When did Birthdays become Birthday Weeks?

[hollowlegs]

The clue's in the word Day.

It's BirthDAY.

It's bad enough Hen Nights have turned into Hen Weekends and in some cases even Hen Weeks
But now birthdays are under fire.
Why is there a need now to draw everything out?
Life's expensive enough as it is.

what next, Pancake Week?

Couldn't agree more. Is it an adult we're talking about hollow?
What is being planned?

I noticed this on Facebook about a year ago.

Adults saying "I'm looking forward to my Birthday week", and then listing a load of long drawn out plans for every day

Aw I have a kind of birthday week but it's only week long for me!

It was my birthday yesterday. I saw my Mummy friends for a get together on Fri eve, my best mates on Sat aft for lunch and shopping then cinema, day with DH & kids yesterday, lunch with my parents today then a flexi day tomorrow and I'm meeting another friend for lunch. I wouldn't expect everyone to celebrate with me for a week, but I have lots of groups of people to celebrate with so I plan things over a few days.

I love birthdays -not just mine but everyone else's too.

Dh and I do birthday weekend. i think if everyone is on board what's the harm?

It's encouraging the future generation to be grabby and expect a whole week filled with activities, when previously they were content with one day.

As if mothers don't have enough on their plate without this added pressure.

I also love birthdays.

My usually last over about 3 weekends.
1 with my friends which means being away for the weekend.
One with my family
One with my OH
Love it!

I've had birthday weeks since a young child, my grandma always insists on them! Nothing fancy, just little things spread out over the week. I think as long as you don't take it too far it's fine.

I'm 40 this year. I'm having a birthday year.

This mainly means going somewhere fun each month of the year - doesn't have to cost much, doesn't have to involve loads of people. But I'm going to have fun!

They are BirthDAYS in this house. Always have been and always will be.

Occasionally we might go away for a long weekend if someone has a big birthday (40, 50 etc.), but not always. Can't be bothered with all of that.

ours generally stretch over two days TBH
one's actual birthday, and another, usually bigger celebration on a convenient weekend day before or after, when people aren't in work/school

IMO only thing better than a cake is two cakes, so that works fine for us.

I kind of have a Birthday week just because of when it is.
I'm 27th of December so Christmas, Boxing Day, ME! and New Year can make for some fun times.

I barely remember the Millennium because it was my 21st as well. I spent most of that week drunk.

mrsted me too but I am going to aim for 6 months extra fun.

I have a Birthday Month

YABU - It doesn't affect you so I can't see the problem. How is it grabby to have a few lunches/days out/dinners/meetups? I am not asking anyone to finance me - they get invited, they come or they don't. Most people like to see their friends and family around their birthday don't they? I wouldn't know how to fit everyone in on just one day!!!

I make sure I have lots of special things to do throughout the month, with different friends/family. It's not like I am holding a gun to anyones head.

hah i have a birthday fortnight - i go on holiday for a week around my birthday then need to catch up with family and friends when i get back

I have 2 friends who recently decided to do 50 celebrations across the year to celebrate their joint 50th birthdays

I was impressed.

My dc have always had 3 birthdays per year...... quick present opening before school / work and maybe stick a candle in a cake at teatime, then nearest weekend grandparents and any local aunts/unclus/cousins round for a bit of birthday tea, then, from when they were old enough to start having schoolfriends round that would be on a 3rd date. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

At my age I prefer to spend my birthdays in a dark room trying not to cry. The sooner it's over the better!

For you Oyster

We don't call it a "birthday week" but the reality of having to see 2 separate sets of grandparents who don't live locally, and have a party for their friends (especially when the actual birthday falls midweek) means that birthday celebrations for DC do end up stretching over a week!!

How on earth do you get round that though? Even if everyone came to one party it would be actual birthday + weekend day (unless birthday fell on the weekend).

Yanbu

I have no problem with people having birthday week because they're seeing different people on different days but I hate that some adults expect special treatment because it's their birthday week.

You think that's bad? A special snowflake I once worked with had a birthday MONTH! And December was "her" month too, as she loved Christmas and said as Jesus was dead it should be about her.

I shit you not.

YANBU. I reckon I could get on board with Pancake Week though

I have a birthday month!!!! How did it affect you Sansarya? Serious question.

I will have regular lunches, dinners, tea parties, get togethers with various different friends, groups of friends, family members. Usually a weekend in Forrin with one particular group. All spread over the month.

I wouldn't be able to see them all in one day.

I just can't see why anyone else would object to that or how it would affect them in any way? Am I missing something?

I think that wasting energy on anger that someone's birthday/hen celebration has gone on too long is likely to be a greater drain on quality of life than the parties themselves. Why on earth would you let it bother you?

How did it affect you Sansarya? Serious question.

By her constantly talking about it in the office for the entire month (and at Christmas) and demanding that others bring in some sort of treat and sing happy birthday to her almost everyday. Which gets irritating pretty quickly when you work in an open plan office.