Us born close to Christmas or on Christmas day have it the worst!

Greetings birthday twin!

Yep it sucks - hardly anyone remembers and those that do can't be arsed.
I might move mine to June like someone did upthread, great idea!

Same day as me,.I've started going away too.

DS's birthday is Dec 20th. We always hold his party early, say first week of Dec, so people aren't yet embroiled in Xmas stuff.

DS is 28th December. I've given up trying to organise parties as nobody knows what they're doing between Christmas and New Year, so we go to Center Parcs every year from 27-30th December. Makes his birthday completely separate from Christmas - everything is about his birthday!

My birthday is Christmas Day. When I was a kid my parents decided I would have a half- birthday, and get a present on 25th June, though it wasn't really a big thing. I did used to cry at the end of Christmas Day regularly as all the excitement was over for another whole year! I also didn't like not being at school on my birthday (in primary school) and having everyone sing happy birthday to me. Nobody ever got me joint presents though, and actually relatives who tended to forget other family birthdays always remembered mine. Would usually have a party at some point before so didn't miss out on that.

As an adult I don't mind, it does feel a bit special, and I like that I never have to think about what to do on my birthday or bother arranging anything! As an introvert I would really hate the pressure of arranging some kind of birthday celebration so I like that family come round on my birthday anyway, and there are general festive gatherings.

One of my children also has a birthday earlier in December, so it's not something I particularly tried to avoid!

I’ve changed my DDs birthday. No, really. Just thought she deserved her own special day, we celebrate year on year Dec 18th, no mention what so ever of her bday on Dec 25th. Its worked well for us.

Yep, mine too. I actually used to kind of like it as a child, as it was something to look forward to soon after Christmas.

As an adult, I hate it. It feels like an after-thought after Christmas, everyone (including me!) has the January blues, the weather is always so grey and dreary... Saying that, I did actively plan to do something to celebrate the past two years (the first was a big one) and it did feel a bit more special. I never usually bother as I never have the headspace so soon after Christmas, but maybe I should make more effort in future...

DD is 23rd, always makes Christmas even more special. Everyone in a party mood, spending money and going out. Nobody ever tried it on with joint gifts and we made sure the two occasions are separate. Always do friends party/activity earlier in December and family on the day. It’s 100% better than a January birthday! Nearly always first day back at school on my September birthday which was rubbish.

My stepsons 3 kids are ALL close to Christmas! 11th, 27th of Dec and 5th January!

@NoahsTortoise when I've tried to go out for a meal on my birthday in the past it's not been easy to find things that are open, if they are open they are very quiet. I gave up a while ago tbh and we just get a takeaway now. I guess it will depend on where you live though a big city centre will likely have things open! Also might depend on what day of the week it falls on.

4th Jan - everyone is fed up, partied out & going back to work/school, no money, dry January (although I don't tend to drink so not bothered personally) and diets. I got joint Xmas/birthday presents which actually meant getting nothing on my birthday. Also, most people just completely forget. Weathers rubbish, no nice day trips or lovely weekends. I've always hated it.

Is everything shut on 30th Dec?! Nothing is round me.

Agree re Christmas Day though, my FIL's birthday is the 25th and it's such a non-event. He has his gifts in the morning of course but then it's forgotten really.

Mines 30th, everything's shut and everyone's saving their money for NYE. I've never liked it but I thank my lucky stars I wasn't born on Christmas Day, I would really not like that as I love Christmas and I'm glad they are at least seperate.

Funny you mention wrapping paper, it’s DD’s birthday soon and I have 2 boxes of gifts to wrap. I need birthday wrapping paper, I usually get one that actually has Happy Birthday all over it.

I had a friend in school whose birthday was 25 Dec. Worse still, her family owned a restaurant. I remember she spent her 18th birthday / Christmas day working.

Mine is early Jan and I hate it. Everyone on a diet/ not drinking/ no money/ being vegan etc. Its cold and wet and grey and everyone else doesn't give a shit. I've never been made a fuss of on my birthday.

Boxing Day baby here. Growing up my parents would give me a joint Xmas / birthday present. So I got roller boots for my Xmas / birthday present. My DB (June birthday) also got roller boots for Xmas. But he also got a birthday present in June.

Have had the Xmas cards that say 'and happy birthday', have had the birthday present in Xmas wrapping paper. Have had the kids not turning up to my party because they are doing family meet ups.

I did the half year birthday as a kid but my parents did half the amount of presents my siblings got on their Summer birthdays, then forgot or were too skint to do the other half of my presents for my actual birthday.

As an adult I tend to get generic presents for my birthday as people are 'thought out' with thinking of Xmas presents for their nearest and dearest.

On my 50th last year I got 3 generic mugs from 3 different people saying 'happy 50th birthday'. Got 2 wine glasses saying the same from another 2 friends.

People don't have the time in the Xmas period to be thinking of a birthday on top of all there is to do.

Yes you get all the xmas tat ha

Across my family we have birthdays on Christmas day, boxing day, new year's eve and new year's day. It's completely normal to us but that week is very busy 😂

I am 31 December, my next door neighbour was 1st Jan. We used to spend ages commiserating with one another how awful those dates are.
Especially as I don't drink alcohol - I would be quite happy with meal/cinema/theatre but prices are whacked up because it's New Year's Eve. Definitely calling it Old Year's Night this year like my dad did, as this year has been so awful for us. Just want to move on and leave it behind.
You also tend to get people's unwanted Xmas gifts as birthday presents.
Christmas Day not a great time for a birthday either

DSis’ birthday and my birthday are both in the week before Christmas, so not only did we often get one present for Christmas/birthday combined we also had to share parties when we were young. DBro was born in June so my lovely parents decided we’d all get to celebrate half birthdays.

DH often says he feels like he has to make it up to me for my childhood birthday “trauma”😄

Im 17th January its crap! Nobody has money. December not great either.

Yeah this is how it is for my BFF. Last year she actually booked some tables at our local for a girls drinks for her 50th. Expected about 18 to come. Under 10 came. About half way through she suggested that various husbands would be welcome as well, because she'd already put quite a bit of money behind the bar and no-one was apparently coming. A few texts the next day to say that people had forgotten, or hadn't been up to it due to Dry Jan and being hungover from the night before, or whatever. Thing is, it was not because people don't like her- just everyone is partied out. She showed a little bit of upset publicly, but shrugged and said it's always like this and she needs to learn her lesson about it really. I know she was really upset though.

Mines early Jan. A complete non event.

Have to agree with this, we have 2 family birthdays in December - one on Christmas Day itself - and 3 in January, and the January ones are 100% worse.

As PP says, people are busy in December but they're cheerful and up for a party. In January, everyone is skint and just sick of the sight of food 🤣 Plus birthdays gifts are weak because people have used up their ideas on your Christmas gift.

My friend's birthday is Christmas Eve and she's always loved it, and enjoyed that Christmas immediately followed. And when we were young we were always up for going out for the night on Christmas Eve, so she always had a good party.