5 Simple Reasons to Have Your Birthday Before (Or After) Your Actual Birthday

It’s pretty standard to celebrate your birthday with some sort of  party – after all, it’s a day to celebrate YOU!

But have you ever considered having your birthday party before OR after your actual birthday?

Here’s 5 reasons why having your party before or after your big day might be the way to go.

1. Your Birthday Falls On A Major Holiday

Many people choose to have their birthday parties before or after their actual birthday due to holiday conflicts.

I mean, hey, it happens, right?

If your birthday falls on Christmas Day, you might want to have your party on another day so that more people can attend. 

After all, there’s a good chance that most people (yes, even your besties) will have other plans and ditch your party for those plans.

The same is true for the following holidays:

• Thanksgiving
• St. Patrick’s Day
• New Year’s Eve
• Easter
• 4th of July
• Valentine’s Day
• Hanukkah

If you have a birthday that falls on any of these days, chances are you’ve had (or maybe might want to have) your party on another day.

Most people are busy with family gatherings and other holiday events.

And it can be difficult to get people together on the actual holiday. 

So having your birthday party before or after the holiday can be a much better option. That way, you’ll have more time to celebrate your birthday and you won’t have to worry about competing with the holiday.

And let’s be honest.

As fantastic as you are, your special day is likely to get “lost in the sauce”  if it falls on a major holiday.

2. You Share Your Actual Birthday With Someone Else

It’s your birthday! But wait…it’s also your best friend’s, your mom’s…or your grandmother’s.

Sure, sharing a birthday with others can be fun, it can also make planning a birthday party a bit tricky.

One way to make sure that you get the attention you deserve on your special day is to have your party before or after your actual birthday.

That way, you can celebrate being the only birthday boy or girl in the spotlight.

So if you’re looking for a way to stand out on your big day, consider having a party before or after your actual birthday. It’s a surefire way to make sure that you’ll be the center of attention.

3. Weather Challenges

Let’s say, it’s the middle of summer and you want to have a pool party to celebrate your birthday.

But there’s one problem – you don’t know if the weather will cooperate. 

Actually, you’ve checked the weather and it’s going to be tsunami-type  conditions on your big day.

So what do you do?

One option is to have your party before or after your actual birthday.

That way, you can be sure that the weather will be pleasant and you won’t have to worry about canceling your party due to bad weather.

There’s  nothing worse than planning a party only to have it ruined by bad weather.

So if you’re worried about the weather, consider having your party before or after your actual birthday.

4. You Have To Work Or Go To School On Your Birthday

Birthdays are always a cause for celebration, but sometimes they can be a little bit tricky to navigate.

If you have to work on your birthday, there’s a good chance that you’ll be too exhausted to celebrate when your actual birthday party rolls around.

The same is true if you’re a student and have to go to school on your birthday. Let’s be honest, the last thing you want to do on your birthday is sit in a classroom studying.

So next time your birthday rolls around, consider scheduling the party for a day when you’re sure to be off work.

That way, you can celebrate when you’re actually feeling up for it and the experience will be  that much more enjoyable.

5. There’s  A Conflict With Your Birthday And Another Event You’re Attending

Let me give you a hypothetical.

You’re crazy excited  for your upcoming birthday party, but there’s just one problem.

It turns out that your best friend is getting married on the same day.

Or maybe you’re scheduled to go on a family vacation.

Or…whatever.

Sometimes birthdays can conflict with other events that you’re already committed to or events that can’t be easily rescheduled or worked around.

When this happens, it’s often better to reschedule your birthday party for another day.

That way, you can still attend the event that you’re committed to and you’ll still have a special time set aside to celebrate your birthday.

Just on a different date. 

It might not be ideal, but sometimes it’s necessary to reschedule a birthday party due to a conflict.

(After all, you can’t miss your best friend’s wedding, right? Right???)

So if you find yourself in this situation, don’t stress. 

Just pick another day and enjoy celebrating your birthday the way you want to.

Is It Bad Luck To Have A Birthday Party Before Your Birthday?

Let me set your mind at ease.

There’s no evidence to support the idea that it’s bad luck to have a birthday party before your birthday (at least none that I could find…and I looked, trust me)

In fact, there’s some valid reasons to have a party before your birthday like scheduling conflicts, not wanting to share your birthday with another person,  or avoiding bad weather.

So if you’re looking for an excuse to have a birthday party before your big day, don’t let superstition get in the way. Just go ahead and enjoy yourself.

That said:

Some cultures believe that it’s bad luck to celebrate a birthday before the actual day.

The thinking is that if you celebrate too early, something bad might happen to prevent you from actually reaching your birthday.

So if you’re worried about jinxing yourself, it’s best to wait until your birthday to have the party OR celebrate after your birthday instead.

How Late Can You Celebrate A Birthday?

Typically, most birthday parties that are given after the actual birthday happen the following weekend.

This is because it can be difficult for people to schedule a party during the week due to work, school, or other commitments.

So if you’re looking to have your birthday party after your big day, the best time to do it is on a weekend OR a couple days later.

If you’re not in a rush to celebrate, there’s no harm in waiting a little while to have your party.

Just remember to send out the invitations in advance so that your guests can save the date.

How Late In The Day Can You Celebrate A Birthday?

Birthdays are a time to celebrate life and enjoy the company of friends and family. But how late is too late to celebrate a birthday?

In most cases, it is perfectly fine. to celebrate a birthday well into the late evening hours.

However, there’s a few things to keep in mind when planning a late-night birthday celebration.

• Be considerate of noise levels and try to keep the party contained to one area, so the police don’t show up at your door to break up the party.
• Give your neighbors a heads up, so you’re not bombarded with  noise complaints.
• If you’re celebrating at a restaurant or bar, be mindful of last call and plan to leave before closing time. Most importantly, make sure everyone is safe when the party’s over. Designate a sober driver or make arrangements for everyone to get home safely.
• Plan ahead and make sure you have plenty of food and drink to keep guests happy into the wee hours of the morning – especially if the party is at your house.
• Remember to have fun! After all, that’s what birthdays are all about.

What To Do About The Naysayers

If you’re planning on having your birthday party before or after your actual birthday, it’s possible that some people *MIGHT* give you a hard time about it.

Some family members or friends might not understand why you’re doing it and they might even try to talk you out of it. 

(Ahem, nope.  Shouldn’t happen.  Not if you really  want to celebrate your birthday early or late, that is.)

So what should you say to people who grumble about you celebrating your birthday early or late?

There’s a few things you can say that’ll help you stand your ground without crushing the feelings of a friend or family member. 

Here they are:

• “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I’m really looking forward to my party. I hope you can support me and be there to celebrate with me.”
• “I know it’s not the traditional way to  do things, but it’s what I want to do. I hope you can understand, put aside your objections, and support me.”
• “I would appreciate it if you could be understanding and supportive. This is something I really want to do.”
• “I understand that you might not agree with my decision, but I would appreciate your respect. Let’s focus on the positive and celebrate my birthday together.”

If all else fails, you can always try the old “it’s my birthday and I’ll do what I want” card.

But chances are, if you explain your reasoning and show that you’re still respectful of other people’s opinions, they’ll come around and be happy to celebrate with you – no matter when your actual birthday party is planned.

At the end of the day, it’s your birthday and you can celebrate it whenever you want.

So don’t let anyone tell you that you’re doing it wrong. 

The Bottom Line

It’s okay (and in some cases preferable) to have your birthday party before or after your birthday.

Whether there’s an event conflict, you’re tired of sharing your day with someone else, or inclement weather is a fact, it’s not bad to think about  celebrating your special day on a different day.

Have your birthday party whenever is most convenient for you and your guests.  That way you’ll have a stress-free day and can truly enjoy yourself.

After all, the point of birthdays is to celebrate  life – so have fun and make the most of it.

Happy birthday – no matter when it is!