How would you feel if your birthday is on Christmas?
It's the early 1960's. I'm visiting my grandmother. She has a calendar on the wall and I'm checking it out. I'm looking at the month of June. On the twelfth, I see something that excites me. CHILDREN'S DAY!!!
WOOOOOO!!!
My nine-year-old brain starts to work. My birthday is on June 11. I'm already thinking about how this could double my day in the spotlight....not to mention double presents. What could possibly be better?
When I get home, I tell my mother about my discovery. She looks at me and says "Every day is children's day." Killjoy!!
So even though my mom put the kibosh on all future double birthday celebrations, it started my obsession with wondering how people who have birthdays falling on holidays feel. My sister has her birthday on New Year's Day and I've never heard her say anything about that...good or bad. My youngest daughter has a birthday that every few years falls on Mother's Day. When that occurs, she usually has lunch or dinner with her mother. And now since she is also a mother, maybe her son will get her double presents? Hmmm...since the kid is only three months old, the pressure is off on that for a few years.
But what if your birthday falls on December 25? Christmas Day!! It's the biggest holiday of them all!! Not only does everyone in the family get presents, but you're sharing your birthday with Jesus. Wow! Talking about getting your thunder stolen!! Picture sitting in your living room, opening up one of your presents, getting excited over receiving exactly what you wanted and then your sibling gets a brand new bicycle....ON YOUR DAY!!!! That has to be worse than my mother ruining Children's Day for me forever.....much, much worse.
I've only known one person who has had a birthday on Christmas and since she's Jewish, the above scenario was moot. But, if you're reading this and your birthday is today, and you're pissed off that you aren't getting double presents or being treated as if your special day is not really special, know that I'm in your corner. Solidarity my brother/sister. I wish you a Happy Birthday!
By the way, earlier this week I found out that Children's Day, which is a real thing, Mom, isn't on June 12. It's on the second Sunday in June, so each year the date changes...kind of like a Jewish holiday. It matches up with my June 11 birthday next in 2023. I'll be accepting double presents. Thank you in advance.
Related Post: Does it suck to have your birthday on Mother's Day?
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