Which roundy birthday is more significant/important?

[LookItsMeAgain]

I was having a discussion with a colleague and we got to talking about birthdays, particularly 'roundy' birthdays - ones with a zero at the end, and they were saying that turning 60 was a bigger birthday to turning 50 and you'd go all out for a 60th birthday but just keep things smaller and not as big for a 50th. I said the other way around - go all out for your 50th and keep it smaller for your 60th.

So I'm just wondering, which would you do a big party for and go all out for? Which would you think is more significant or more important.

I’m an early Jan birthday so I only ask anyone to make a fuss on ending-in-0 birthdays. I made a big deal out of 40 and will do 50. 60 used to be retirement age, so I think it’s equal to 50 these days, though I can understand it used to be more important.

I also thought my 60th was way bigger than my 50th. I think because I was more tired and definitely don't feel as young anymore. Also I'd retired by my 60th but was still so busy working on my 50th.

I can remember when I was still at school thinking retirement was so far away. Now it's here and I'm making the most of it whilst I still can. I. Spending more in my first 10 years of retirement whilst health is okish. Who knows if I'll even make my 70th.

We celebrate all 0 birthdays with a party and / or trip away. Life can be so shit, why not find every excuse for joy?

You can't get a free bus pass in our area unless you are of state pension age so no, you don't get that at 60. Senior railcard is only worthwhile if you are retired and can go on a lot of journeys off-peak. If you are still working, it isn't much use.

Had a roundy birthday a couple of weeks ago and it was a bit flat tbh.

I don't know what I was expecting but I thought DH might have made a bit of a bit of a thing of getting our friends out for a meal, but didn't.

Wasn't expecting presents, but thought I'd get a card at least from a couple of (what I thought were very close) friends, but didn't.

I'm being ridiculous because it's just another day, but I am a little bit hurt.

SO! celebrate your birthday 🥳 because when I'm 60 I'm fucking off to New York by myself.

I've had both. For my 50th l had a party.. my daughters organised it.. loads of family and friends.. Great food.. Great DJ.
Private room in a pub.
Loads of photos of my life pinned around the room.
For my 60th l went away abroad for a week.
My daughters and Grandsons puy on a buffet at my house.
So l vote 50th should be a bigger one.
( A friend took me to Dublin for my 40th)
For my 30th l was on life support.
For my 20th/ 21st l was touring the USA for a year.

Not sure why one has to be more important than another.
If you like a party, or some other celebration, then go for it.
I've had a party for my 40th, 50th, and 60th. It doesn't seem to me like it is too much. I don't think there is any rule to say "you had a big party for your 50th, so you can't have a party for your 60th".

For some people it is close to a particular wedding anniversary they want to celebrate, or a child's 18th or maybe a wedding, so they don't 'go big' for that birthday.

I am turning 60 soon and don't fancy a party or anything like that, I did go on a fab holiday to New York though, that's more my idea of a celebration. For my 50th I went to Paris, no party then either. Hard to say which age is more significant, probably 50 for me.

Every birthday is important, especially the higher they get. It’s a privilege to grow old and some don’t get to.

True. I'm not into celebrating my birthday in a big way, as I'm not a fan of fuss. But, I do mark it in some small way. Usually an extra long Lush bubble bar bath with a cup of assam tea! I might meet a couple of friends in a nice coffee shop. I'm an introvert, so parties just aren't my thing.
I don't understand the obsession with noughts though?! The decimal system is so random. There's nothing remotely special about the number 10. I've spent a lot of my time studying numbers, and units of 12 are actually much tidier. I wish we had the dozenal system. But that's another matter! If people are into their birthdays, I wish more would defy convention, and celebrate them all equally, not just the 10 ones.
Anyway, nonetheless, given the two options of this thread, I definitely go with 60, partly for aforementioned reasons. Partly because it's a unit of 12 which I far prefer (maths nerd alert!) and partly, simply, because it's older, and I think the older you get the more you should be grateful to still be here. I think if you make it to your 90s, every day should celebrated.
Also, on a personal note, I had my 40th not long ago, and it was a bit disastrous! I feel like I can't cope with another one for many years to come. 60th is far enough in the future for me to be able to deal with it! 😂

Both are equally uninteresting except to close family IMO. I understand that desire to mark it oneself, but a big party is just preference, it's not that interesting for anyone else.

People like a party so it's fine, but it's just an excuse not a real event iyswim.

I can't imagine reaching my 50th birthday and going '60 is more important so I won't have a big celebration'.

You might not even be alive still by the time you're 60.

Seize the day.

If I'm healthy and able when I reach those ages, I'll be celebrating them both in style!

Fair enough. Though I'd prefer to celebrate 48, as it's a unit of 12, which I far prefer! 😂
I genuinely, from a mathematical point of view, don't find anything remotely significant about the number 10.

As a side note - I think the pro birthday people often misunderstand those of us who just aren't into celebrating our birthdays. I think it's great when people do. We're not miserable. We're just (or speaking for myself anyway) chilled about it. I don't see my own birthdays, beyond childhood, as significant things. I like to enjoy life, but in an everyday way. I'm a fan of the simple pleasures. I don't like parties and hate being the centre of attention. I do usually have a birthday bath treat (alone of course!) and that's enough for me. My only thing is that I like to be treated with kindness on my birthday. If anyone is ever unkind to me on my birthday I get upset. So, that's the only thing. Maybe that's partly why I don't make a fuss, as I fear it going wrong?
Anyway, each to their own. More power to those who like to celebrate in style. Peace for those of us who don't!

I think the poll needs two other options -

• Both equally important.

• Neither important.

Thanks for that suggestion but I was specifically asking about which of these would be more significant, not if they would be the same significance or not significant at all.

My immediate relatives have all celebrated their 50th birthdays and I have yet to celebrate it. I’m being informed that they see the 60th birthday as the more significant (which is what sparked the discussion in work as a colleague is about to turn 50).
I would think that 50 is more significant than 60 (nothing to do with retirement as that’s separate in my eyes, unless you are taking early retirement) but my relatives think the opposite - they’re all in their 50’s and I’m not. I wonder if, because they’ve all turned 50 they no longer think it’s important?

Surely it's up to the person whose birthday it is.

My last big celebration was 30. Since then I've had big holidays on my birthday instead.

A couple of friends have had parties for every noughty birthday because they love it.

I went hugely out for my 40th, medium out for my 50th and by my 60th i just wanted me and DH to go away ourselves.

I don't see my own birthdays, beyond childhood, as significant things. I like to enjoy life, but in an everyday way. I'm a fan of the simple pleasures. I don't like parties and hate being the centre of attention.

As a pp said, the birthday is just a 'hook' on to which to hang a lovely get together with family and friends.
I was no more important a person being 40 than I was at 39 or 41, but those dates naturally prompt you in to 'getting round to' organising a get together - which is why I have a party.
Same as I had extended family round to tea for all my dcs' birthdays - it just prompts you to putting a date in the diary to get together.