AIBU to not consider 21 a milestone birthday?

[DragonsAndDaffs]

Do you consider 21 a milestone birthday?
DD is 21 soon, and many of her friends have already turned 21; none of them has had a party, and they have all just marked the birthday like any other... they all consider 18 the milestone coming-of-age birthday, and I would agree.

I'm old enough to remember my aunt turning 21 in 1969, before the voting age was lowered in 1970.

YANBU 21 is not a milestone
YABU 21 is still a milestone

South Wales here, was a big thing when I celebrated mine (21 years ago I've just realised!) and I was at DPs nieces 21st a couple of weekends ago, that was a big party (hired out a rugby club) so still a big thing amongst that age group now

I went out on the lash with my mates for my 21st. I would have hated going out for a family meal and being centre of attention whilst everyone around the table sang happy bloody birthday to me - so cringy 🙄

No. I didn't do anything for mine 40 years ago and DD considered he graduation to be more important than her 21st which was 3 weeks earlier.

Definitely a milestone birthday. And has been for as long as I remember.

Many moons ago I worked for Clinton cards. Our milestones section was literally 16, 18, 21, 30 and onwards in 10s.

21 being a milestone goes back 100s years

I'm 52. My 18th was a big deal but aside from lots of cards saying 21 it was no different to my 20th or 22nd. None of my friends had 21st parties or made a big thing of it either. 18 was definitely regarded as the important one.

21st was more of a thing back in my parents day - key of the door and all that.

Of course it is; it always has been. Obviously it's up to the individual if / how they want to celebrate.

It was years ago - we used to get keys and things. Do they even sell them anymore? Not so much now. My son had a party but he likes parties. 18 is more of a milestone. What use is a tankard with 21 on it really?

In my area (south east) it’s always been a milestone, although not everyone chooses to celebrate it. I had a big party for my 21st in the early 90s but some of my friends didn’t want a party so I think we had a weekend away in a cotttage, somewhere like the Cotswolds.

Both 18 and 21 are recognised as significant birthdays in my family and my AC had special gifts on those dates and DGC will all get treated the same. It’s a personal thing I guess, what suits one family won’t necessarily be a great fit for another.

Traditionally it was THE milestone birthday but it isn't in the UK anymore. I went to a few fancy 21sts in the 90s/2000s but haven't heard of them being a thing since. Nowadays the milestones just seem to be 18, 40, 50, 60, 75, 80, 100. Although I'd have thought every birthday is a milestone from 80 😅

I celebrated 18 at home because, as you say, it’s when you legally become an adult and can do more things. My parents said I could choose one of the two. However I was at university for 21 and we had a big party there, so I celebrated both as significant in different ways.
Edit: for context, I’m 61 and DD (30) did the same

I'm a decade younger than you OP and 21 was very much treated as a milestone birthday by my family. As were 16 and 18 but 21 is when they were the most generous with gifts.

I didn't have a party though because a) I didn't want one and b) my closest friends were all at different unis by then. I did have a small party with 6 school friends at 18. Not because I wanted to drink though as I'm tee-total.

I don't think a party is what makes a milestone birthday or not. It's OK for some people to celebrate 21 and other people not! Why does it matter?!

Because it used to be the age of majority. That's going back to my parents' generation though so grandparents to people turning 21 now. Time to forget it.

Yes, but the key was just symbolic of a key to your family home, which you'd get in reality as soon as you needed it. I never got one at any age because we had a key hidden in the garden...

Never heard all of the song before. We only ever sang the 1st 5 lines. It must have been from the days when daughters were considered their father's property before marriage or turning 21.

Yabu, its a huge milestone!

I never thought about it before, but I turned 21 in 2012 and there was a lot of build up to it - my Mum always talked about how special it is (or was).

Needless to say I was gutted when I got a few cards and a bath set with nothing planned after all the hype! I was, however, pregnant with my first and extremely hormonal at the time.

I guess when my kids turn 21 I'll see how they feel. I'd love to go all out and celebrate it as a milestone of they want to, but won't be overly disappointed if not. I guess each to their own.

14c 21 was decreed age of adulthood. The song "21 today" was written in 1910, when you were middle aged, hardly relevant today. 1969, "The Family Act"lowered the age of consent,voting, being able to marry without your parents consent to 18. Some cultures celebrate a girl starting to menstruate.

The greeting card industry obviously considers it one-

You can buy cards reading 18th, 21st, 30th etc
You know-the milestone birthdays

I always thought it was a key to the world. People do still gift them to their children here in New Zealand. But probably not as much as they used to. We have some beautiful carved ones decorated with paua shells here.
We also have the yard glass tradition here but I think that's not as common now.

Not always no. Hence my post. Some celebrate both ! I agree with you though.

I have a 21 and 22 year old and both of their 21st Birthdays were treated as milestones. In a world of shit it was lovely to celebrate a bit harder with them both.

Omg yes. 21 is big milestone in family/friend groups

Whilst my two DS's (who had both left home by the time they were 21), went out with their mates from uni, I did splash rather a bit of cash on them both respectively.

Ahhh I see, I've always wondered why 21 was considered a special birthday. I and my family, friends etc all celebrated being 18 as you could by booze & get into the club's legally!