I felt it was very important to explain this phenomenon to those who may not have had the luxury of having their birthday on an important day of the year. My birthday is November 23rd, yes, my birthday has landed ON Thanksgiving this year. Although you may feel that your birthday is an important day of the year, I can promise you it is nothing like having your birthday on a national holiday. Here are some of the adversities:
As a child, you get very upset over your birthday being during a break of school. Your birthday parties as a child get pushed back until December because people go out of town for Thanksgiving break. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like celebrating my birthday more than once.
In kindergarten you may even cry because you don’t get a special birthday crown and hold the class stuffed animal.. trust me, it is a big deal at that age. In middle school, your friends begin having a creative aspect to the point where they decorate your locker for you the day before Thanksgiving break begins. Then senior year of high school rolls around, you’re sick of your birthday being on break to the point where you tell your friends not to celebrate for you. Instead, they celebrate your birthday on the awkward 3 days of school you have before Thanksgiving break and make you wear a ‘Birthday Princess’ ribbon (I know, my friends are the best). Then you’re in college and well, your birthday is on Thanksgiving and your closest college friend is 2 and a half hours from you.
On the bright side, Instead of having to make the trek back home to see your family, you’re there anyways, and well, they are too. This aspect out rules the fact that you cannot celebrate with your college friends. Having your birthday on a national holiday that is about family really gives your family a reason to come and see you. That is also the reason I love Thanksgiving; the reason of being able to see my family. My family and I are very close so I am always missing them. I am always counting down the days until I get to see my Grandma, Aunts and Uncle. My birthday being on Thanksgiving is definitely an advantage.
Another reason this is the best part is because you get to see your friends back home (when your two best friends still live in your hometown, you get more excited than ever to go home for holidays). Facetiming them once a week isn’t as great as seeing them in person. As I’ve written about on numerous occasions before, my best friends are my entire world, my support system and the two people I know I will always be friends with. Ninety-four miles cannot keep me from them. I cannot wait to see them.
This is more of a fun aspect, but when you’re a child, your parents joke with you that all the festivities of the Holiday are for you. Your family is coming over for you, we’re making this turkey for you, yes this whole giant Holiday is for you!!!
“Mommy, are you sure this parade is for me?”
“Yes sweetheart!”
To this day, this is one of the best stories to tell. When I realized the parade wasn’t for me I got upset then learned to laugh it off once my parents told my relatives about how gullible their child was. What can I say? I figured if I couldn’t get a happy birthday crown I could at least get a whole Holiday made after myself.
Pictures to include:
As a fun continuation I figured I’d include the photo of my friends and I in middle school.
