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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Simmons chapter.

I applaud anyone whose birthday is also a holiday. Since you basically have to share your birthday with the millions of other people who celebrate said holiday. So you never get to feel like you have your own special day. But on the other hand, sometimes you get double the presents and double the cards and candy depending on the holiday. Personally I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with it. I was born on Valentines Day which is a holiday that people have a split opinion on. Either they are hopeless romantics who believe it is a day to show love and affection. Or they think it is a day created by giant corporations to sell candy, cards, flowers, and jewelry. I’m somewhere in the middle. For one I think it’s nice to have one special day to show your affection to your friends and love ones and any excuse to eat candy is always a plus! But I also think you should be able to show your love for people any day of the year, and I think most valentines day cards are so corny. I feel like I have an even more unique Valentines day-Birthday experience since not only do I have to share Valentines Day with couples all over the world but I also have to share my birthday with my twin sister Chloe. Were not just any twins, we are valentines day babies which as people always inform us somehow makes us even more special. Over my 18 soon to be 19 birthdays I have had mostly amazing and few okay birthdays. So I’ve made a compiled a list of both the woes and wins of have my birthday on the quote on quote most romantic day of the year.

The Woes:

  1. Elementary School/Middle School Card Giving: Now for some this would be a win, since you get candy! But for me I always felt it strange when on my birthday everyone is forced to hand out candy their mom bought for them at stop&shop to the whole class. I wanted to be the only one to get cards and candy! I wanted to be special! 

  2. Being abandoned by my parents: My parents are people too, and they wanted to celebrate the day of love. Since for them not only is it a day to celebrate their relationship but its also the day they became parents. One of my worst Birthday Memories is when I turned 8 after my party at clay dreaming, my parents went out on a romantic date while my aunt baby sat me and my sister. How tragic to be abandon by your parents on your own birthday! The night got worse since I ended up puking half way threw night after eating to much cake. Not a good memory.

  3. Restaurants are always crowded: I’m a foodie and all I want for my birthday is to be able to go to a nice place like the cheesecake factory. But this is impossible since everyone goes out to dinner and reservation have been fill for week so I usually end up order pizza and having takeout and a night in.

  4. Friends in relationships: As I got older and my friends started to couple up and have relationship it gets harder to make plans on my birthday. Since my friends who have significant others want to have a romantic evening on valentines. So sometimes I have to post pone my birthday in order to celebrate with all my friends.

  5. ITS ALL A GIMMICK and A CLICHE! I hate it when people take Valentines Day too seriously. I remeber a few girls at my high school got expensive rings as a gift. Which I found crazy. I say stick with flowers and candy, simple and won’t break the bank. Then some people even decorate and wear pink and red for the day of. I say just keep it simple, sure you can wear a red shirt or dress but cool it on all the hearts and cupids.

The Wins:

  1. The Month of February: I think February is the best month to be born. Since not only am I an Aquarius the best star sign. But it also typically snow on my birthday which I love, and I’ve even had snow days on my birthday so no school!

  2. Candy and Sweets: Though I don’t consider myself a sweet tooth. Who doesn’t like free candy. And there is always that one person who passes out candy to everyone on v-day. Plus February 15th candy is always 50% off, so shopping for candy not a bad way to spend that day after my birthday. Also the cookies and cakes around valentines are always a little extra special, so I never once had a bad cake on my birthday.

  3. Galentines Day: Galantines Day is relatively a new idea, but as times goes on people moving away from the romantic and couple aspects of Valentines Day and more focus on friendship and different types of love. Which I find so refreshing. Plus any day that is encouraging girl power and feminism is a good day for me.

  4. Family: The middle of February is a busy one for my mom. Since not only is the 14th my sister and I’s birthday but the 11th is my Dad’s birthday. So that week is a crazy one filled with shopping and baking/buy cakes. But I always love that time of year, since their always cake in the fridge and I get to spend some quality time with my family. 

  5. ITS ALL A GIMMICK and A CLICHE! Now this is both a woe and a win. Since sometimes its has come in handy to have my birthday be a gimmick. Since my local radio station once a week picks someone to give a free ice cream cake too if it is their birthday. And both time me and my sister entered we won the cake! Since being twins born on Valentines day is something unique and interesting that the local radio listeners will find sweet!

Final Thoughts: Like everyone my birthday varies from year to year. Sometimes its great and sometimes its not so great. But in the end I really enjoy sharing my birthday with not only my best friend and twin sister but all the people I love. Happy Valentines Day 2020! And Happy 19th Birthday to me and Chloe!

 

Elizabeth "Libby" Panico is a 1st year at Simmon University and is beyond thrilled to be living in Boston one of the greatest cities in the world! Libby is an advocate for the humanities and wants to double major in English and History. Her future plans are unknown but hopefully will be filled with books and adventures.
Julia Hansen is a senior at Simmons studying PR/Marketing Communications and English with minors in cinema, media arts, and graphic design. When not writing for Her Campus, she can be found reading every book she can find, retweeting photos of dogs and binge-watching Parks and Recreation on Netflix. Find her on IG @juliarosehansen