Questions about awkward moments, etiquettes, etc. related to birthdays.
Questions tagged [birthdays]
30 questions
44
votes
10 answers
It's my birthday! How do I tell people who don't know, who might want to know, without being awkward?
It's my birthday*! It's a rather important birthday.
There are a lot of people who might want to know such a thing, because of social customs or friendliness or something. One of those things.
Mostly, these people are coworkers. However, there are…
user2203
35
votes
5 answers
How to imply that the gift is meant for the two of us
The birthday of a friend is coming up. A month after that, there is a concert we both would like to see. So giving those concert tickets would be a great gift.
If I just gift her two tickets, she might want to use one to take an other friend.
So…
SirDuckduck
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16
votes
4 answers
I forgot my friend's birthday, how can I convince him to forgive me?
TL;DR
I forgot the birthday of my best friend. Later, when I called him to wish him a Happy Birthday. He is refusing my phone calls. I think he is angry at me. How can I convince him to forgive me?
Background
Today is my friend's birthday. We have…
user21996
16
votes
7 answers
How to invite people to an event who don't get along?
I'm hosting an event in a couple of weeks - my son's first birthday party. I have several people who I would like to invite. Unfortunately, some of them don't get along. This seems to be a one-sided disagreement - meaning that Person A doesn't like…
Catija
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15
votes
6 answers
How to convey (non-awkwardly) that its my birthday?
First off, I know that this question is very close to mine, but has no answer that would match my needs.
Secondly, I find it shocking how many people answer for a workplace situation. This question is about generic place and a generic way that can…
XtremeBaumer
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11
votes
5 answers
What is the etiquette for hosting your own birthday event? Who pays?
I've never really had friends, so I've never really celebrated my birthday. This year, though, I wanted to invite my friends out somewhere, perhaps Topgolf [1] (not an advertisement, trying to give impression of price/scale).
Is it in keeping with…
Sinjai
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11
votes
5 answers
How to politely turn down my surprise birthday celebration at work?
I have been working for a company for more than five years. It is a fairly small company with less than ten employees.
Yesterday, I overheard one of my colleagues discussing about a surprise party they are going to throw on my birthday. I really…
VadaCurry
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11
votes
2 answers
Etiquette when someone’s birthday is on the same day as the funeral of one of their loved ones
Bob’s grandmother passed away last week. Her funeral is today. It is also Bob’s birthday today. I am attending the funeral. Obviously, I offer him condolences, but do I wish him a happy birthday too? What is the proper etiquette to follow in a…
Belle
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11
votes
3 answers
How can I communicate to friends and family that I don't want a specific type of birthday gift?
Disclaimer: It is not really a sock.
It is an everyday, non-consumable article that I have way too much of.
My birthday is in a few months, and every single year several people give me socks. It is a common habit where I live to gift people with…
Mindwin
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9
votes
1 answer
How can I tell my brother to stop giving me condoms for my birthday?
Every year since I turned 18, my older brother has given me a 3-pack of condoms for my birthday with a note that says, "Maybe this year, loser."
The first time it happened, I just kind of laughed it off. But I just turned 22 this year, and he is…
Sam Suchs
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9
votes
1 answer
How to be a good host when organizing a birthday party with "mixed" friends?
I'm thinking about my birthday party and who to invite.
My idea is to rent the "party room" of my favourite pub, invite my dearest friends (6 people) and offer them cake, snacks and drinks.
The problem is that the majority of these friends didn't…
Emiliano S.
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8
votes
1 answer
How can I make it up to my best friend after I forgot her birthday?
TLDR; I’ve had a lot going on recently so forgot about my friend’s birthday until the following day and now she won’t speak to me. How do I fix it?
TW for talk of depression
So, the base of it is that I have been struggling a lot with my mental…
8
votes
2 answers
I'm worried about why my friend forgot my birthday, how can I ask her about it?
I am wondering how to go about handling the situation of my lifelong best friend having forgotten my birthday.
We are not in habit of giving gifts as we live across many states from each other and many times through the years one or the other of us…
thatgirlwhodraws
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7
votes
2 answers
How to reassure my mother about the fact that forgetting my birthday does not mean I'm mad at her?
Background
I turned 23 yesterday. Last year, my mother forgot my birthday, mostly because she was working in a country in a timezone 6+ hours behind mine and didn't realize it was that late at my place. I was in a really dark place at that time,…
avazula
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6
votes
1 answer
Is it OK to wish someone who's terminally ill "Happy Birthday"?
Let's say Alice is dying and doctors have told her she's only got 5 years left to live. It's her birthday today. Is it OK to wish her happy birthday, or will it just remind her that she's got one fewer year left to live?
Technically the "you've got…
Allure
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