I’ve never understood this obsession with massive, flashy, expensive birthday parties with hired entertainers and dozens of invitations. Is it an American thing? Do other cultures have this?
Personally I prefer my birthdays to be mostly the same as any other day, I might use it an excuse to treat myself, but otherwise I really don’t care for it.
I’m with you on this. There are only 3 people I care to even acknowledge my bday, my gf, mother, and father. hell some people have known me 20 - 30 years have no idea when my bday is
I (non-american but western country) had “large” parties way back in primary school (around 5 to 10 y.o.), because at that point everyone was just little kids and so there were no cliques or anything like that, so it would be impolite not to invite your whole class - but after that point no, it would usually be like 5 people at maximum for a bit of a chill hangout.
I am east asian, and I never had big birthday parties when I was a kid. Parents would give us a bit of money, I would have like four friends to hang out at a mall, watch a movie, and grab some dinner.
But there are kids who have big parties, but I feel like they are just cos-playing middle age asian male gatherings, large table, lazy susan, bunch of “friends” who don’t even talk that much, and toast here and there. Pretty ridiculous things to do for 10-15 years old.
My birthday has since went downhill, my parents are busy and I am busy, in high school I barely had cakes for birthday. But now I made sure to have a little cake for every birthday, so it is all good :)
I’ve never understood this obsession with massive, flashy, expensive birthday parties with hired entertainers and dozens of invitations. Is it an American thing? Do other cultures have this?
Lots of cultures have big parties for specific birthday milestones, eg Bar Mitzvahs and Quinceañeras.
It just sounds like they invited their whole class. That’s dozens of invitations for sure but doesn’t really make it anything else.
Personally I prefer my birthdays to be mostly the same as any other day, I might use it an excuse to treat myself, but otherwise I really don’t care for it.
I’m with you on this. There are only 3 people I care to even acknowledge my bday, my gf, mother, and father. hell some people have known me 20 - 30 years have no idea when my bday is
I (non-american but western country) had “large” parties way back in primary school (around 5 to 10 y.o.), because at that point everyone was just little kids and so there were no cliques or anything like that, so it would be impolite not to invite your whole class - but after that point no, it would usually be like 5 people at maximum for a bit of a chill hangout.
Hired clowns or magicians aren’t really a thing outside of movies, afaik.
One or two big birthday parties growing up is pretty common. Not every year. I had one for my 16th.
I am east asian, and I never had big birthday parties when I was a kid. Parents would give us a bit of money, I would have like four friends to hang out at a mall, watch a movie, and grab some dinner.
But there are kids who have big parties, but I feel like they are just cos-playing middle age asian male gatherings, large table, lazy susan, bunch of “friends” who don’t even talk that much, and toast here and there. Pretty ridiculous things to do for 10-15 years old.
My birthday has since went downhill, my parents are busy and I am busy, in high school I barely had cakes for birthday. But now I made sure to have a little cake for every birthday, so it is all good :)