Some people celebrate a week early and do the birthday stuff. No Christmas paper etc.

I've mostly been a lurker on this forum for years, but I wanted to comment on this. Today, December 25, is my 49th birthday. When I was a child, my parents always made sure I had a separate birthday present among my Christmas presents. They also made sure that I had a birthday cake. I didnt have too many parties, but I always felt that it was special to have your birthday on Christmas day. As an adult, We usually celebrate my birthday after Christmas by going out to eat. We have so many family get togethers right at Christmas, I don't really feel like celebrating right on my birthday.

nc dancemom, Have a Wonderful Birthday today, also Merry Christmas too.

My birthday is right near Christmas. I'd always got my own birthday day and presents. Of course I always thought that my sister, who's birthday is in July, made out better on the birthday gifts.

My first granddaughter was born on Christmas day. Her mother and her were in a car accident, and only our GD survived. We got to spend her 1st birthday with her, but now, the other grands are raising her and do not keep in touch. I do have a special ornament made up for all the grandkids each Christmas, so when #1 GD gets older and hopefully looks us up she will have a huge stash of ornaments just for her. She will know for sure that we thought of her each and every Christmas since the day she was born. I look forward to the day this happens, and hope to share it with everyone here at the KT.

Trin

Trin, that's so sad. How old is she now?

My daughter Gillian was born the day after Christmas. She loved having that birthday. Parties were problematic, but we always had separate birthday gifts for her, and I always baked a cake.

Oh, Trinity - I am so sorry about your situation with your grandchildren! Have you made efforts to stay in contact with your Grands? You do know that you have legal rights to visitation with your grandaughter - if you didn't know about your rights, contact an attorney immediately!

My grandson was born Dec. 14th - we always have a BIG party for him, where he gets BD gifts. At Christmas, the birthday presents are in the past and he looks forward to his Christmas presents - he doesn't miss out on ANYTHING! LOL BTW, he's now SEVEN and soon to be EIGHT (his words!)!!!

I grew up during the 'hard times' that followed the great depression. My birthday is in early Dec. What happened: Along about mid-December, I'd get a little remeberance gift with a note: "Sorry, I nearly forgot about your birthday, and by the way, Merry Christmas, too."

My parents tried to celebrate both days, but often could not afford double gifts in one month, so opted to make the Christmas gift the larger one. But as I remember it, it was the remeberance of my birthday that was more important to me than an expensive gift, however, I never turned down a birthday gift.

When a relative sent me a single gift between my birthday and Christmas, I viewed it not as stingy, but a reflection on their economic status and the condition of the times. As my mother explained it to me, "You are lucky to get anything at all from that person."

My nephew and his wife were expecting a daughter on of all days, Christmas. They begged the Dr. to let her have a C-section on the 26th just so her birthday wouldn't be on Christmas. I remember having a huge family celebration on Christmas, and hoping the baby didn't come. We all got up very early the next day to go to the hospital for the planned delivery. It was such a great experience because we actually planned it as a family event. There was a lot going on because it was around the time when they were just beginning to take the precaustions RE baby-napping. The hospital had 2 or 3 babies kidnapped. Since is was a new idea, the process was a little chaotic, but it turned out to be a great day. My nephew doesn't celebrate Christmas, so we would do family day on my niece's birthday - those who celebrated Christmas could exchange their gifts then; those that did not, had family gifts. Then my niece would get her birthday gifts. Just think, a gift or two for three celebrations - all in one day! She was a lucky girl, huh!

Happy Birthday to all you Christmas babies!!

gneegirl

We are celebrating DD's 16th birthday today!!! She was due on the 18th, and whenever I was asked when the baby was due, I told them the 18th but any day would be fine except for Christmas. It turned out to be a wonderful Christmas!! We have always kept our dining room free of Christmas decor and make that the birthday room-separate gifts in birthday paper. I used to make her a birthday chair with streamers, but she is too old now. There are a couple of advantages-its easy to remember when her birthday is, and she never has to go to school on her birthday!

My first daughter was born on December 30th. The second, just 4 days shy of a year later on December 26th. We always kept their birthdays as seperate as possible from Christmas and from each others birthday. They each got presents and the cake of their choice right on their birthdate. But trying to have 2 'real' birthday parties between Christmas and New Years was almost impossible. So when they got to school age we did something special for each of them every year during summer in honor of their December birthdays. Like a trip to the zoo, or a weenie roast, whatever they wanted, that included all their close friends. We called it the "unbirthday party".

My oldest daughter was born on the 16th of December. I shop early for her birthday present, even now, when she just turned 34.

We don't put up the Christmas tree till after her birthday. Still to this day, even so she isn't always around (like all those years she was in Korea).

Moni

My favorite cousin, Joyce, has a December 25 birthday. I always send her a comination Birthday/Christmas card and a gift that covers both. This year I sent her a lollipop tree that's a Christmas decoration. She says he set it up in her kitchen. She has a four year old grandson-hope he likes it as well.

We're raising our GD, just turned 5 on Christmas Eve. We're still feelig our way thru this but we allow time on Christmas Eve for cake and presents. We are having a birthday party in January this year with some of her friends. December is just too hectic.

My aunt's birthday is on Christmas. I always send her two cards. When we used to exchange gifts (we've all cut back, mostly give gifts to just the "kids" now) I always gave her two gifts. My birthday is near Valentine's Day and many a boyfriend attempted the combo gift.

trinitytx, my sincere condolences on the death of your daughter. I don't know how people survive and go on and for you to lose contact with her child is just tragic. I will pray and pray that you can see her soon and that you have some sense of reconciliation. God bless you.

I forgot to add-the birthday person in our family gets to choose the birthday dinner. We have had some odd christmas dinners-Boston Market, hot dogs, probably would have McDonalds if they were open. This year we had a normal dinner-ham.

DGS came early on Christmas Day two years ago. So far, DD has not worked out how she wants to deal with the birthday, but she is leaning toward celebrating it on June 25th when he is old enough to understand. Last year he was with his other grandparents for his birthday, and this year with us. In both cases, Christmas dessert was a fancy, decorated birthday cake.

Mother-in-law's birthday was Dec. 26th - she departed this life several years ago.

She was not too impressed, as she'd often been "single-gifted".

I think that her family was less than opulent, in those Depression days.

Trin ... I hope and pray that you can establish enough of a relationship with the other grands that you can have a congenial visit with your GD from time to time. Maybe have her spend some time with you occasionally, as well.

ole joyful

My girlfriend's birthday is Jan 1. As her name is Pat, her parents chose to start celebrating her bday on St. Patrick's day, instead, so her special day wouldn't be buried among the holidays. She will be 50, and still only acknowleges Jan 1 when it comes to her drivers license!

Happy Birthday.

Tami

Our DGS Wyatt turned 2 on Christmas day. Before they moved to California last year, i suggested they start a tradition of celebrating half-birthdays in June. My daughter hasnt decided how she will handle that. I guess because she got pregnant pretty quickly and had Wyatt's brother Brayden on April 15th (which is also his daddy's birthday) when Wyatt was only fifteen months old. I do hope they decide to try and make his day special too.

My birthday isn't on the 24th or 25th, it is two weeks before Christmas. Most of my life, my birthday has been somewhat overlooked because of the busyness of the holidays. As a child, some years my mother would nearly forget it, then give me one of my Christmas presents for my birthday. Mom was loving and wonderful, but not terribly organized, and sometimes was unprepared. As an adult, DH has always offered to take me out for dinner, but I usually decline. I'd rather that $$ go for extra gifts for the kids or into the Salvation Army kettle, or something along those lines. This year one of my sons had his office Christmas party on my birthday, so we've yet to have our family observance of it. In years past, I've felt just a tad "deprived" about a December birthday, until something finally occurred to me. My birthday is "under-celebrated" because of the birth of my Savior. So now I am thrilled that my birthday is overlooked because of God's plan to save the world. That perspective gives me so much joy!

My sister's birthday is Dec 23. Growing up her birthday was the same as the rest of ours. She had a birthday party with all of her friends, cake, presents, etc. She got the same amount of gifts we all got and she was never overlooked because of the Christmas season. She didn't like having her gifts wrapped in Christmas paper and still doesn't, so we always wrapped her birthday gifts in birthday paper. When she got older and didn't have a birthday party (as a teenager) she got to choose her birthday supper meal like the rest of us. It didn't matter that it was 2 days before Christmas.

My sister's birthday is Dec. 29 and we've always celebrated her birthday separately. She gets gift for Christmas and for her birthday.

My youngest was due the 29th of December but was born the 18th. He just turned 12. We celebrate his birthday separately but I've always felt like he gets cheated out of good birthday's and parties. His brother was born on April 24th and always has a much bigger birthday. It is really hard to get people to want to go to a birthday party when there is so much Christmas going on. His three closest friends have late November and mid December birthdays too. We are usually pretty burnt out and just do small family gatherings. Evan gets to pick out what kind of cake he wants and he gets whatever he wants for dinner, and that makes it special. We've offered to celebrate his half birthday, and although he thinks his brother really has it made, he doesn't want to have a "special day" in the middle of the year.

(((((Trin)))))

My mother's birthday is the 22nd of Dec. She just turned 88, I'm happy to report and most of you already know. We always make a fuss over her birthday because she grew up terribly poor in England and no one could afford much so it's really important to us to make her feel special and cherished.

Birthday cards and cake and wrapping paper are the order of the day, she is the Birthday Girl or Queen and we bow to her every wish and command, that is how we honor her day.

When we were kids, sometimes the 22nd of Dec we were in the car driving to FL, so we would bring along all the stuff and ply her with it while we were driving thru the scary roads of TN, where the mountains and drop-offs kind of freaked her out. We would distract her with presents while Dad drove. I know she ALWAYS got a box of chocolate covered cherries. I hope she liked them, I know we all did! lol

My little Sis, known as Summer TX at KT, was born Dec. 24th.

While growing up, at least during the early years, Mother would have Summer celebrate her birthday with me on mine which is Nov. 10. Guess she was thinking it would be better that way..I don't recall minding sharing the birthday.

For a while Summer didn't know her actual birth date and could never get a gold star in class. We still giggle about that. LOL

Nah..I didn't mind sharing the birthday either on Nov. 10th either, until that gold star kept eluding me in Kindergarten. LOL I think the worst of it for me having my birthday that close to Christmas is how busy everyone is, including myself. It's hard to stop and make it a special day when you are trying to wrap up loose ends for Christmas day.

My birthday does fall on the 25th. I get asked all the time,
"Do you feel cheated"? How do I know? I don't know what it feels like to have it any other day. I always got my birthday presents on Christmas Eve as a kid. My family was never big on any birthday parties, maybe that's why they never had them for my brothers and sister, because they knew I might feel left out on mine. I don't know.
I don't mind it being on Christmas day. I like to think that it is really nice that people are celebrating the birth of Jesus, and they are with family and friends on this special day.
As I am getting older, I am just as glad that I am not reminded of it all the time any way.

I have a December 29 birthday. When I was young lots of people including my parents would wrap my presents in Christmas paper. I hated that! It's MY birthday not Christmas. My Grandparents Aunts/Uncles said my present was for both hence no presents on my birthday. Since I have "grown up" it's does not bother me anymore.

Our daughter has a January 3 Birthday and she will be 23 next year, I have never wrapped hers in Christmas paper.

I always hated having a birthday 4 days after Christmas.

Celebrations around here do not end until January 26th since DH birthday is the 25 of January. Not to mention the $$$$$. LOL

One very nice thing about it is you seem to get more for the money since there are always great sales after Christmas!

My MIL's birthday was on the 25th (back when I was married to the ex). One year when we were making plans for Christmas dinner, we decided to make it a surprise birthday celebration instead. MIL came to my BIL and SIL's house thinking it was the usual Christmas gathering and boy was she surprised. We had birthday presents for her and I made her a decorated birthday cake. She said it was the first birthday party and cake she had ever had. It was a fun day for all of us.

The twin's birthday is the 23rd, but DS and DIL make sure to have a party with the usual birthday things just like a any other time. The problem is that it is such a busy time of the year that the turn out for the party is not always very high, so DS decided that they should start having 1/2 year parties for them. They are having a pool put in right now and June would be a great time to have a swimming party.

I hadn't been back to this post, and wanted to thank you for your kind thoughts with my GD#1. I am the luckiest grandma ever and get to spend as much time as I possibly can with my other grandkids. I adore them and now realize that my life would not have been complete without them.
For those that asked, My sons girlfriend, is the one that was killed in the auto accident. They never married. She lived for a while after the accident, but died in November 2002. She had just turned 20. My GD turned 1 the following Christmas Day 2002. She is 6 months older than GD#2 and 3 years older than GS#1.
We have asked for pictures and was sent some 4 years ago. She looks just like the girl version of my son. I continue to email and ask for pictures, but non have come. My youngest has sent letters.
There will be a day when we are all united, and I am planning well for the day. She will know that she was loved and thought of often. My house is laden with the pictures I do have of her. Her gifts and ornaments wait paiently for her, and so do we.

Trin