Were you born near a major holiday? I was. My late mother in law was. My sister in law was. One of my grandfathers was. All of were born in the week before Christmas.
This is a partial repeat of a post I first wrote in 2018 but it's still relevant.
It's an interesting experience, having a birthday just before
Christmas. You learn, at an early age, that your birthday is going to
be swallowed up in the greater festivities. In other words, you learn
to share. Your birthday. Attention paid to you. That kind of thing.
We aren't the only ones who share birthdays with holidays, of course.
One of my managers at work was born on the fourth of July (our
Independence Day in the United States). She was in elementary school before she realized
that the parades and the fireworks on July 4th were not meant to
celebrate her.
But back to Christmas....this year, everything has been so strange, including holiday and birthday celebrations. But let's think of the past for a minute.
A near-Christmas child learns early that most people get presents on
their birthday and on Christmas. We - well, we are lucky if we even get
noticed. Not quite the same situation as the person in the last
paragraph, but it's similar in some ways.
Even born and raised in a Jewish household, I was not immune from the
Great Christmas Takeover. (Also, back when I was young, Hanukkah was not
the "major" holiday it is now.) But it also offered me an escape answer, when I was young, to the inevitable question "what did you get for Christmas"? (I didn't grow up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.) I would simply name my birthday gift.
In a way, when I married into my (Christian) spouse's family and became
related by marriage to two people in the same Christmas/birthday boat (so to speak) as I was in, I met
other fellow sufferers. We'd been there, done (or not done) that. We
always made sure we gave each other separate presents and cards for both
occasions.
Since my late mother in law's birthday was the day after mine (25 years minus 1 day) we would celebrate milestone birthdays at the same time. That was interesting, too, but it never bothered me. Double the pleasure, double the fun....
We learned to live with this constant birthday sharing, the three of us. Now, things are different, along with so much else.
Do you or another family member share a near-birthday or birthday with a major holiday?
...I have a December birthday. My son has an October birthday and he met his wife while living in Korea, she was born on the same day of the same year.
ReplyDeleteMy nephew's birthday was yesterday, the 26th. He's 15 this year. I have no idea how he's doing with the whole birthday thing. We try to give him something for both.
ReplyDeleteWell my eldest son was born 12-22-72 (2's all the way) hehehe! He's my heart for sure! So proud of him also. He's a boss at FedEx & he use to own his own business, but he got robbed by a best-friend believe it or not and he lost his company. I felt so bad for me, but he picked himself up & dusted himself off & started all over again. So proud. My Uncle Kenny was born on April Fools day & my daughter was born the day before the 4th of July & I was born the day before Flag day. Anyway, gotta get back to work, so I'll have something for tomorrow. I sent you an email hope you have time to answer or I shall have no linky... I'm trying to figure out how to post the bugger! Thanks girlfriend! HUGS
ReplyDeleteMy birthday is on Veterans Day. Having worked for two governments it meant I always had the day off.
ReplyDeleteMy first born was due on Christmas, but born on the 19th. I was told that "First babies are never early." Ha! They come when they come. My youngest was born on his late grandfather's birthday, and we are all so grateful he wasn't around to share it. He was a nasty mean alcoholic man. It was also the day O.J. Simpson was acquitted, which I remember because everyone left me alone in my hospital room to go watch the news! Everyone included my husband!
ReplyDeleteMy birthday is same as President Lincoln, close to valentine day. Yes usual my birthday cakes had valentine theme. My husband every seven years his birthday falls on Thanksgiving. I actual feel sorry for those birthday is around Christmas
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
My birthday is near Valentine's Day and President's Day. So the holiday is not really a big deal. But my late father's birthday was the day before mine, and I can never celebrate my own birthday without thinking of him.
ReplyDeleteYes. My birthday is December 15, my brother's is December 30, and my husband is December 28. My husband remembers getting toys in beat-up boxes because that was all that was left in the store.
ReplyDelete