!?! Well, how would you like it if I gave you your bday present (you with your luckily placed summer bday) and said it’s also for xmas? Wouldn’t like that so much would ya? 😛
My parents made sure when I was a kid to give me a bday party in Nov so at least I could have some friends come over but every year the bday was xmas themed, sigh. I may have to steal your idea to celebrate my half birthday…how great would that be! A bday party on a patio drinking slushy summer drinks instead of inside wearing layers and layers of clothes and still being cold…weird, but nice lol
Dec 14, 2011 @ 00:25:05
I’m a Christmas baby and also hate it. Never got a chocolate bar from the teacher, always bought presents or a cake to school when it was my friends’ birthdays but never had anything similar back, never got to ‘choose a birthday meal’ (although when I was 15 I threw a tantrum and demanded that we have macaroni cheese and chicken patties – my fave food at the time – for Christmas/Birthday lunch, and can never muster enough people together for a celebration. This year I tried for a BYO dinner last weekend or this weekend but everyone’s got things on. You feel like a dick trying to organise something, that should be so simple, 2 months in advance. I tried the August/October birthday party when I was younger and it’s just not the same.
BUT
With Christmas Birthdays, at least you mostly have your family with you on the day, and you never have to do the washing up. And let’s face it, there’s always a lot of washing up at Christmas. Happy birthday for the day!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 00:28:21
birthday wishes in advance !
Dec 14, 2011 @ 00:39:05
My birthday is four days after Christmas, and though I never felt shorted in terms of presents or celebrating with my family (my parents were always awesome about keeping Christmas separate), I remember having to have my slumber parties when I was younger in the beginning of December. And now as an adult, my birthday is celebrated with friends a few weeks before or after. So I feel ya on that. And I always celebrate my half-birthday, of course! 🙂 Fun post!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 01:26:08
My son’s birthday is a couple of weeks away from Christmas. From a gifter’s point-of-view (his parents, aunts and uncles), it’s a very costly situation. We have to buy him presents twice. On top of spending some dough on his birthday parties. He’s only 3 and has not realized it yet but he’s one lucky kid. :-p
Dec 14, 2011 @ 01:46:31
UGH my birthday is dec 28
let’s see:
relatives would give me ONE xmas card, with happy birthday written as a PS
parents combining xmas and bday gifts (usually would value anywhere between 50-300, depending on age)
relatives who would give only xmas or only bday gifts
bday gifts wrapped in xmas paper
going out to dinner on my bday, (as in: party hats, favors, birthday cake…obvious it’s a bday…) and being told MERRY CHRISTMAS
Xmas music on my bday
having the most pathetic 21st bday turn out i’ve ever seen due to people being gone
friends always being “at grandmas” for bday, or they would leave early because their parents wanted them back for more family time
When I was younger, I always felt kinda jealous that everyone got presents the same time of year that I did for my birthday. It steals some thunder when EVERYONE is celebrating – sounds strange, I know. But part of the joy of birthdays is being able to go “I got this cool gift!” and when you’re an xmas baby, your friends can follow it with “I got a better one for xmas!”
My brother was born in July. I know for a fact that he did get double the presents. why? Because his budget for his birthday was the same amount my parents would spend on him for Xmas. For example: they would spend 100 on his birthday, then 100 on christmas. Whereas, the total budget for my bday and xmas was 100.
Basically, it just stings a lot and it makes you feel like no one really cares that it’s your special day. I always feel like I’m missing out and I’ve never had a “real” birthday
so this year, instead of moping and having yet another “small get together” I’m taking myself to Vegas. That way I can avoid having people say “i’ll be out of town” and I can celebrate my way 🙂 I refuse to be let down again.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 02:15:53
Happy birthday and holiday greetings to you, kind of a present being fp I hope. Your post reminded me of my sister’s b-day coming up and the neat mug I found for her with candles all the way around it, that seemed ok to me then I read on the bottom to fill it up with your favorite hot beverage and watch the candles all light up… shhhsh now, as I’ve realized the plight of being a Christmas baby over the years, I like to surprise her. Sounds like a great way to beat the system with the birthday plan – I hope it is wonderful!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 02:35:13
My boyfriend celebrates his birthday on Christmas day too. I always try and make it his special day by bringing him breakfast in bed with his BIRTHDAY presents wrapped in BIRTHDAY paper with a BIRTHDAY card. I think doubling up on gifts is awful! I hope you have a better birthday this year. 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 02:45:56
My brother, his daughter, my best friend and my birthday are Cristmas birthdays and we taught our family and friends that birthday are independent of Cristmas. We celebrate birthdays and Cristmas and receive gifts twice. But half birthday is a very good idea!! 😉
Dec 14, 2011 @ 04:07:39
Saw this on freshly pressed and had to comment. My baby boy was born on christmas eve last year and my wife and I have thought about this a lot. All our other kids have birthdays much earlier in the year. This year as he’s only 1 he probably won’t know whats going on but we reckon the half birthday in July is a great solution too.
I think you definitely have the right idea!!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 04:19:17
Well, for a Blogger, being Freshly Pressed must be one of the best birthday presents. Congrats! It’s perhaps 50 years too late but I’ll try to be kinder to my sister in future; she is a December 23 baby!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 04:25:37
I’m with you except for the part about liking the season and the shopping, I hate that too. My grandmother would sneak me a gift somewhere around July, but she was the only one and now she’s gone so… One good thing is that as I get older, it is kind of nice that people miss the opportunity to remind me of how old I’m getting, but then again, all of the Christmas music and traffic does that.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 04:36:17
Oh boy, I feel your pain.
I’m 27th – in between Christmas belly-full and winding up for New Years’. Everyone used to do the “here’s your Birthday AND Christmas present” until I started doing it to them…..regardless of what month LOL. Now I just celebrate it and don’t give a hoot….well I do really. It totally sucks!!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 04:54:48
I finally know what you mean, I was born on my Mums birthday…so for years she had to give up her birthday and organise mine ( and put up with me aged 5,6,7,8… saying “I must have been your BEST PRESENT EVER!”, not my only brat moment I am ashamed to say). When I was almost grown up she said quietly ” I can think of better ways of spending my birthday than on the labour ward”. Ow!
Now she is in her mid eighties….and I don’t get a birthday because I am organising hers! To make it worse I don’t get a present from her unless I have the time to buy it for myself and remember to get the money from her…and that is always the last thing I get round to after making the diabetic cake and all the rest of it.
But the idea of the half birthday is liberating!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 05:44:27
First time here… great blog!
My birthday is in August, and we have school holidays then. I always used to be irritated with that. Never got to have a school birthday.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 06:03:14
Yes, being a December baby is a total sham. But you know what I think would be worse? Being born on April Fools day. I can already see it in my head.
Friends: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!”
April Joke Baby: “awww! Thanks guys!”
*Suddenly, Friends slam a 4 pound chocolate cake onto April Baby’s face, creating a chocolate-mucus mix, clogging her nose*
Dec 14, 2011 @ 06:03:59
hmm…..Well, I don’t know about you, but I love having my Birthday in the month of December. Like Seriously bring on the extra gifts buddy!!! I wonder what it would be like to be actually born on Christmas Day wouldn’t that be a trip?
In fact; my birthday is actually in two days. However, I’m not expecting a party. It seems like the day I hit adult hood all the parties went right out the window lol.
Nice blog and thanks for sharing 🙂
http://anubianqueen.wordpress.com
Dec 14, 2011 @ 06:33:09
Wow, and I thought I had issues with my birthday in July (which often got skimmed over as it was right in the midst of wheat harvest–farm kid here.). Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 06:40:07
Totally agree, i am a Christmas baby and still HATE it even though i am now (nearly) 36!!! We can never ever do what we want to do!!! How nice would it be to have a ‘me’ day, lunch with friends, drinks by night… I make such an effort on everyone elses birthdays and it can never be reciprocated. I tried to start doing my birthday in July, the first year my husband threw me a pair of Uggies (as winter in Australia) and that was it – no lunch or dinner at a restaurant and then the next year nothing at all happened – why do i have to organise it myself when i have missed out on so many other years, surely its not that hard!!!!! Ahh finally got that off my chest!!! Anyway hope you have a fab day, even though we are sharing it with the world!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 06:44:01
Not only was I born in December, my last child was, too (due on my birthday, but arrived a couple of days early). Every birthday I have for the next 15 years will be celebrated at Chuck E. Cheese.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 07:03:33
I got married on my 21st birthday the first time. THAT is the same sort of rip off. Each year I got only one present!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 07:09:06
I wonder! If I were in your shoes I’d be grateful that I celebrate my birthdays with Jesus, the reason why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Christmas is not just a holiday for us, it is a Holy event for the whole family and celebrations like birthdays are always welcome. My younger brother was born on January 1 and when he was younger, he complained that he didn’t receive gifts because it was so close to Christmas!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 07:12:16
Half birthdays work! My husband’s birthday is January 6, and growing up, he always got “this is both Christmas and birthday gift” and he got the same thing as his brother, who then got a birthday gift in March. UNFAIR…so when we married and had kids (a year later), I started making Father’s Day a BIG event, with LOTS of presents and a cake and everything. I highly recommend Half Birthdays.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 07:19:37
Aww, it’s my daughter’s first birthday this year, on December 23rd. We’re going to make sure that we have separate presents for her, but when she’s older she’ll probably miss out on presents from friends and parties. We’ll have to organise her birthday party a couple of weeks earlier than the actual birthday just so people will come 😦
Dec 14, 2011 @ 07:31:54
vallaha ben bir şey anlamadım 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 08:05:52
Mine is the 29th of December. After Christmas and before New Year’s. I’ve never had a party — everybody too busy to come. Well, a friend gave me a Christmas present a few years ago and said, “Happy Christmas and happy birthday”. So when her birthday came around in July I gave her a present and told her it was also her Christmas present!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 08:23:29
I can sell you my birthday. It’s in July and I’ve had enough of them. 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 08:27:33
GENIUS! 😀
Dec 14, 2011 @ 08:38:22
My husband’s birthday was yesterday (December 13th) and he feels the same! He always complains that Jesus’ birthday overshadows his every year! Loved your post! 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:02:12
Great post!
I was born on December 8 and that sucks enough. People are usually broke, sick, snowed in, or all the above. My birthday gets lumped into holiday parties too.
My friend was born on 12/14 and she celebrates May 14 as her unbirthday because of all this as well. She’s been doing it for about 10 years and loves it.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:12:36
My son, a teenager, has a birthday on Dec. 18 and he has no problem skipping it for Christmas. This is so strange, because my side of the family still goes out to restaurants for everybody’s birthday.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:19:06
I feel your pain – I would only add that “December” birthdays, in general, are a rip-off. Me and both my kids. My son has it worst of all of us as his is the 17th. The whole family is exhausted & broke by Christmas Eve.
Great idea on the July birthday – I tried it when I was little but the parents weren’t on board. Hey, if the Queen can have two, why can’t we?
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:23:41
My mom’s birthday is during the Christmas season too. It’s the same every year, I’d think it lucky that I’d get to give one gift for both occasions. But every year I am hit with guilt so end up giving gifts for both occasions just the same. 😀
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:54:59
My birthday is on Christmas Day and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
It never bothered me as a kid or as an adult. I thought it was cool that everyone got to share the joy of my birthday and now, I give everyone in the company the day off!
Life is way too short to be bitter.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:12:23
Dear Stacy, Happy Birthday to you in 11 more days. I share your birthday and have fond memories of my Mom and Dad celebrating my birthday in the evening with our family. And just like you, no Christmas/Birthday presents were allowed and no Christmas wrapping paper. But now as an adult, the combo presents come or wrapped in Christmas paper. I think that I will join you in celebrating my (our) half-birthday in July. Regards, Sue
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:17:27
I agree. All three of my children’s birthday’s are around the Holidays … it takes SO much effort for them not to feel short changed. This year, they got their presents wrapped in Christmas paper…. oops! At least they are little and they might not care yet.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:37:21
I’m with you, my birthday is the 24th. There should a two gift rule for family members. So they can’t combine your birthday gift with your Christmas gift.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:41:45
My son’s birthday is at the begining of January and we’re going to have to be careful with him as the years pass, thankfully he’s still to young to understand either at the moment
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:42:02
Yes, I absolutely feel your pain! My birthday is the 13th and knowing how I feel about my Christmas birthday, my delightful colleagues got me a Christmas card in which they wrote my birthday messages! Delightful! Happy birthday!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:46:30
I could have written this post!! However, about my son. His birthday is 2 days after Christmas. I guess we’ll see who shows up for the 1st birthday party!!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:52:57
I am a christmas day baby too!! just found your blog and luv it!!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:56:30
I can see your point if you view Christmas as nothing more than a religious festival for consumers which is really what it is in our culture today. However if it is about the celebration of Christ’s birth I wonder why there is such an issue in sharing your birthday with his? Everyone shares a birthday with someone or something else, you share yours with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords hard to compete with I know but kind of cool too! Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas as well!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:57:34
That’s sad. But I think my friend’s birthday is worse. Her birthday is November 1 and she celebrates her birthday with all the saints and dead people.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:00:46
Yup. Mine was on the 11th. My parents were nice enough to give me a couple hundred bucks with instructions to “buy something for myself”. I got to renew my license and buy Christmas gifts for others. Hmmm.
http://www.minimalistlifestyle.wordpress.com
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:03:35
I totally agree. My daughters birthday is Nov. 25. Sometimes it falls on Thanksgiving. Its so hard to plan her party. We usually do it the week before turkey day. I have thought of doing a summer party for her. I know Thanksgiving is not as busy as Christmas, but its still not easy. I don’t think she’d dig the summer party as much. I know her grandmother would have something to say about it. Fortunately, she has a great group of friends who come to her party.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:26:53
I had the same problem – mine’s in early January. My brother’s is in late January, so not only did I get ripped off because of Christmas, I would have to share my birthday “party” with him…
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:28:28
Happy Birthday anyway!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:29:58
You were ripped off! Hope you get tons of presents for your summer birthday!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:35:43
My daughter’s birthday is Dec. 28. And I refuse to make her birthday during the normal family chirstmas gathering. And – unfortunately she usually does end up with X-Mas wrapping paper – but she doesn’t end up with left X-mas gifts or anything. I know she has complaints about the day her birthday falls on, but I told her – look on the bright side, you will NEVER had to go to school on your birthday.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:36:42
My birthday is on Boxing day! Luckily this year I have a wedding to attend so will see friends and actually have fun!!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:39:44
As a person with a birthday on Dec. 28th (smack dab in the middle of xmas and new years) I can totally relate… my birthday always felt like an afterthought… I like the idea of a half-birthday! very imaginative! 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:39:46
Haha, that is an awesome idea!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:40:24
I’m a Xmas eve baby and always struggle with getting people together for my birthday, the older I get the easier it is to let the holidays take over! When I was little my parents also did a fabulous job of keeping our own celebrations separate. They even offered to do the whole celebrate on your half birthday thing, although I never took them up on this offer.
The one good thing is even thought you may get the combo birthday/christmas present people often don’t forget your birthday. Or they have no excuse to forget it…
Dec 14, 2011 @ 11:41:00
I was born on Christmas Day 1949. When I was a kid I was so excited about Christmas I would even walk the streets and shops of my home town with my dog ‘Pup’ until I felt the spirit of Christmas. My brother’s and I woke our parents up EARLY to unwrap our gifts. My mother would prepare a huge dinner for all our family and my Uncle Ed would bring in pies from a nearby town. After we ate my mom would bring out my birthday cake and instantly it was a party. I always enjoyed having my birthday on Christmas. I felt it was my special day and an extra thing to look forward to after the presents were opened. Even when I was in the military I always had Christmas day off and there were plenty of festivities. Not having to work on my birthday was a definite plus as well as being with friends and family. I remember my mother buying me an extra gift later in the year once in awhile, but I never felt it was an issue. I always got plenty on Christmas day.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:00:32
my mother in law’s birthday is christmas day and i have known other’s in the same situation. I always felt sorry for them because most got short-changed when it came to gifts. My wife and I try to make the birthday the first half of the day and Christmas the second half. You’re the second person i’ve seen who decided to pick a new date to celebrate their birthday in June/July. makes sense to me 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:01:22
I have always felt bad for Christmas babies. My birthday is April Fools’ Day — an obscure enough holiday that no one is too busy celebrating it to go out for my birthday, but well enough known that it probably helps the number of people who remember my birthday.
Enjoy your July birthday!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:11:13
Hehe, I feel you. My birthday is close to Christmas, too.
But a hot day without Christmas wrapping paper? It just cannot come true in the Southern Hemisphere!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:23:22
I share your birthday. My parents did the 1/2 birthday thing for my parties when I was younger, so I don’t feel the need to do so now. My wonderful husband does what he can to make sure there is part of the day completely for me. After this many years, I’m no longer just resigned to it – after all, it is what it is. Now, I find it even more special because it’s shared with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:23:26
I can relate; my birthday is today (12/14) and I usually don’t celebrate + receive 2for1 gifts 😛
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:29:10
Great idea! I will suggest that to my friend whose birthday is on New Years!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:31:56
We can relate. My husband’s birthday is New Year’s Eve!
You don’t know me but I’ve been reading your blog, and I must say I really enjoy it! So much so that I have given you the Versatile Blogger Award (you can read details in my latest post). Feel free to do with it as you want. I am happy to share you with my blog readers and give you a bit of link love. Cheers!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:44:24
I was thinking the same thing while reading your post – celebrate on the opposite day of the year – great idea! My dad’s birthday is on the 24th and we always made sure to give him a separate “birthday” gift& card. Actually I think he actually makes out slightly better b/c his birthday is when we’re already thinking a/b gift-giving & what ppl. are needing/wanting.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:45:32
I know exactly what you mean. My birthday is Dec. 26th and I feel like I’ve never been able to have a “normal” birthday. People forget it a lot too. It must be that they get caught up in the holiday whirlwind.
Good luck changing your birthday though!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:48:26
As a 12/27 baby, I can totally relate. I want to swap with my brother (5/27)!
The only *sort of* good thing is that a lot of people have that week off and can go out.
Happy early birthday!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 13:56:45
Hilarious post! And the title rocked! No wonder you’ve been Freshly Pressed!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 14:00:25
My God, I’m not alone!!! I just wrote a blog about how depressing this holiday has been for me so far this year, and this is one of the reasons. I’ll be 26 on Christmas. It was never really horrible for me growing up, because I was an only child, so I often got double gifts, but as I’ve gotten older, it’s been tough with the celebration part. I’m linking this post into my blog now.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 15:03:15
As a Christmastime birthday girl, I can relate. Those multi-purpose presents can sting. But sometimes it pays off–people usually don’t forget when your birthday is and sometimes they are in such good spirits while out in the malls, they pick something up for you anyway. I say we celebrate twice a year. We deserve it.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 15:27:47
Mine is the 27th! As one of 29 grandchildren in my mother’s family, I always hated it when one of my aunts would give me something and say “This is for Christmas AND your birthday, isn’t that cool?” I was also very jealous of my sister’s birthday -May 26!
Now that I’m grown up, I like my birthday. Dec. 27 is an awesome day to go out with my fiance! 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 15:32:08
My birthday is December 20, and when I was 16, my entire family forgot my birthday. No cake, no present, no one remembered. At dinner time, I finally asked, “Aren’t we going to have a cake or something”, and my parents said, “What for?”.
I’ve ALWAYS had a bad birthday, because it is so close to Christmas. I’ll be 60 this year, and long ago I got used to not having any acknowledgement of my birthday.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 16:02:05
That is a brilliant idea! My birthday is the day after Christmas and I’ve always had this trouble. I like the way you think, thanks for sharing! 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 16:29:51
Haha! I’m proposing this idea to my friend as her birthday is 12-25-82! She’ll love it!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 16:31:34
Totally agree, My birthday is Dec 13th which is 12 days before Christmas, and I always got ripped off. When I had birthday parties my mom would put on the invitation “Please do not wrap gifts in Christmas wrap” because it sucks being a kid and opening birthday presents with Christmas wrap. My family for the most part was good, they would try once and a while to put my birthday and christmas present into one but for the most part they kept them seperate. My niece has the same thing happen to her now except her birthday is January 1st. So not only does she get the presents, she gets hung over family members at her family birthday. We are throwing her party a week AFTER all of the holidays so hopefully she doesn’t get screwed over too bad.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 17:02:55
My birthday is on Christmas Day. I can relate. They say people born on Christmas are more likely to succumb to what society would label as bad behavior. Anyhow, I am happy to report that I am having my first birthday party (albeit not on Christmas Day since thats impossible) in over a decade since I have decided to make my birthday a 25-day affair in December. The 12 days leading up to followed by the 12 days after which includes a New Years celebration. Done and done.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 17:34:39
I totally feel you – I’m a Christmas Eve baby – and it sucks! Even living in the big city – nothing is open on your birthday to celebrate it (unless your idea is shopping – which mine is NOT!), people forget or are too busy to do anything (the same people who become livid at you if you forget theirs!). My parents were awesome about making sure that people didn’t do double gifts (if they couldn’t do double gifts, they had to choose what it was for – Birthday or Christmas) and tried to make it special. My best friend since childhood decided she didn’t like me getting “screwed over” for my birthday so decided way back in 3rd grade that we would share birthdays – so we celebrate in June – and 30+ years later, we still do!
I find some of the comments interesting – the people who don’t have appear to have birthday’s this time of year are more of the “What’s the big deal / problem?” whereas those of us who do, totally understand.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 19:02:59
Let us know when your new birthday is,so we can all come back and help celebrate. Here’s a hug. At least you can say you got something for your b’day.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 19:15:06
My grandmother, who I just wrote about on my blog, was born 12/21. She always said she was getting “gypped” because her birthday was so close to Christmas, but she was good natured about it. I think her birthday always wound up being special anyway…
Dec 14, 2011 @ 19:20:56
I was born on Thanksgiving and feel your pain. My birthday “cake” is always a pumpkin pie with candles stuck in it…and everybody is too busy with Thanksgiving dinner and Black Friday shopping to worry about a birthday too…holiday birthdays suck :b
Dec 14, 2011 @ 19:40:48
My daughter’s birthday is January 1st. She has a love hate relationship with it. She hates that it gets lost in the season and, well, everyone is just plain holidayed out by New Years day. Add to that the fact she’ll never be at school on New years Day; she always get’s an ‘early’ or ‘belated’ birthday wish from her school mates. But she does liek that she is the same age everyday for the entire calendar year and that her birthday is just far enough from Christmas to double her bounty.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 19:48:50
Hey … and that someone who decides on the July date or whatever should be you. good post.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 20:53:59
Hehehe. Good idea. My dad’s b-day was December 25. He died almost 10 years ago, so can’t bring this idea up to him. But I remember him complaining about not getting birthday gifts. However, he never gave anyone any Christmas gifts, so I guess it’s fair. He rarely had a job due to laziness and so couldn’t afford to buy anyone gifts. Hell, I have a job, but I’m a student and can barely afford to buy anyone a gift. I normally deprive myself even, but this year I went on a spending spree to make up for all those years of self-deprivation. And celebrating birthdays – mine is in March, but let me tell ya… no one celebrates my birthday. You gotta celebrate yourself!!! and invite people yourself! No one will just throw a party for ya once you’re an adult, unless you have a girlfriend or very close friend who’s good at that stuff. I have a girl I’m dating right now who claims my next b-day is gonna be a massive party, but I ain’t countin’ on her to come through on that even though she is good at putting on events. I normally don’t bother celebrating my own b-day – mine growing up almost always sucked. The exception was my 10th b-day when I actually had a party that involved people other than dad, brother, and mother. The big two digits! Anyway, now that I’m truly learning to love myself and celebrate ME, it’s about time I really did so and had a significant birthday party. :))))))))))))) You are doing what everyone has to do anyway, but with the extra step of finding a solution to the Dec. 25 dilemma. Good for you!!!!!!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 21:18:36
Wow, my wife’s Birthday is Today, and my daughters birthday is in mid January. Guess they share a similar situation.
My wife made me promise to never celebrate her Birthday and Christmas together. My wife makes sure we never celebrate or combined our daughters Birthday with Christmas.
Funny, when we lived in California it was to cold to have a swimming party for our daughter. Now in NJ she’s too old for one. We have fun just the same.
We can’t take back your past Birthdays, but we could all Chat on that day. Pick a separate day and we can celebrate separately together.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 21:27:51
At least someone pretty great was born on your birthday (or you on theirs I guess I should say) All I’ve got is Meg Ryan and Calivn Klein. Not exactly water and wine material. 🙂
Dec 14, 2011 @ 21:33:39
I agree! My BFF’s birthday is just before Xmas, and mine is right after, and we’ve both complained of similar things… birthday gifts with Santas on it, regifted gifts that are clearly not *good* regifts (where the gift actually is a good one), no one being available because of other holiday parties, no one having any money to go do something fun because they’ve got a case of the ‘holiday broke’…
Last year I decided that I’d share my birthday with another near-xmas friend… but then got too busy then too to throw a bash… maybe this year?
Dec 14, 2011 @ 22:04:01
My son’s birthday is on Christmas Day, and I go to all kinds of lengths to make sure his day gets the respect it deserves. His party is at the beginning of December – that avoids the regifting, Christmas-wrapped gift problem. And on Christmas Day we get the Christmas stuff over and done with in the morning, and the rest of the day belongs to my son. Presents, birthday cake, everything. It takes special effort, but it is possible to have a Christmas birthday that’s not a rip-off!
Dec 14, 2011 @ 22:26:20
Hi Stacy!
I too have my birthday on Christmas, but I haven’t had the same experience with it you have – I love it! My parents have always made it perfectly clear that my birthday was/is/will not be merged in with Christmas and forgotten. Usually we celebrate with my family a day or two before on the 23rd or 24th, and when I was younger I did the “half-year party” idea as well in June. My family is wonderful, though; never once to my recollection have I gotten a combined birthday and Christmas gift. Plus, I think it’s so special that I share my birthday with Jesus! 🙂
Dec 15, 2011 @ 00:56:31
It is cruel having a birthday sandwiched between Thanksgiving and New Years. Got me to thinking about my family and December….
My Mother was born Dec 13
My Sister and cousin Dec 15
My wife Dec 17
My niece Dec 18
All of them tell me how bummed it is to have a December birthday!
Dec 15, 2011 @ 01:18:56
Our sons birthday is on Christmas day. We do everything possible to make sure that his birthday is celebrated separately from Christmas. We make sure that family buy him separate birthday and Christmas gifts. We have Christmas in the morning as usually, come evening though birthday streamers and the cake comes out and it is all about birthday. He will be 13th this year and he is totally cool with having his birthday on Christmas.
We have done the half birthday a few times as it is easier for friends to want to go to a birthday party in June that December.
Dec 15, 2011 @ 02:11:31
I just went to my niece and nephew’s birthday party. I bought presents for all three of them. And now with less than two weeks to go to Christmas, I have to buy their Christmas presents too. And I was thinking this is a rip-off. They’re 3 and 6 and I wonder how long it will take them to realize they have a crappy deal. But I didn’t wrap their gifts in Christmas paper, almost, but I didn’t. Now I’m glad I didn’t after reading your post. Happy half birthday.
Dec 15, 2011 @ 05:47:44
#bigtimeripoff
#sucksyouwerentborninanothermonth
Dec 15, 2011 @ 05:51:58
My birthday is Dec 28th. You are right =)
How poor we are I want more gift .
Dec 15, 2011 @ 06:16:25
I have a Christmas birthday but mine is exactly a week before! It’s far enough away from Christmas to get presents. I adore Christmas and birthdays so right now I’m like a chipmunk on coke.
Dec 15, 2011 @ 10:07:48
Haha, fortunately, my birthday isn’t on Christmas and boy, I wouldn’t want it to be, the way you describe yours over here. But my friend’s little baby sister’s birthday’s on Christmas, and by on Christmas, I mean on December 25th exactly. I wonder how her birthdays will turn out.
Have a nice half-birthday and look forward to your next half-birthday. Do you realize you’re also giving yourself two birthdays in one year now? 😉
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
– Ashley
Dec 15, 2011 @ 10:20:46
I can and do relate. 23/12/66. Day before Christmas Eve means I can’t even claim fame for being born ON the day!
See my blog on the same!
Dec 15, 2011 @ 10:46:21
Totally agree! My bday is in May and I am always thankful that I get that mid-year celebration!! Not that we do much, but hey for one second I don’t have share the spot light with anyone!
Dec 15, 2011 @ 11:07:12
That is a great idea! I do not have a christmas birthday, but I share my birthday with 4 other family members and I have always had to share it with someone else. I understand completely
Dec 17, 2011 @ 12:05:22
My Son is December 20th. As the parent of a child with a christmas colliding birthday, I could only imagine the gip it must be: coming from the mom side of things, it’s Rough! You try your hardest to differentiate the two and try to get everyone else to do the same.
BUT: Having a summertime birthday has the same outcome as well. Everyone is away for the summer, growing up, I had to have my “school” party in May or june before school let out so everyone would be avail. to come… I don’t think anytime of year is a good time to have a birthday!!!! Good luck and happy birthday
Dec 17, 2011 @ 12:06:41
Oh well, at least one Christmas birthday 2,011 years ago was the best gift we ever have been given: Jesus, Grace and Salvation!
Happy Birthday!
Dr. Tom Bibey, author, “The Mandolin Case”
Dec 17, 2011 @ 12:33:19
Yes! I’m the lucky one of my family, born early on December 5th. My mom is Dec 20th and my sister is Dec 23rd! When my mom was growing up she would always have an underrated birthday, so she’s made sure that my sister and I always have BOTH birthday and Christmas presents (for the most part).
For my sister’s birthday, since it’s 2 days way from Xmas, she usually does Secret Santa with her girlfriends and then they do a gift exchange at her party day-of. That way her besties can give generously without their wallets flipping out!
I’m throwing together nifty gift ideas on a budget this year – perfect for last minute shopping, Secret Santa and hard-to-buy-for friends – would you mind stopping by? I’d love to see how your wishlist compares with mine!
Oh, and happy birthday 🙂
Dec 17, 2011 @ 14:35:36
Hahaha, I really enjoyed this post! I just discovered your blog and I am really enjoying it! I’ll have to look around some more!
Dec 17, 2011 @ 17:21:22
My birthday is November 4th. Being near Halloween, a non-gifting holiday, is a much better deal. I happily remember several spook themed birthday parties. Lots of fun.
Dec 18, 2011 @ 07:11:45
I love this idea! If I ever have a child who’s birthday falls on Christmas I think this would be the perfect solution to making them feel like they still have their OWN special day. So sorry that you feel ripped off. Birthdays really should make you feel special, not ignored or forgotten.
Dec 18, 2011 @ 11:03:46
SWEET solution! LOL! My son is a December baby, too! I’m sure he feels cheated all the same, too! None of my other children have summer birthdays, maybe he can be my first (since I won’t be adding additional members to the family). I so love the reassigning of birthdays!
Dec 18, 2011 @ 12:06:54
hi December baby;) Would it be okay if you help us “LIKE” this page: http://www.facebook.com/NOMADICRACE.TEAMTEAM pleeeeeaaaaaseee? pretty pretty pleaaase? we are participating in a 5day 4night camp around Singapore called The NoMadic (Make A Difference) Race- Green Edition. Yes, with our big bags sleeping near beaches, trying our hardest to complete tasks with limited transport and budget on food. do help us “LIKE” the FB page?;( we would really appreciate it 🙂 Thank you:)
Dec 18, 2011 @ 13:15:07
When I was little I tried to convince my parents to change my birthday to Christmas cos I thought it sounded neat. i guess it is good that they did not comply.
Dec 18, 2011 @ 13:21:16
My birthday is close to Christmas so we always celebrate mine on my 1/2 b-day during summer.
Dec 18, 2011 @ 16:20:31
My birthday is at the beginning of January and this post brings back so many memories. I cannot count the number of times my parents said, “This is your birthday and Christmas gift together.” Ahhhhh!
Dec 18, 2011 @ 17:58:04
Man, that sucks for you, but that’s an awesome solution. 🙂
Dec 18, 2011 @ 18:26:07
My birthday is in late July and I suffer the same fate as you. In late July, everyone is off on their “end of the summer” family vacations or having some sort of last hurrah before August sucks them back into school. So I don’t recommend swap to July. I propose everyone have 1 universal birthday so no one forgets, we’re forced to eat bad cake, and endure THE SONG only once a year.
Dec 19, 2011 @ 01:32:11
It’s funny that you mention it – my birthday falls on the 27th, two days after Christmas and four days before New Years. And I’ve always been depressed about it. In fact, growing up, I decided to celebrate my half birthday – exactly as you said and for exactly the reasons you cited. You totally get ripped off and it’s not even about the gifts. I always ended up feeling like 2-day-old leftover turkey – no one, and I mean, no one, wants more turkey after two days!! As if being a major Holiday afterthought wasn’t enough!
Dec 19, 2011 @ 02:04:18
I think having a Christmas birthday would be a wonderful thing to have. Especially since more family is usually around for Christmas. It would seem to me that alone would make the day more special and wonderful.
Dec 19, 2011 @ 05:53:36
My birthday is close to Easter. That sucks too!
Dec 19, 2011 @ 06:47:59
Just pick a summer bday and roll with it! Change it on facebook, organise a party – if people say – is this your bday? Just say – Yes. Only your family need know about your wintery secret!
And go for September- summer means people are always abroad and your parties are barren. Or maybe that’s just me…. Hmmm. Don’t want to look too much into that on a Monday morning!
Best wishes
Elaine http://www.goactivities.co.uk xx
Dec 19, 2011 @ 08:57:38
Oh yeah!!! You are so right! I was born on the 3rd of December—AND EVEN THEN, my presents would say ‘Merry Christmas AND Happy Birthday’!!! ugh. It was a total rip-off. I made matters worse by getting married in December and our first baby was born on the 15th! Wish I would have thought of the half Birthday. I tried hard not to roll her Birthday into Christmas! Thanks for the fun post and the chance to vent! 🙂
Dec 19, 2011 @ 10:51:48
Your decision to move to your 1/2 birthday is a wise one. Just getting past the date doesn’t do it! Mine is January the 18th. Human’s have depleted their funds, don’t want to think of celebrating and avoid discussing birthdays. Mine comes and goes without so much as a Pupperoni treat.
Sandy
http://www.sandysays1.wordpress.com
Dec 19, 2011 @ 11:15:40
My niece was born on December 31st. One year (not quite) later, her little brother was born on December 29. Irish twins. My mother’s birthday is December 30. I blew it last year with getting separate birthday gifts, but I’ve sworn that from now on, I’m not going to let them get overlooked, even though we will celebrate their birthdays on Christmas since we’re all together. I will even spring for birthday wrapping paper.
Dec 19, 2011 @ 12:05:47
Your birthday is a day to celebrate you. The 24 is only a marker……my parents mixed up my birthday by a day (really…?) which was discovered when I was 16. So now I celebrate for 3 days just for good measure and they call me on both days!!! so go for it pick another day. it is your day!
Dec 19, 2011 @ 12:10:55
Love the mid-year birthday idea! My bday is in the summer, so my mid-year is right before the holidays. Can’t imagine if it were flipped!
Dec 19, 2011 @ 13:03:14
My birthday is on Valentine’s Day! Not as big a deal as Christmas thankfully; Christmas would be hard. At least when you’re birthday is on Valentine’s Day, and you’re single, you still get to celebrate!
Dec 20, 2011 @ 20:24:56
I am a Christmas baby as well. I ran across your blog looking for reasons why being born on Christmas sucks. My mother in law (who’s birthday is in September) doesn’t understand why I’m so admit about not wanting to celebrate my birthday on Christmas. Why would I want to celebrate my birthday on the same day everyone else opens gifts? Growing up my family always celebrated my birthday in Febuary. So my mom could buy a bunch of heart decoration, and it was far enough away from Christmas that its not forgotten.
Dec 21, 2011 @ 06:15:55
oh dear, this sounds like something I would say.
its my birthday tomorrow and i must admit, I totally agree.
I have two sisters both their birthdays are in June they get separate presents, I get a combined one. that’s not fair.
I also agree my mum makes a special effort to be fair and try and encourage other people to do the same(when I was little that is.)
I am 25 tomorrow, I almost forgot about this birthday, it could have been a number of things; the fact that its my 25th. my sisters wedding was on the 17th or that Christmas this year had been pretty hectic, I’m in a different country with no reminders. I don’t know, but I forgot all the same.
there is one thing that I must disagree on, I always manage to have a great night out.
here’s to you and me on our birthdays HAPPY CHRISTMAS 🙂 x
Dec 22, 2011 @ 21:32:47
My birthday is on New Years Eve & I’m forgotten all the time. I got used to it. But hey, I never thought of celebrating a HALF birthday in the Summer. Hmmm…good idea. 🙂
Dec 29, 2011 @ 17:27:28
Even though my birthday is in October, I completely empathize with your plight. My daughter’s birthday is January 3rd, and I feel it’s too close to Christmas for comfort. Such is life.
Good luck with your new change 😉
Dec 30, 2011 @ 14:21:34
That is so funny! My birthday is exactly one week before Christmas, you know the weekend when everyone wants to have their Christmas parties for work and friends! I totally understand how everyone is busy and how fast your birthday flies by because of the Christmas season. Point of all this, I came up with doing a half birthday party in the summer for me about 2 years ago! I’m going to figure out the exact date and do it one of these years! My fiance always asks though, “Does that mean you get half the present?” Then the dagger eyes from me follow. I feel you pain of Christmas and birthdays. Thanks for sharing!
Jan 31, 2012 @ 12:26:35
I feel you on this one sister. I remember my mom taking a gift from under the tree and giving it to me saying “Happy Birthday!”
Aug 03, 2012 @ 02:01:48
Lol, don’t worry. My birthday is also a week before Christmas. My parents usually get me ( still in school ) new things, but combined with my bday and christmas