Do you have any family birthday traditions to recommend?

[Kmg]

Both my husband and I come from families with no birthday traditions - other than party, cake, and presents. But we know families who do have such traditions, and we would like to establish some for our family - for adults' as well as children's birthdays. For me I think the motivation is an attempt to get away from the purely materialistic present aspect of a birthday, and focus on something else as well.

Do you do anything special within the family to mark a birthday? Maybe have a special breakfast together, or other meal? When/how/where do the presents get opened? Any other suggestions welcome.

We're becoming known for themed parties for which parents and children dress up. So far we've done a Harry Potter party for the six year old and today and today we had a fairy party for the four year old. We do these parties very cheaply; i print out party bags, book marks and little books colouring sheets and cards; I get fancy dress clothes from charity shops, or make them (I made lovely fairy skirts and head-dresses from pink net and garden wire!). All of the children and parents seem to enjoy the parties far more than the ubiquitous Whacky Warehouse with greasy fries and nasty colouring sheets. Today's party cost about £40 all in all, including a cake from the local baker's and prizes for "fairy games".
Also the birthday child gets to choose a restaurant to eat in for their birthday tea (yes - even if it's the Whacky Warehouse!

The tradition in our family is based around cake and presents and is very simple - chocolate cake in bed whilst opening the presents and cards. It works well for adults and children alike and means we mark birthdays for everyone in the same way. Of course it helps if you are a chocoholic family and don't mind messy sheets.

From as long ago as I can remember my mother has always provided egg sandwiches for every birthday that we have had in our family.I have 2 sisters and a brother and as children we always had high tea with egg sarnies. They are a source of much fun as they have so little egg and loads of butter. As we have all grown up and now all have our own children we still carry on the tradition if we go to Mum's for birthday tea. None of us provide this treat for our own children, we have tried but they are just not the same!(also none of our kids eat them) For my children it has become a tradition to provide a home made cake in the shape of something precious to them:cat/penguin. They love this and means much more than one everyone else has from Tesco. I do know that not all can bake and there is nothing wrong with shop bought unfortunately now I have started they won't accept any other offering. Rod and back sound familiar!!!!!

Some friends of ours with three children have dedicated the kitchen doorframe to a birthday measure-in for height, marked in pencil. As their sons are aged 17, 15 and 12, it has become thickly studded with names and ages over the years. No good if you move house a lot or are obsessive about your woodwork...

Not a birthday but a Christmas tradition. We all pull our crackers at the same time by crossing our arms and linking them (like New Year). And pulling all at once!

We had the same candle holders on our birthday cakes- an elves orchestra each year. In fact I've just sent them to my sister-in-law to mark my "little" brother's 30th birthday- makes me feel ancient!

We have the same candleholders too - a train with carriages, which my MIL bought when my husband was one. My son was very pleased to see (on his 3rd birthday) a photo of Daddy's 3rd birthday cake with the same candleholders on it.

Batters, thats such a LOVELY idea!

I'm going to steal it too Batters. It's brilliant.

Batters, my son has just turned 7 so I'm starting to write that letter now.

Just a thought - years from now, on the assumption that there is still an internet, I wonder what our adult children will make of the messages we post about them and everything else here? Should we reveal our password and nickname to them in our will? Posterity, here we come!

Batters it is my daughter's first birthday on Sunday I think I shall get a pretty notebook and begin a letter.Thanks for sharing your idea.
Marina my Dad always marked our height on the door frame, it was wonderful to see how much we grew each year.

The tradition which I mostly remember is the cake. My mother, who is a good cook in other ways, insists on making a very complicated cake for each birthday and they always fail. Out comes the cake, resplendent with candles, usually flopping about on the plate and with icing everywhere. But she has learnt to cope with the jibes and taunts, and now my children and my sisters' children join in the fun. They await "Grandma's funny cake" with anticipation and gobble it up.

In fact, I read somewhere recently that all the fuss we make to get Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, etc cakes are wasted on the children. All they really care about is the fact of eating the cake, especially when it is for them a treat.