When people learn that you have a birthday on a holiday like Christmas or Easter, a typical response is “Ah, tough luck buddy.” Darrys Reese, 10th grade, has a birthday on Valentine’s Day and is constantly reminded by his friends about how he shares a birthday with Saint Valentine.

“I get told by my friends all the time that I should dress up as a cupid on my birthday,” said Darrys. There are some positives and negatives to having a birthday on Valentine’s Day according to Darrys. “I guess a positive would be that I get more candy than usual but, since it is my birthday my parents can’t go out for dinner.”

Darrys’ birthday routine is rather straight forward and does not vary much year to year. “Usually my mom wakes me up and yells ‘Happy Birthday.’ Then we have breakfast and go out and do something random and different from last year,” he said. “Finally we go out for dinner, have cake and that is it.” Another holiday that happens to be on or close to people’s birthdays is Christmas.

Tenth grader Sammy Ewing has her birthday on December 20th and there are a few things about a December birthday that bother her. “Since my birthday is so close to Christmas I either get birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper or vice versa, and on the cards it will be like ‘Merry Christmas’ then underneath it will say ‘Happy Birthday’ in parenthesis.”

With her birthday so close to Christmas, Sammy has to plan her party early than usual. “With my immediate family we will just do the usual stuff like cake and presents, but we have to have my party in either October or November, otherwise it would be all smashed together.” When it comes to ideas for her parties, Sammy is limited in her choices. “I want to have a pool party for my birthday but my mom is like ‘It is too cold outside’ so I have to do ice skating or laser tag.” Overall having a birthday on a holiday does not seem to be too much of an issue with either Sammy or Darrys. “I mean it is annoying, but it is not too big of a deal,” said Sammy.