How do you celebrate your birthday?
By magic9
@magic9 (980)
China
December 19, 2009 10:23am CST
Tomorrow is my birthday. To be frank, I don't hold a birthday party and neither do people around me. Tomorrow I am free. I part with my horrible company and I don't need to worry that I'll be late to have dinner with my family. Dec.20th happens to be the birthday of a local department store. So each year, people who were born on Dec.20th can get a free gift without buying anything. Just show them my ID. I found this in the newspaper two year before last. So the first gift I got from this store was a pillow. The year before last year, it was a scale; and last year, it was a touch. What's for this year? a box of match? 
I'll see in 10 hours.
My parents don't give me gifts now because they know I can buy almost whatever I need or I want. I control my own income. And all they need to do is to prepare delicious food, you know, eating is Chinese culture. I am not planning to buy birthday cake because I buy small slice of cream cake often to reward myself. I would rather buy some lamb and have hot pot at home tomorrow and some seafood. I am gonna shop and buy something for my parents and myself, like a suit for my father or a gold necklace for myself and a DVD player for my mom to play games.
I'll see in 10 hours.
My parents don't give me gifts now because they know I can buy almost whatever I need or I want. I control my own income. And all they need to do is to prepare delicious food, you know, eating is Chinese culture. I am not planning to buy birthday cake because I buy small slice of cream cake often to reward myself. I would rather buy some lamb and have hot pot at home tomorrow and some seafood. I am gonna shop and buy something for my parents and myself, like a suit for my father or a gold necklace for myself and a DVD player for my mom to play games.1 person likes this
20 responses
@dorisday1971 (5657)
• Philippines
20 Dec 09
Happy birthday in advance. I do celebrate my birthdays in a simple way. I start my day going to church attending the mass and have candle blessing as my birthday falls on February 2 ( Candelaria). Then if I expect visitors, I prepare a dinner at home but if there are none, I just have a dinner date with my husband. 
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
19 Dec 09
That sounds pretty nice. My birthday was on the 14th and I spent the day with my boyfriend. We went up to the high point in the mountains and looked at all the city lights. They were brighter than usual because of all the christmas lights. It was beautiful. We just sat there and listened to music and talked and cuddled. It was really nice and romantic. Then we rented a movie and watched it at his place. It was Monsters vs. Aliens and it was hilarious. It was very simple, nothing really big, but it was the best birthday I have ever had.
1 person likes this
@scottcoleson (578)
• Pilot Mountain, North Carolina
20 Dec 09
Happy Birthday! I recently celebrated my birthday. I don't really do anything in particular to celebrate my birthday except for spending time with my family. My parents normally take my wife and I both out for lunch or dinner to celebrate our birthdays (they are only 11 days apart). My wife's grandparents normally cook our favorite meals and we get together with them too. Other than that, the way we celebrate varies. Sometimes we will go on a road trip or something for a couple of days or go out to a nice dinner. This year, we just cooked dinner at home and had some of our friends over to play games and watch movies. The only thing I don't like about my birthday is that it is always the week of Thanksgiving and it's really hard to work around everyone's schedule to get together for my birthday AND Thanksgiving.
1 person likes this
@agonyaunt69 (343)
• Hong Kong
19 Dec 09
Hi magic9,
Happy Birthday to you! Wishing you good health and live happily.
I do not often celebrate my birthday. I felt sad on my last 2 birthdays because my husband did not say a happy birthday greeting to me, so I cried. Last year, my 15-year old daughter also forgot my birthday. I do not want to remember my birthday as I become older and older. I do not want to feel sad on any day especially my birthday. I do not need a birthday party but I do wish my husband and my daughter will greet me on my coming birthday. I did greet them on their birthdays and bought them birthday cakes and gifts.
Best wishes,
agonyaunt69
(1:44am 20 Dec 2009, Hong Kong time)
@magic9 (980)
• China
20 Dec 09
thank you dear agonyaunt, among many respondants, you are the first and the only one up to now who wished my happy birthday. I am not expecting anything from fellow mylotters, but your wishes warm my heart undoubtedly.
I know at heart, you wish your family celebrate birthday for you. I think since you remember theirs, they should pay for you in the same way. I have to say that you have to be responsible partially for the result, esp. your daughter. At least you should set a very high position in her heart and make her know that as a daughter, no matter how old she is, must learn to give while she takes.
Thanks again and I wish your next birthday would be different. see? you can make things change, not be too passive, make it part of their habit! 
@PastorP (1170)
• United States
19 Dec 09
Since the 1970's I really do not celebrate my birthday. However, I substitute for it the day I was reborn spiritually, having committed to Christ on January 25, 1970. On that day each year, in addition to my usual communing with the Lord Christ I usually read Psalm 116 and make sure I especially thank Him for saving me from sin and its consequences. There's an added benefit for a Christian to substitute the date they committed to Christ for their birthday date--you can claim a younger age! So, I will be 40 next month.
thank you for your best wishes
@celebratelifeh (1142)
• China
20 Dec 09
i do not have much feeling about the birthday issue and i have never hold a single birthday party also.normally my monther just cooked some delicious food for me on that day and after i gorwn up and left her . i just call her and thanks her give my life and wish her enjoy good health.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
20 Dec 09
Interesting approach to your birthday. I usually spend it with friends though I had a small party when I turned 40.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
20 Dec 09
My birthday is different depending on the year. Many years I have just not done anything, and would hold up a party later with a friend whose birthday is near mine.
However, the last years I have just gone with a person close to me to do something funny, and that I would really enjoy, in the real day of my birthday, and I have enjoyed it a lot.
@paperroses (90)
• Philippines
20 Dec 09
We have different way how we celebrate our birhtdays. Last Dec. 10 is my birhtday I go to church to attend worship services to thanks God for giving me another year in my life. And then i buy some foods for my family.
@willowgirl (188)
•
21 Dec 09
Just want to wish you a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love the fact that you have a department store that celebrates your birthday. Please do let us know what you get this year! It must be such a suprise as no doubt they are completely random gifts! I especially like the fact they give you a birthday present as having a birthday about this time of year is about the same as not having one at all. My birthday is a bit later on (even worse!).
I think it's normal not to celebrate your birthday when you have one about this time of year as, well, nobody else does, and it ends up being a bit insignificant. I know I've been in situations where people have opened conversations about birthdays like it is some kind of universal thing and I have to explain that I don't really know much about having birthdays as I don't really have one. This idea just freaks people out and they can't comprehend at all. It's kinda funny.
Anyway hope you are having / have had, a GREAT time even if it was just eating hot pot and chilling out!
All the best for your birthday.
@senzzz (25)
•
20 Dec 09
I always celebrate my birthday with my family and my girlfriend.
Nothing special in my birthday, just have dinner with my special person.
Although only eat with my family and my girlfriend,but that's the most beautiful thing when my birthday, because for me being together is everything
@neo_matrix (884)
• India
19 Dec 09
on my birthdays i usually spend my time with family and friends.but not party celebration.i usually visit temple early morning to seek God's blessing and then spend the day with my family.try to do any good deed that whole day like making anyone smile,visiting old age home etc.then in the evening i spend the time with my very close friends (only two)and family .thats my perfect birthday celebration
@ronnyb (6113)
• Jamaica
19 Dec 09
Well the truth is I have never celebrated any of my birthdays and I dont intend to do that anythime soon I would rether celibrate someone elses birthday than mine .I guess its now so much apart of me I cant help myself.Initially it just started out as my parents not taking the time out to celibrate my birthdays and then later on I joined a religious organisation who didnt celebrate birthdays either so I am used to it by now
@Baluyadav (3643)
• India
19 Dec 09
hi,In the early morning i will have head bath and go to temple for prayer..then i eat sweet prepared by my wife and go to job as it is..in the vening we all have a dinner out side along with children and close relation or family friends.
Have a nice time.
@nautilus33 (1827)
•
19 Dec 09
HI! I celebrate my birthday with all my relatives at home and it is very fun!
@ToughTate (143)
• United States
19 Dec 09
My birthday is just like any other day, but I have this feeling of philosophical inquiry as I realize my life is getting even longer and more grander as time passes. I love to eat a good meal and enjoy the people around me.
