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GenX here. The last time I did anything big with my birthday was when I turned 40 and some people threw a big to-do for me. The last 16 years, it’s just been a small celebration with immediate family. And then one or two friends will swing by my place at some point with a gift. Since Facebook lets everyone know when birthdays happen, I get notifications from a bunch of people wishing me a happy birthday, which is nice, but that’s about it.
At my age, most of my friends have moved to other cities, or they are concentrating on their own families and nearly-grown children. Big group get-togethers are very much a thing of the past.
I don’t think it’s a generational thing as much as it is a personal thing. Regardless of what generation you’re in, some people really love the attention, others don’t.
I’d rather have a funeral than a birthday party (Gen X).
A very Gen X comment!
I always go away or at least take my bday off. It’s a gift to live another year. Celebrate it. Nothing to do with age.
Were you born after 1980
I don’t really think it’s a generational thing.
Genx: I had a real party at my 40th, but that was the first real celebration since i was twelve.
I don’t think it’s a generational thing either. As you get older, you want less fuss, and you want to celebrate big milestone birthdays instead! In my 20s, I reveled in birthday wishes from colleagues - I got cards, flowers, cake and sometimes presents!
Then fast forward to when I turned 40, I didn’t want anyone to know - but two of my coworkers in their 20s made a big deal out of it, which I thought was cute! And at this agency, we used to have birthdays off so I took advantage of it. We now have ‘unlimited’ PTOs, I make sure I take either a long weekend or the full week off during my birthday. Because on my birthday/birthday week, I have no time for any work drama and I only want to focus on me me me me me.
Xennial here. I've often given a fake birthday date when asked at some of the places I've worked. HR has my correct birthday but the social committee, or whoever is in charge of cake, doesn't. I always tell them mine is on a stat holiday. Also, I'm all for places that give you your birthday off. BBDO 20yrs ago did that. Not sure if that's still a thing.