My 15th birthday was on Thanksgiving in 2016. That was the first time I could recall my birthday landing directly on the day. It was so exciting and I thought it was the coolest thing. We carried out our usual Thanksgiving traditions of making dinner together and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, but I also received cards, presents, and a birthday cake with delicate purple flowers on it.
You see, my birthday falls on or during the week of Thanksgiving every year. That means that, typically, I get to eat delicious food, go Black Friday shopping, and have birthday cake and pie within the span of a few days. For example, when I turned 16 on Black Friday, my aunt and cousin took me to the mall where I got my second ear piercing in a Charming Charlie at 5 a.m. We spent the day shopping in a relatively empty mall until things started to get busy. This year will be slightly different for obvious reasons, but I still plan to spend time with my family, eat, shop online, and have a Zoom call with my friends; customarily fun experiences don’t have to be viewed in a negative light despite the circumstances.
My birthday being so close to a holiday has its perks, and I enjoy it most of the time. However, this means having birthday parties about a week before the actual day. This may seem great, but it just tends to make the dinner or movie night with your friends feel like you’re just hanging out rather than celebrating. Another consideration is that some schools still have classes and assignments to do around Thanksgiving. Whether it was work to get done over the break or not having a legitimate break at all, there’s usually schoolwork even though it’s a national holiday. This does even the playing field, though, considering that most people have birthdays when school is in session. And of course, this year makes each of these difficulties that much harder. There won’t be a party and I’ll probably have assignments due on my birthday, but it’s important to keep the faith and be positive in a world full of negatives.
Nonetheless, the pros outweigh the cons. My birthday is exactly a month before Christmas Eve, which adds to the overall festivities. I blow out the candles, then next thing you know we’re hanging ornaments on the tree. The last two months of the year are always a great time and the fact that these holidays are happening plays a major part in why.
Anyone else that has a birthday near a major holiday has probably been asked, “Doesn’t it suck that your birthday is overshadowed?”. And honestly, I’ve never felt that way. My birthday has always been a fun time and being born near a holiday doesn’t change that. In fact, my birthday will fall on Thanksgiving again when I turn 21, and I don’t see a problem with that. It’s possible to celebrate multiple things at a time without neglecting one of them.
In my opinion, being born close to a holiday is so great. You get to be surrounded by family, eat a lot of food, and be celebrated all at the same time. It’s a feeling I love because everything seems to be surrounded by so much joy. This year may have thrown a wrench in what I had planned, but it’s better to be thankful that I’m able to celebrate my 19th birthday at all. Some don’t have that option. With COVID-19 ravaging the world, many people aren’t able to safely return home, travel to see their families, celebrate special occasions, or have the usual members of their family around. I’m lucky to have made it another year around the sun and be surrounded by people I love despite a pandemic happening outside. So whenever you feel down about how COVID made things harder, remember that there’s often a silver lining and you’re luckier than you might think.
