Basically the idea is that now not only do you celebrate your birthday on your actual birthday, but now you celebrate it every day the surrounding week as well. So basically you’re suppose to be treated like it’s your birthday for all seven days so people must do anything you want those days no questions asked.
I first noticed it a decade ago on Facebook, people proclaiming it was their “Birthday Week” and they had plans every single day of that week, down to people having “Pre-Birthday Parties” and “Post-Birthday Parties” and now a week doesn’t go by on my Facebook feed with another invite to somebodies “Birthday Week Party” that takes place on multiple days. I’ve dated several people who took this as gospel, basically the 7 days surrounding their birthday we HAD to do whatever they wanted no questions asked and also give them a new present every single day. Maybe it’s a millennial thing?
Note, this isn’t somebody who’s birthday falls that year on a Tuesday having a party on a Saturday that same week, this is someone who’s birthday is one Tuesday and they celebrate it by having parties Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Over the age of thirty no one really wants a lavish celebration. And people who require a week have possible issues with self-esteem or self-importance. However, I did celebrate my 10,000th day.
Not true- I know a woman north of seventy who celebrates not just her "birthday week’ but her “birthday month” - although I doubt if anyone other than her husband observes it with her.
Several?!? Taking selfies all the way, no doubt. I have never heard of this but that is some narcissistic bullshit right there and would be a dealbreaker for me. My wife jokes about “it’s her birthday week” but…it’s a joke.
I am afraid that we are well into an era where everybody thinks their life is reality show that must be broadcast nationally.
This is what I was going to say. I see a few people on Facebook proclaiming that it’s their birthday month. I think it tends to be people whose actual birthday falls on the first of the month. I do think it’s mostly said in jest, though.
What’s with this “you HAVE to do whatever they want, no questions asked” stuff? I don’t even do that for people on their actual birthdays.
Never done an official birthday week, but there’s been times where I’ve had a get together with friends one night, a dinner date another night, and cocktails with work colleagues on another night
My mother-in-law, while she doesn’t necessarily declare a “birthday week,” has a strong tendency towards wanting her family to conduct celebratory gatherings and activities for several days around her actual birthday. And, yes, she has some serious issues with self-esteem, and, for as long as I’ve known her, has expected that her loved ones will overtly demonstrate her importance to them through this sort of thing.
Oh, I joke about my birthday week every year. I never plan parties though. My birthday present is filet mignon at the finest steakhouse in town and that’s all I really want. Sr. Weasel and I fake argue about whether I get a whole week. It’s fun.
I know a woman who celebrates her birthday month. She posts on FB about something she did, which might be donating to a charity or taking a small item off her bucket list. The vibe is gratitude. I like her a lot, think she’s genuine; I think she’s acknowledging that time ticks on and here comes another milestone so what’s the progress since last year? That’s not a bad idea IMO.
For me birthday week is taking a week off from work for vacation because it is my birthday. Which I did this year as I turned 50. Probably won’t be doing that again any time soon.
I could understand having a birthday lunch / coffee break with coworkers, a dinner with friends and maybe cake with the neighbors. But not every year. Here it’s typical to make a big deal out of the decade birthdays, especially 50. Like, rent a hall for a party kind of big deal.
Because of the entire situation, I got birthday gifts in May (when I was allowed back in the office) and just last week (when my boss finally provided the normal team birthday gift - 2 bottles of wine). But not everybody’s birthday kicks off a pandemic lockdown.
Each to his own, I suppose. I mostly just ignore my birthdays. As long as my husband and daughter say Happy Birthday, I’m good. Don’t want presents or parties or any of that stuff. And I know I’m far from typical. It’s not that I don’t acknowledge that I’m getting older - I’m 66 - big whoop. But it’s not like being born was an accomplishment for me.
I went to work on my birthday this year, nobody knew it was my birthday, and I was just fine with that. The idea that I am somehow special for having been born is ludicrous to me.
But yeah, I know people who constantly remind everybody around them that their birthday is coming up, is here, or has recently happened. These are usually people who seek lots of attention in other ways too, so I think the phenomenon describes a personality type not limited to extended birthday celebrations.
I’ve never heard of this, which I’m thankful for. I’d be deeply suspicious of anyone who thought this was a good thing. As people upthread have mentioned it reeks of narcissism or some desire for their life to be some ersatz reality show.
I have a student who was born on leap day. I asked her once what day she celebrated her birthday on non leap-years and she just said “two days of partying is better than one!” but it was meant to be sarcastic. She’s deeply introverted and I suspect eschewed birthday celebrations even as a kid.
I turn 40 next year and have been wanting to take a log wilderness hike in Southern Oregon for my birthday. It would be 40 miles across 4 or 5 days. Its something I’ve wanted to do for years. But that would likely be a solo achievement, not something to celebrate with others.
