I had to really hold back from saying it everywhere all the time eight thousand times, but I am turning another year older tomorrow. Yay! Even though I haven't really celebrated my birthday in years, I still think being a birthday person is about the most fun thing there is. This year I would celebrate it a bit again, but as mentioned, something came up. (shitty football) but whether it’s football or not, I’m still a birthday person. But what are actually the do’s and don’ts regarding being a birthday person? Do you send someone a text? Or WhatsApp? Should you call? Is it okay to publish a wish list? Do you respond to your birthday messages? Today in this Explorer, answers to those kinds of questions. Here we go.
Sending congratulations
The time when I received physical cards in the mail is unfortunately long gone. My late grandmother always dutifully sent a card, but when she passed away, the cards strangely stopped coming too. Despite everything now being digital, there is still a clear division in the way you send the message. A congratulation on Facebook is by far the least personal. People I haven't seen in a hundred years get a short “hip hip hooray!” and that’s where it ends. It gets trickier with friends, as they also come in many gradations. The real friends are often by my side when they celebrate their birthdays, and otherwise, they can count on a call right at 00:00 and a few more during the actual birthday. People I don’t speak to daily on Whatsapp get a text, which is already a step more personal. WhatsApp is ideal for singing birthday songs or doing dances, but otherwise, I find WhatsApp way too fleeting for a heartfelt and warm congratulation.
Being a birthday person is a party and the party is all about you. What’s not to like!
Calling
Just a bit about calling, because of course, I call my dearest friends to sing them into their new year of life. But actually, really, calling can be quite annoying. I also get a bit cranky from people who call me and with whom I then have to have such an incredibly forced non-conversation to conduct. “Yes, I’m doing well, no, no gifts yet, oh yes, I feel very birthday-ish, no plans for tonight yet, yes no everything’s good and how about you?” It’s nonsense. So calling can only be done to friends who are so close that you also have enough other things to discuss or with whom you can have those phone conversations without saying anything. Literally. Watching a Ryan Gosling movie together on the phone, for example, and just occasionally groaning and moaning when he takes off his shirt.
Responding
That’s not necessary. You don’t have to send back “thank you!” texts and you can also ignore WhatsApp. You don’t have to like all your Facebook congratulations. I really think that’s so SO stupid. Here in the editorial office too. Josselin: “it always seems like you really have nothing to do all day.” So, don’t like. Just don’t do it, don’t don’t don’t.
Giving gifts
If you celebrate it, you get gifts. A list of gifts is a trend that has come over from America and is also becoming increasingly popular here, but I find it a worrying and especially super stupid development. The whole idea of giving gifts is that you give someone you love for whatever reason something you have thought about and ultimately give something that has to do with your relationship. Giving a gift from a list has nothing to do with originality, let alone making an effort. It’s just about a material handover of stuff. Not cool. So what do you give then? Our Peggy explains it to you.
Finally
There are those people who think it’s stupid to be a birthday person, I don’t understand that at all. Being a birthday person is a party and the party is all about you. What’s not to like! Feel happy and feel like a child, let the gifts come and eat kilos of cake with meters of champagne. Hip hip hooray, congratulations and more of that.
