How do you celebrate birthdays that come up during the holidays?

For those of you who have birthdays around the holidays, do you make it a combined celebration birthday/thanksgiving or birthday/Christmas? Or do you separate them and create two different celebrations?

My daughter's birthday is the 4th of July (she's 15 now) and although we all know the fireworks are in celebration of our nation's independence, we've always told her the firework are just for her. To us, it's a wonderful holiday to celebrate a birthday.

On the flip side, celebrating a birthday near or on Thanksgiving/Christmas seems tough and I've always wondered how mom's work with this.

Tags: birthdays, holiday, holidays, kids, twittermoms

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Permalink Reply by Dawn on December 7, 2009 at 7:01pm

My son's birthday is the beginning of January, so we turn our Christmas Tree into a Birthday Tree!

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Permalink Reply by Coach Jen on December 7, 2009 at 11:48pm

What a great idea! Love it!

Dawn said:

My son's birthday is the beginning of January, so we turn our Christmas Tree into a Birthday Tree!

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Permalink Reply by Julie Northrop on December 8, 2009 at 9:00pm

Amazing idea Dawn! Is it an artificial tree and does your son help decorate it?

Dawn said:

My son's birthday is the beginning of January, so we turn our Christmas Tree into a Birthday Tree!

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Permalink Reply by Amy on December 8, 2009 at 9:05pm

My 2nd child was born near Christmas and we have always done a separate birthday (although her presents do reside under the tree). We don't do big extravaganza birthday parties with friends here...that almost makes it easier to go all out for her birthday as a family b/c we don't feel like we are burdening anyone else.

She chooses one place to eat out and the rest of the menu for the day, she's exempt from chores, she gets her choice of cake (or pie or whatever) to celebrate. She basically gets to be the princess for the day just as our other children get the same treatment on their birthdays.

ps-when I saw your 15 yo was a 4th of July baby, I had to smile. My little Emily, who died when she was 7 mons was born on the 4th of July. :)

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Permalink Reply by Julie Northrop on December 8, 2009 at 9:21pm

Oh Amy, I'm so sorry for loss! I'm will forever remember your little Emily when my daughter's birthday rolls around.

It sounds like our birthday celebrations are similar. We let our kids choose a place to eat out - usually from a pile of birthday emails they've received from restaurants that offer free birthday meals like Red Robin (instilling frugal values now!). The kids are also excused from all chores. They love it and it makes them feel very special.

Thank you so much for sharing your family traditions with us!

Amy said:

My 2nd child was born near Christmas and we have always done a separate birthday (although her presents do reside under the tree). We don't do big extravaganza birthday parties with friends here...that almost makes it easier to go all out for her birthday as a family b/c we don't feel like we are burdening anyone else.

She chooses one place to eat out and the rest of the menu for the day, she's exempt from chores, she gets her choice of cake (or pie or whatever) to celebrate. She basically gets to be the princess for the day just as our other children get the same treatment on their birthdays.

ps-when I saw your 15 yo was a 4th of July baby, I had to smile. My little Emily, who died when she was 7 mons was born on the 4th of July. :)

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Permalink Reply by Julie Northrop on December 8, 2009 at 9:24pm

I agree Leigh...with a little extra planning kids can enjoy a celebration all their own for their special day. I think this becomes more of an issue as the kids get older, especially if you have more than one.

Thanks for sharing!

Leigh Hunziker said:

My son's birthday falls right between Thanksgiving and Christmas. His 1st bday bash was his very own celebration. His second was combined with Thanksgiving. But his last two birthdays were all his own. It's easy...you just have to plan a little early (because people are very busy during the holidays so you want to get those invites out before they make holiday plans).

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Permalink Reply by Amy on December 8, 2009 at 9:25pm

Thank you.

And Red Robin?? (yes, frugal is my middle name) I need to sign up for that one!

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Permalink Reply by Julie Northrop on December 9, 2009 at 7:30am

Yep...Red Robin offers a free gourmet burger and sundae for birthdays! We love going there! That's just one among many though. I'm a self-proclaimed "Birthday Freebie Expert" and created a directory to share all my finds at FreeBirthdayTreats.com.

Amy said:

Thank you.

And Red Robin?? (yes, frugal is my middle name) I need to sign up for that one!

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Permalink Reply by Julie Northrop on December 9, 2009 at 7:33am

Goodness Michelle! Your family is loaded with birthdays close to holidays. Have to say that a month long celebration of you is awesome!

Michelle Lowrie said:

Mom was born on April 3rd, so Easter is always either nearby or right on her birthday. We might have to wait until Easter Sunday to get together, but we still celebrate both separately.

Mine is May 13th. I was born on the day after Mother's Day, so it also falls right on or near my birthday. Since my son's birth (14 years ago), I've been celebrated for nearly the entire month.

My brother David's birthday is the 2nd of July. We might wait until the 4th to celebrate, but fireworks don't start until after dark, so even that one works out.

My brother Kevin was born on November 21st. Yes, we also sometimes wait until Thanksgiving to celebrate his, but again, we celebrate both separately.

December is the busiest. A niece on the 2nd, cousins on the 6th, 17th, 21st, and 22nd, my son on the 28th, and friends on the 9th, 14th, 24th, and 31st, etc. Everyone gets individual birthday and Christmas gifts. Unless a big ticket item is involved, there is very rarely a combo gift.

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Permalink Reply by Patty Hoffman on December 9, 2009 at 10:23am

My oldest daughter's birthday is Dec 26! Funny thing is I grew up celebrating my dad's birthday which is also the 26th of Dec, so it is like a continuation of the tradition of having something to celebrate that day. We absolutely make it different and do not combine it with Christmas. Usually we go out for dinner as a family and of course she gets more presents.....but as far as friends go....often they are away or busy so we always have her plan a get together with them at a later date. I also try not to wrap presents with Christmas paper or give her what is left over......but try to find an extra special gift!

Patty
www.internetceomoms.com/pattyanddan

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Permalink Reply by Shannon on December 10, 2009 at 7:45pm

My son's birthday is two days after Christmas. We celebrate his birthday with a party and cakes just like his sister receives at her June Birthday. I had a few friend's whose birthdays are close to the holidays and their parents always made sure they had something special. In those days it was ussually a sleep-over birthday party. I think its important to celebrate my son's special day as I would any other time of. year.
My mother wanted to fore-go celebrating his birthday and wait until June which is my daughter's birthday. My mother felt is "sucked" that his birhtday was so close to Christmas. I replaie dto her that he doesn't know that and I won't have her making him feel that way.

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Permalink Reply by Sheena Bruce on December 11, 2009 at 12:31pm

My daughters birthday is 2 days after Christmas and my son's is in early November... So we always have one big birthday for family and celebrate in Nov for both.... She usually gets to open something on her actual birthday too...