Celebrate a Birthday You Never Knew You Had
Ever since I was a little girl, we've always celebrated half birthdays in my family. It was something that my grandmother did for my father so my father carried the tradition down to our family. It is a tradition that I plan on celebrating with my twins when they get just a little bit older.
Even though in my family, half birthdays were mostly for the kids, my Dad continues to celebrate his half birthday to this day (and still expects presents!). Update: This past week was my Dad's half birthday and like always I called him on his very special day to wish him a "happy half birthday." His response was "so, what did you buy me?"
Even though in my family, half birthdays were mostly for the kids, my Dad continues to celebrate his half birthday to this day (and still expects presents!). Update: This past week was my Dad's half birthday and like always I called him on his very special day to wish him a "happy half birthday." His response was "so, what did you buy me?"
What's a Half Birthday?
A half birthday is a birthday that is 6 months after your actual birthday. It's the day that you turn your age plus 1/2.There are two ways to calculate your half birthday - the easy way and the precise way.
The easy way to calculate your half birthday is to take your real birthday and add exactly 6 months to it. For example, if your birthday is January 4th your half birthday would be July 4.
However, if you use the easy method to calculate your half birthday you may run into some trouble. If your birthday was December 31, you couldn't celebrate your half birthday since there is no June 31.
So, the recommended method to calculate your half birthday is to add exactly 182.5 days to your actual birthday. A birthday on May 15 would make your half birthday on November 13 instead of November 15.
Just keep in mind though that either way you decide to use to calculate your half birthday is the right one!
Half Birthday Fun Fact
You must be at least 16 1/2 to obtain your driver's license in Massachusetts.
Sample Half Birthday Dates
Use the below chart to figure out your half birthday based on the 182.5 calculation method.
If you want to know your half birthday, you can use this handy Half Birthday Calculator. Just enter your information and voila!
How Did This Whole Thing Start?
According to Wikipedia, "Perhaps the most common use is by people whose birthday falls near Christmas... People attending school sometimes celebrate half-birthdays if their real birthdays do not occur during the school year."
So, it sounds like this was started by people (probably moms and dads who didn't want their children to feel slighted) who wanted another reason to celebrate their birthday. I can't imagine any child NOT wanting to celebrate their birthday twice in one year!
So, it sounds like this was started by people (probably moms and dads who didn't want their children to feel slighted) who wanted another reason to celebrate their birthday. I can't imagine any child NOT wanting to celebrate their birthday twice in one year!
Half Birthday Fun Fact
Half birthdays are actually becoming more popular due to being included in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books.
Great Half Birthday Presents for Adults
In my family, our half birthday gift was always something small. It was just a "little something" as my mom used to say to help celebrate the day. You can make your half birthday gifts as big or small as you would like. Here are some suggestions...
Had You Heard of a Half Birthday Before?
I'd love to know if you've ever heard of a half birthday celebration before you read this lens.
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Interesting Half Birthday Sites
- Macmillan Dictionary's Half Birthday Entry
- Definition for half birthdays.
- Peter Janes Half Birthday Calculator
- Discover when your half birthday is based on the 182.5 calculation method.
- eHow's How to Throw a Half Birthday Party
- Get ideas for throwing a unique and fun half birthday party.
Half Birthday Fun Fact
On July 1, 2005, people born on January 1, 1946 turned 59 ½ - the age to take out penalty-free money from their retirement account. This was the first group of baby boomers that was able to do this.
Go Ahead
Celebrate your birthday...
twice.
Happy Half Birthday!
Would you consider celebrating your (or your children's) half birthday?
Do you think after reading this lens, you'll consider celebrating your half birthday?
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allaboutthegiggles
Mar 16, 2012 @ 2:02 pm | delete
- We celebrate half birthdays in my house since my daughters were born...! Its so much fun...and a special way that my husband and I get to remind them that we celebrate them and the great little girls that they are!
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Feb 23, 2010 @ 8:47 am | delete
- Celebrating a half birthday is an idea that I think children all over the world will love! Thanks for sharing!
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Chris Kelley, Framingham, MA
Nov 19, 2009 @ 12:26 pm | delete
- yes, gonna do it this weekend
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Susan52
Jun 28, 2009 @ 4:37 pm | delete
- We always did this with my kids. Their birth dates are just a couple of weeks apart, in August and September, so we celebrated half-birthdays in February and early March, the time of the year when you really need something to celebrate while waiting for spring to arrive! Great job on this lens. I love it!
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ohwhatfun
Jun 15, 2009 @ 8:47 am | delete
- I think a half birthday is perfect for kids with birthdays in winter. A half birthday party with a half theme is so much fun! Half a birthday cake, half happy birthday, gifts wrapped only halfway, fun!
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by TwinsMama
Hi! My name is Shelby and I'm the mom of 3-year old b/g twins. I'm also the founder of Double Up Books - The Premier Bookstore for Twins, Triplets & More...... more »
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