If your birthday lands in that awkward stretch between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, you probably know the feeling of being squeezed out by the holiday rush. In a lively Reddit discussion, people born in that in between week swapped stories about celebrations that never quite feel like theirs. While summer birthdays get a clean spotlight, late December birthdays often end up bundled into the season like an extra ornament.
One Reddit user, born on December 29, summed up the frustration in a way many readers immediately understood. They said everyone is either coming down from Christmas or gearing up for New Year’s plans, so their actual day gets brushed aside. Gifts often arrive as one combined present meant to cover both occasions, and parties are hard to pull off when relatives and friends are away or exhausted. They admitted it can sound selfish, but it still stings when your birthday never feels special.
Others chimed in with the same problem from slightly different angles. One person said winter birthdays are so disappointing that they would even plan future family milestones to avoid the colder months. Another commenter, born on New Year’s Day, described how tough it was as a child because a typical birthday party felt nearly impossible to arrange. As an adult, they said it can feel just as bleak because so many places are quiet and people are worn out from the holidays.
One commenter shared an even more complicated family setup, with siblings whose birthdays fall within just 11 days. In that household, the sister with a birthday right before Christmas seemed to have an advantage because she could still open something early and enjoy a moment of attention. The sibling with a birthday right after New Year’s also felt more fortunate because the holiday excitement had passed and the birthday could stand on its own. The one stuck in the middle felt like the easiest to overlook.
I hate that my birthday is between Christmas and NYE..
byu/Organic_fruit8966 inself
Then came the idea that made everyone perk up. Instead of fighting the calendar, some suggested flipping the script and celebrating a half birthday in summer. It is simple, it is memorable, and it gives friends a fair chance to show up without holiday chaos. One person even joked about making June 29 the new party date for a December 29 birthday, turning it into a quirky tradition people can actually plan around.
Another commenter, born on December 24, said they had only one real childhood birthday party and it happened in June for exactly that reason. As an adult, they decided to celebrate on their own terms, picking a day that works and hosting gatherings when people are available. It is a reminder that the date matters less than the intention, and you are allowed to design a celebration that finally feels like yours.
If you have a holiday week birthday, tell me how you handle it and whether you would try a half birthday celebration in the comments.
