Birthday Celebrations

[biased]

Do you celebrate your birthday with a party or is it just like any other day and you want to get it over with?

[aude]

Funny you mentioned that, i dont even know how old, date i was born or when it was. So to answer your question no i dont celebrate my b-day :thinking:

[Rei]

I usually wouldn't... except maybe spoil myself by buying myself a chocolate danish.

However, my friends and family like to celebrate for me. I once I went to a function on my birthday, and my friends brought out a cake and sang HBD in front of the whole room (it was JUST after the meal). It was embarassing as hell...

[rwyatt365]

B-days are just another day.

[bikerscars]

yeah... nothing special 'bout birthdays

[ciphersort]

In the past, my birthday has been just another day, but I am going to start throwing a decent sized party on my birthday. Any excuse to party...

[rasoirviolon]

i really don't see the significance of valentine's day (in fact i find it a little funny i'm born on this day since i'm not a loving or warm person) but all throughout my childhood, there were multiple humongous celebrations. my twin loved all the attention and celebrations of that day... but i just wanted to get it over with.

my twin loves to celebrate so by default i get sucked into it too.

[TeleportThis]

I usually go out to dinner with some friends or something.

Although, the last two years we've combined my birthday with a Halloween party since it's only three days before it.

[Opti]

I don't really celebrate- I will maybe have a beer, in fact I am usually miserable - something to do with my age and me thinking that I haven't accomplished enough in life. I usually book the day off work (Can't stand a fuss), then when back at work everyone asks what I did on my birthday Grrr. I just say I had a good drink..

[Spartan26]

I kinda like to do a little something on my bday, just to say I did something. *Like I remember years ago a friend and I were so broke, he'd drive me around to as many Denny's as we could hit to get my free meal. *Then I'd do the same for his bday. *I like it when I don't have to come home too early. *It's generally simple, though. *Like I'll have a bbq that'll correspond to game 1 of the world series. *Last year I had people meet at a restaurant/bar that had tons of TV's. *I was quite content being able to watch the fall classic, one of my favorite college football teams, my favorite hockey team, chill with a beer at the same time while not having to move a muscle. * :lovestruck: *Though I did play pool and was stoked when there was dancing later on.

I like having cake, that's for freckin' sure. *I really like sheet cake from grocery store. *The corner piece w/all the frosting! *:thumbsup: *At various events people will go to these fancy cake places or bakeries and like to me they don't stack up.

[Ian]

Birthdays are just another day. People at work buy cakes and stuff for everyone else and then announce the fact on email - I never have, but then, never partake of anyone else's.

I don't really recognise any anniversaries and I especially abhor Christmas. Bar-frigging-humbug!

[celesul]

I hate my birthday. It's on Christmas, and I'm Jewish, but my dad's family insists we celebrate with them. If it wasn't then, I'd probably eat good food with friends. I plan on mysteriously not coming home for Christmas when I go to college. I'll visit for Passover. ;D

[Guido]

Although this was a very atypical birthday for me, my last one was rather interesting. My coworkers got me a cake and did some HBD (as Rei put it) singing. Ugh :/ Out of the 50+ people on my side, they haven't done this for anyone else... so this caught me off guard. That night, my ESFP sister threw a surprise party and invited 4 dozen people I know, and some other people I knew showed up from out of town. This was fun for a couple hours, but then I really wanted to leave >_<

I don't know really know why any of this happened. Maybe because my birthday is in the middle of winter and people are bored? I don't know. I have no idea why people like me... as far as I know, I'm not very likable o.0 For the most part, birthdays are pretty dumb. There are choice months where 'OMG!@~!~!~! it's ________'s birthday! We're going to have a party this weekend' happens every weekend. I have nothing against these people, but often I just really don't want to go. I go because if I don't, they'll be pretty upset which will in turn upset a lot of other people. One of the draw backs of trying to be social I guess >_<!!

[Rei]

I go because if I don't, they'll be pretty upset which will in turn upset a lot of other people. One of the draw backs of trying to be social I guess >_<!!
I go if I want to... and make excuses when I don't (something along the lines of, "I've been going out too much lately, I'm broke" usually works)

I've ditched on birthday celebrations so often that people don't invite me anymore (all the better). Fortunately, they like me enough to keep me updated on gatherings just the same... so I haven't been completely blocked out... stop here.. off topic ;)

[Evalind]

I enjoy birthdays and holidays, but I usually spend them with people I'm very close to, not large groups. There's also a creative element in it for me, whether it's decorations or presents, there is a lot of visual stimulation.

[Daniel]

At and until the age of 15 – 16 birthdays were miserable. I would feel lonely and depressed about getting 1 year closer to death.Since 17 years old it became an ordinary day – on that day I get older by a day, not a year. I usually think that I achieved in a years time and set new goals for the next year.
I hate that on b-day there’s this pressure to be social, to throw up a party, none of which I do.

[banzai]

I recently had my 21st birthday, just went out to eat with some close friends.

I feel bad for all the people who tried to call me and leave voice messages wishing me a happy birthday, seems like they're trying so hard when I don't really care either way.

Actually, on about 5 or 6 different occasions for various reasons I had people check my ID or my age on a form, I just kinda groaned inside as I see the look of realization develop on their face and they light up... "HEY!! IT'S YOUR 21st BIRTHDAY!" no, really? I hadn't noticed, thanks for reminding me, now get back to entering my CCW form.

[deicruxified]

i do not celebrate my birthday but if i do celebrate my birthday, i want it to be with either my family and close buddies. this year's birthday was a catastrophe. some guy colleague of mine organized an outdoor activity and was, "the reason why we're having this is because it's your birthday and i know yu like it." as i've mentioned before, i'm pretty picky with my outdoor mates. he did invite my mates plus 18 other people i never knew and most never had any extraneous outdoor experience. so the whole "birthday party" i spent doing first aid... great. not only that, when we arrived at the peak the were extremely boisterous and drank beer 'til dawn... then the next day he was pissed off because i never joined them in their beer sessions... *rolls eyes* i didn't even join the group picture because i was hiding in trees and bushes hahaha

i swear i'm not going to join their company again...

[tubaglue]

I like to try and enjoy the day a little more, reflect on the past year, look toward the future. But in reality, it is just another day where there's work to be done and people to deal with.

[INTJoe]

Can't stand birthdays, usually just want to get them over with. Don't even much like getting gifts. Hate the idea of getting older.

[radioactivez0r]

I don't enjoy being the center of attention, so I prefer not to do anything major, just have dinner with my friends. I do like them to at least remember, though, since I take such care to remember theirs. To me, my birthday is the true New Year, so I try to treat it as such (without the excessive drinking).

[Sevs]

I don't really celebrate but since im usually at home for my birthday my dad usually takes the family out to some posh restaurant which is nice. Also some of the nice presents like laptops and other useful stuff happen on birthdays =).
But apart from that I don't really celebrate I haven;t hat a "party" for at least 8 years now.

[Solaris]

I don't enjoy being the center of attention, so I prefer not to do anything major, just have dinner with my friends. I do like them to at least remember, though, since I take such care to remember theirs. To me, my birthday is the true New Year, so I try to treat it as such (without the excessive drinking).

This is me as well. However, unlike the rest of you, I enjoy celebrating with my friends. I don't wish to spend it alone. I like to spend it with close friends and family (if they live near enough). Since most of my friends are varying degrees of introverts, the crowd is not huge (under 12 of us usually), but we do tend to do some wacky things. We've developed this habit of destroying various things at parties -- things meant for destruction like a pinata though.

[RoqueBear]

The year that I was born, it was right on Thanksgiving... Even though it changes every year, the decision has kinda already been made, Thanksgiving and that it encompasses is the day my birthday is always celebrated on.

Something kinda funny on a side note... My mother has always carried all her children for an extra 9 days. 9 months and 9 days prior to Thanksgiving is Valentines day...

[niffer]

I celebrate my birthdays my throwing a party with my INFJ friend, who's birthday is two days before mine. This year we invited 15 people and had a scavenger hunt throughout the city (LOL and we tried to all fit in the picture booth), then went out for dinner, then went back to my house to mess around. The introverts nearly died (one of them actually became physically ill because of all the outdoor and social activity in the cold lol). The party lasted for about 10 hours, and by the end of it I had a splitting headache since I'd slept at 4:30am the previous night, but it was alllll good fun.

[phoenix]

I finally gave up on trying to celebrate my birthday the year I lost it. I flew from LA to Sidney and took off the day before my birthday, and landed the day after it. I considered claiming that means I'm actually a year younger, but it really doesn't matter all that much to me.

Anyway, birthdays are no big deal. No one remembers mine...which is fine because I never remember anyone else's.

[INTJoe]

I celebrate my birthdays my throwing a party with my INFJ friend, who's birthday is two days before mine. This year we invited 15 people and had a scavenger hunt throughout the city (LOL and we tried to all fit in the picture booth), then went out for dinner, then went back to my house to mess around. The introverts nearly died (one of them actually became physically ill because of all the outdoor and social activity in the cold lol). The party lasted for about 10 hours, and by the end of it I had a splitting headache since I'd slept at 4:30am the previous night, but it was alllll good fun.

Dear Lord...the energy...10 hours!? I don't do anything for 10 hours except have sex or study.

[AnandaMeansBliss]

If I have a girlfriend at the time of my birthday I like a lot of sex as a gift. Thats all I ask.

[Myrak]

I don't make that big of a deal out of my own birthday, I think it's quite embarrassing to do so. For the first time I chose to hold a small birthday get-together of my close friends, to be honest I could've done it any day but my birthday rolled around and I needed some cash.

What I really don't like though, is wishing other people happy birthday. Some people I know even have the nerve of going around to pretty much everyone, especially people they never talk to otherwise, and just dropping in the fact it's their birthday. Gah, that shits me. I got sick of the typical 'Happy Birthday! *fake smile*!" and instead come up with original and witty things to say instead. They vary on how much I value the person.

[mind_wander]

I celebrate my birthdays my throwing a party with my INFJ friend, who's birthday is two days before mine. This year we invited 15 people and had a scavenger hunt throughout the city (LOL and we tried to all fit in the picture booth), then went out for dinner, then went back to my house to mess around. The introverts nearly died (one of them actually became physically ill because of all the outdoor and social activity in the cold lol). The party lasted for about 10 hours, and by the end of it I had a splitting headache since I'd slept at 4:30am the previous night, but it was alllll good fun.

Talking about a Birthday Challenge, for Introverts; lol, one of them actually became physically ill because of all the outdoor and social activity in the cold. Are you sure that your not the birthday present. How many can last 10 hours, like me? You know that is a clever idea, why I not think about that. How many people can put up with Introverts?

As for me, I don't celebrate Birthday's anymore, currently is my early 20's. It don't matter to much for me, most people forgot my birthday's anyways. Oh yeah, I don't give any personal space on this day. So yeah, whoopie great B-gift. lol

[Hdier]

I'll usually go out to eat, then do the whole 'cake and presents' routine for my dad. In my opinion, we make to much out of B-Days, but I won't complain about more presents:)

BTW, I got really lucky, 'cause I was born 12 days after Christmas, so there are usually all those after-Christmas sales going on. On the other hand, people keep on telling me that I will probably start getting Christmas-and-B-Day-present-in-one at some point in my life, but I didn't really do anything for the present in the first place (again: we make to big a deal out of B-Day), so I have no reason to complain about it.

[Kfbr]

Just another day for me, and I hate getting gifts. I tell people I need socks and tshirts.

[LastRailway]

In my case the answer is pretty evident: I was born January 2d.

[mind_wander]

In my case the answer is pretty evident: I was born January 2d.

Mine is like 12 days away from yours.

[Allie]

A birthday question. Sorry didn't see this before posting similar question.

Nope, no birthday celebration. Just another day for me also.

[Ice Wolf]

Well It's not just another day for me. It is the most impossibly annoying day of a damn year.

Usually I try to run and hide. Turning off my cellphone. When not successful enough I am sorely tempted to bite people heads off just for trying to congratulate me. UUUhhhhh!

I hate being in the center of attention. I hate hugging. Hugging and kissing is something you do with people you have sex with. And all that small talk at witch I am not so good.

Most of all I hate gifts. Another pile of materialistic junk I am supposed to feel obligated for. I even prefer stolen things than bloody presents. I never seem to be grateful and surprised enough.

Why, oh why????

[mrswentworth]

Oh my god. I can't believe I've finally found people who think the same about birthdays as me.

Whats the big deal about bdays?!
Heh. Why is it that people can only receive presents and be treated like a king on their birthdays?

[deicruxified]

oh i almost forgot... i need not celebrate my birthday because it coincides with the flower festival here in our country. that's one thing i'm happy about my birthday - nature display :)

[radioactivez0r]

I almost went so far once as to consider giving something to my mom on my birthday, because hell...it seems like more of a celebration of her bringing me into the world. Why should I get presents for being born?

[Nightelf]

As I started my education at university I moved to an other city, where luckily only a few people know the day on which I was born. So I don't 'have to' celebrate my birthday which is a great sense of relief. Former birthdays where horrible and they made me feel embarassed...

[chocky]

Mine is like 12 days away from yours.

Hey mind_wander, sounds like we might share a birth day.

I used to treat the day as one of special self-abnegation. Now I'm just more mournful of my vanishing youth.

[enWTFp]

The less, the better. I do not really honor any type of holidays. Only if other people want to party and I go with them. At a party itself I'm all energy and fun, but do not seek this type of parties much. I prefer gatherings based on my current interests, like concerts, or topic-related parties.

When there was still a family they'd usually organize my birthdays, even if very modestly, how I'm used to. I was doing the same for them with great passion at their birthdays. When I'm on my own I tend to not celebrate my birthdays at all. Just another day and note in my mind to answer the question about my age with +1 from that time on. Friends who know the date congratulate me, and I manage to find excuses as to why this year would skip having a party, and we go on.

[Deepdelver]

Celebrating birthdays isn't important to me. But I do celebrate them with people who think they are important.

[punkyplatypus]

My family celebrates and I oblige to show up. Free chocolate cake & monetary gifts are a good bargaining chips for my attendance, but I do it more to please my family than for material gain or being in the spotlight.

[EdmontonAspie]

Do you celebrate your birthday with a party or is it just like any other day and you want to get it over with?


Sometimes the one, sometimes the other. *sigh*

[ElstonGunn]

"Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year has gone by and how little we've grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake, we know it's not to be-- that for the rest of our sad, wretched, pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably, irrevocably; happy birthday? No such thing."

I usually have to sit through some kind of dinner with my parents and brother. Not that that's a bad thing, but I'd much prefer to do it on a regular day. I think I might request to be left completely alone on my next birthday. I dislike being the center of attention/cause of celebration almost as much as I dislike the whole concept of gifts.

[Autoptic]

I never pay attention to "special" days, but when I am reminded I have to add another year to my age, I too think of having lost another year.

[energy]

To me, my birthday is the true New Year, so I try to treat it as such.

For me as well! The real 'celebrating' that I'm interested in involves hiking a mountain, meditating, spending time alone, reflection and enjoying some really nice wine. However, I do make a point to get together with various groups of friends around B-day time too, because it's fun!

[PortInStorm]

I almost went so far once as to consider giving something to my mom on my birthday, because hell...it seems like more of a celebration of her bringing me into the world. Why should I get presents for being born?
Wow, that's an amazing gesture. Nice.





PortInStorm added to this post, 0 minutes and 47 seconds later...

Celebrating birthdays isn't important to me. But I do celebrate them with people who think they are important.
Who think the birthdays are important or that they themselves are important?:suspicious:

[CaptainA]

Oh my goodness, not Birthdays. I hate them and always have. Other people make more of my Birthday than I do. Having said that I usually end up with some kind of celebration, which recently has been dinner with my girlfriend at a favorite restaurant.

She is very cautious about planning anything though because in the 1st year of our relationship she arranged a surprise party for me with many friends and family in attendance. I was the biggest surprise by not coming. In my defense I did not pick up on the hints that were supposed to get me there suitably dressed for a party, and in fact had forgotten it was my Birthday. Actually I did find them all in the bar later that evening.

I am also very bad at other peoples birthdays, anniversaries, Valentines etc and have to set elaborate reminders on my cellphone, computer etc in order not to get into trouble.

[True Rune]

Not really, I sort of freak out about getting older. My twin and I don't live together anymore, so he doesn't get me all depressed because nobody cares about my birthday.

[changos]

Since I was a kid I didn't see the point on celebrating my birthday. Many people that mean little to me used to come (and NEVER LEAVE!!!!) they invaded my time and space. Usually I was pretty sure I meant little for most of them.

Many of the gifts I have received don't go along with what I like, so I take it as an insult as it is very obvious that they don't know about me.

As my birthday is close to christmas, I had many bad times with people on a hurry or in bad mood (nothing to do with me, but with their families fighting by those days of the year) (people in my country drink a lot... and that time of the year means little money available for many and little time, many have few hours of sleep because of the parties).

Also, I don't drink, or smoke... so imagine what a party on a country where that is the rule...

So, I just disappear on my birthday and yes, I feel good about it.

[Brilliance]

Just a day, I go to my quiet home and relax. No need to talk to anyone.. Speaking of Birthdays - My birthday was a few days ago - 9/11. If anything, it helps the ones I know remember the day..

I made a chart this year - Of anyone who could possibly acknowledge that it was my birthday. On the chart I knocked off the people who called and to my great amusement - Most people did remember. I don't blame anyone who didn't, I wouldn't remember peoples birthday either, so w/e.

Just a day, just a number. Meaningless waste of time to celebrate - Like any other holiday. I got a bunch of cash and gift cards to book stores this year though :D (Always a plus side).

[tp6626]

I tend not to notice them, and don't like the attention when people ask you whether you're 'excited' about it being your birthday. How tedious.

Come to think about it, I never used to see Christmas as that special either. I remember one year in my GCSE's, all I wanted to do was my Technology coursework, and my parents made me stay downstairs opening presents, eating and watching TV with the family, who I see every weekend anyway.

Different mindset I guess... I am strange...