Having a birthday in December can be very frustrating. Everyone is preoccupied with a long to-do list and jam-packed social calendar ahead of Christmas. Celebrations for December birthdays can often get combined with other festive celebrations, postponed until January, or forgotten about altogether, which is such a shame.
It is so important to not let those December birthdays be forgotten, and ensure your loved ones get to enjoy their special day too.
I run my own greeting card business, Jess A Little Creative, which focuses on creating unique greeting cards for thoughtful people. I want to help ensure that birthdays and other special occasions are celebrated thoughtfully and kindly all year round, giving a chance for connection and celebration with your loved ones.
So if you know someone with a birthday in December, and you aren’t quite sure how to make it feel special when everywhere is so heavily themed on Christmas, check out my tips below.
I share 7 simple ways to help ensure they still have a truly special December birthday, which isn’t overshadowed by Christmas.
1. Ask them how they want to celebrate (maybe they want to do something Christmassy!)
Firstly, it is really important to actually ask the person with the December birthday what they want to do. They might really love Christmas, and actually want to do something festive. If they wanted to do something festive last year, that doesn’t necessarily mean the same will be true this year though. Or maybe they’re just not feeling it this year and don’t want a celebration at all.
The first way to show kindness and thoughtfulness towards your friend’s December birthday is to put their wishes first. And asking them outright will make things easier for you too - no guessing!
2. Make time for them, so you can properly celebrate their birthday in a non-Christmassy way
Once you know what your friend wants to do for their birthday, you have to ensure you make time to actually celebrate with them. December is always busy, everyone knows it. If you’re a parent there are so many school events to prepare for, there is family and friends to catch up with, and of course everyone has their own little pre-Christmas traditions, things they love to do in the build up to the big day to get them feeling festive.
But don’t let the festive busyness affect your friend’s birthday.
Get organised early, and ensure you book in some time where you can focus on them, and celebrate in the way they want, away from the festive chaos and stress. The time, and thought, will mean so much to your friend, and really make their December birthday feel special.
3. Pick a non-Christmassy venue and decorate wisely
Once you know what your friend wants to do, and when you will do it, it’s time to decide where. Picking a venue to celebrate a birthday can be hard in December, as everywhere tends to be decked out with Christmas decorations, playing Christmas songs on repeat. If you want to help your friend’s birthday still feel special, visit a few places first and suss out somewhere which has a less Christmassy vibe. It’ll help make the celebration more about them, rather a general festive jolly.
Similarly, if you decide to host something at home for your friend’s birthday, try to keep celebrations away from the Christmas tree. Maybe hold the party in a room that doesn’t have Christmas decorations, and ensure the table settings or accessories for the party are birthday-themed, rather than donning Christmas napkins on the table.
Pink Illustrated Cake Birthday Card, Jess A Little Creative
4. Take time selecting a special birthday card for them
Now you’ve got the celebrations in hand, you can start to think about their birthday card and gift. December is always such a busy time, and getting organised for friend’s birthdays can become a bit of a rushed affair. But one way to ensure your friend still feels special, is if they are surrounded by gorgeous, thoughtful birthday cards from the ones they love.
And no, this doesn’t mean writing happy birthday in their Christmas card. In fact, that is a big no no. Take the time to select a really lovely birthday card for them, it’ll make them feel super special.
If you want some inspiration, my greeting card business Jess A Little Creative has a whole host of unique and beautiful birthday cards to help your friend feel special. Check out the whole range of birthday cards here.
5. Do not wrap their birthday gift in Christmas wrapping paper
Wrapping a birthday gift in Christmas wrapping paper is another big no no, and I see it happen so much. Just because it’s December. No! Their birthday is a separate occasion, and deserves to be celebrated in it’s own right.
So ensure the theme of the gift wrap is also firmly centred around birthdays, not Christmas. It may seem small, but it will mean the world to your friend, to know that you've put thought and care into their birthday, when everyone else is drowning in Christmas prep.
6. Don’t combine their birthday and Christmas cards and gifts together
In a similar vein to picking a special birthday card and using birthday-themed gift wrap - do not use a December birthday as an excuse to combine birthday and Christmas cards and gifts together.
The important thing to remember when making a birthday feel special is to ensure kindness and care has gone into it. That doesn’t necessarily mean spending more money. December can be a really tricky time money-wise, but cutting corners by combining presents won’t make your friend feel special. Why not buy something smaller, that is still meaningful, or put money to the side earlier in the year.
Or remember, a special greeting card with a thoughtful message can often mean just as much as any gift.
7. A hug and a happy birthday can mean the world
And putting all the 6 points above to the side, just ensure on the day, you give your friend a massive hug, wish them a very Happy Birthday, and find some little ways to make them feel special and loved. When it boils down to it, showing that love and care is the most important thing. Have fun celebrating!
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I hope you have found these hints and tips useful, and they have inspired you to make your friend’s December birthday feel special. Whether you take the time to plan a non-Christmas themed celebration, pick out a gorgeous birthday card and birthday gift wrap, or just take time to ask them what they want to do, there are lots of ways to make a December birthday feel special.
Taking inspiration from some of this advice will be sure to earn you some serious brownie points with your friend, they will love the thought and care you have put into their birthday, despite all the Christmas chaos going on everywhere.
Do take a look at my range of unique birthday cards to help your friend’s celebrate their December birthdays in style, or join my mailing list to stay up-to-date with my greeting card business.
And do let me know how to December birthday celebrations went - I’d love to hear so do get in touch.
Thanks so much for reading, and happy birthday planning, Jess x
