What are your birthday traditions?

[SamiPolizzi]

My DS is turning 1 on Tuesday, and I want to start some of our own birthday traditions. Just looking for ideas.

[mommariffic]

We do a party :] Mostly just friends/family and we don't do separate parties.

So yep, we gather here to eat yummy food, celebrate and hang out. A lot of times this doesn't fall ON the actual birthday, since parties are better on weekends. I also try to do something special for the party: DD's first birthday was just a BBQ but her second we had a local farmer bring animals and a pony so we got to hang out with them/get pony rides. I'd like to repeat awesomeness for each birthday: my mom made them special so I'd like to do the same -- homemade yummies, friends and family, birthday ring, singing, etc.


ON the actual birthday "day" we normally have a cake and special dinner and spend the day doing something outside. A special trip to the beach? A walk in the woods? And we do presents that DH and I have gotten

[limette]

We do a day dedicated to the birthday person. Whatever food they want, whatever they want to do.

The only rule is that it only involves me, dh and the kids.

We are doing a tea party for dd2 this year. She turns two on Sunday!

[anj_rn]

On the actual birthday, DH and I both stay home and take the birthday child out for the day. Usually the park, lunch etc. We also go to the toy store and let DS pick out his own present. It is lots of fun. This we will probably do forever.

We also usually have a friend/family B-day party the weekend before or after the birthday. This will probably morph into a friends party as the kids get older. MY DH's family does Birthday dinner every month or 2 and celebrates every birthday in the month (or 2 months). We go out to dinner (b-day peoples choice) and then back to MIL's house for cake, ice cream & presents.

Lots of traditions, but the day alone with both parents is one we will probably keep forever.

[InMediasRes]

My DS just had his 3rd b-day party today . Our only tradition so far is that he gets to pick out whatever food and whatever cake he wants for his birthday. This year he wanted a pink cake with chickens on it.

His actual birthday day is Wednesday, and I think we'll just do whatever he wants to do that day. He will probably want to go to the dinosaur museum. We also make a special breakfast on the birthday person's actual birthday.

[Carhootel]

I looked into some waldorf traditions since they appealed to me - we got a birthday celebration ring, I made him some stuff that maybe can be traditions or keepsakes - a 'happy birthday' banner out of cloth, a felt birthday crown, sewed a '1' onto a onesie, etc... then we spent the day playing with grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins. Very low-key and family and homemade/simple oriented. I hope all of his birthdays are like that.

[sewchris2642]

Just family up to the 5th birthday. Kid parties after that with guests limited to the age of the birthday child plus the birthday child. Parties are held on the weekend, usually Sundays. On the actual birthday, the birthday child gets their favorite dinner (also for age 5 and up) and no chores.

[Areia]

Rather than have parties, we go away for a few days (sometimes longer depending on schedules). The birthday person gets to pick the location. DD is still too young so far we've picked places that we know she'll enjoy (cabin, etc). DH and I don't have any other celebrations for ourselves. With our daughter, the grandparents requested a "party" so either before or after the trip, we'll have both sets for a BBQ and cake and have a nice visit.

[becoming]

So far the only thing that happens every year is that we put a candle in whatever breakfast food the birthday kid is having. But DH & I want to start leaving the other two non-birthday kids with my mom & taking the birthday kid out for a whole day of whatever they want to do. I think I'll start that this year -- DS2 will be 3 in July

[madskye]

We have an archway between our living and dining room that we decorate with tulle and ribbons in a special color each year. 3rd bday was pink, 4th was purple, this year will be orange!

[limabean]

Just the usual stuff -- the birthday person gets to choose what's for dinner, we have a cake and sing, etc. Up until age 4 or so they get a small family barbecue or something in the backyard, then after that they get the BBQ plus they get to invite a few friends to go do an activity like mini golf.

One other thing we always do with our kids on their birthdays is do a new measurement on their height chart. They get really excited about it -- last year on DS's birthday the first thing he said in the morning was, "Let's see how much I've grown this year!"

[sewchris2642]

Originally Posted by limabean

One other thing we always do with our kids on their birthdays is do a new measurement on their height chart. They get really excited about it -- last year on DS's birthday the first thing he said in the morning was, "Let's see how much I've grown this year!"

I knew that there was something I was forgetting. We do the height measurement on their birthday as well. The marks are made on the inside of the hall closet door so we can see how much they have grown. Now we have added the grandchildren to the chart.