DDs birthday is on the Solstice- how to give attention to both events at once?

[WindyCityMom]

This year, my DD2 is turning 1 on the same day as the Winter Solstice (Dec 22nd).  I also have a soon to be 3yoDD.  We celebrate most of the Waldorf (and some not) festivals and are trying to get into our yearly rhythm.  I'm having trouble figuring out how to divide up the two events yet give equal attention to them both.

My DD is having a family party on Satuday, so not on her actual birthday.  I don't want to fib and tell my 3yo that it's actually her birthday, because it's not.  I also don't want to pretend that the winter solstice is another day, as we're deeply earthy-spiritual and it means a lot to us :)

How can I make both events special when they fall on the same day?  

Our local nature preserve is having a candle walk and bonfire on Saturday and we REALLY wanted to go, but I accidentally scheduled the party for that day.  I didn't expect it to be on Saturday, I thought the bonfire would be on the actual solstice seeing as it is actually a solstice celebration.

Oh, and happy Santa Lucia day! ;)

[RollerCoasterMama]

My take on it, for what it's worth, is that birthday celebrations can be small, don't have to take the whole day, and can certainly happen on the same day as other celebrations!  With an almost Christmas-baby (and being one myself!) I have lots of practice carving out a special time just to celebrate DS!   If you take some time where everyone celebrates the birthday and the birthday kid feel special ... that's the most important thing!  Maybe let the kiddo wear a birthday crown along to the Solstice activity -- everyone will know it's her special day.  And she'll probably think the Solstice activities are all part of celebrating her day!  :)  (I've got a friend with a 4th of July baby that thinks fireworks are a great part of his birthday!)

I really think that doing both on the same day can make for a really special celebration for both occaisions!!

[whoami]

What were you planning to do on the solstice? Do you exchange solstice gifts? You could do birthday during the day and solstice at night. This is our first year celebrating the solstice so I'm not sure what people usually do... We plan to tell stories, eat a yummy meal and relax in candlelight before taking a walk at night. Then after bedtime for our 3 year old we'll talk more about why were celebrating and what not. I would think you could celebrate both with great meaning easily, at least much easier than if she were born on Christmas. My honey's birthday is on the 23rd so I know it's hard trying to give two events focus without the birthday getting totally trumped.

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks!  My husband doesn't have the day off of work, either.  We were originally going to celebrate her birthday during the day and early afternoon and then go to the solstice celebration at the nature preserve in the evening.  That didn't pan out so I'm stuck. 

I'm hoping to find another solstice celebration elsewhere.  If I'm hoping to focus the morning on the birthday and the evening on the solstice, I almost certainly can't be home during the evening. DHs parents live upstairs and will really want us to get a cake/etc (not that I won't be doing a cake, I'll be baking one and we'll be doing it earlier).  DHs father works and gets home around 5pm.  I don't want to get the kids riled up in a birthday celebration right before bed or past their bedtime.  DHs family isn't exactly low-key. 

And besides- they shouldn't get hurt feelings if this is how we choose to spend our time!  We're having a party for her on Saturday.  They can give her her birthday wishes then.

[whoami]

Originally Posted by WindyCityMom 

Thanks!  My husband doesn't have the day off of work, either.  We were originally going to celebrate her birthday during the day and early afternoon and then go to the solstice celebration at the nature preserve in the evening.  That didn't pan out so I'm stuck. 

I'm hoping to find another solstice celebration elsewhere.  If I'm hoping to focus the morning on the birthday and the evening on the solstice, I almost certainly can't be home during the evening. DHs parents live upstairs and will really want us to get a cake/etc (not that I won't be doing a cake, I'll be baking one and we'll be doing it earlier).  DHs father works and gets home around 5pm.  I don't want to get the kids riled up in a birthday celebration right before bed or past their bedtime.  DHs family isn't exactly low-key. 

And besides- they shouldn't get hurt feelings if this is how we choose to spend our time!  We're having a party for her on Saturday.  They can give her her birthday wishes then.

I hope you are able to find a solstice celebration so you can get out of the house and avoid grandparent birthday take over before bedtime. If you can't, perhaps you could take an evening walk and have a picnic dinner in that nature preserve. Bring some lanterns and flashlights. You could even bring a suncake or cupcake and let the birthday girl blow out a candle and it wouldn't be as stimulating as doing it at home with all the bright lights. You would still honoring the solstice, and your daught will probably associate the activity with her birthday, and that's perfectly fine. Do what will make you happy and don't worry about the grandparents. They see her a lot and your right, they have the party on Saturday.