Birthdays during Lent

[Bruised Reed]

To those of you who have birthdays during Lent (or have children who do): how do you celebrate?

Growing up my birthday parties were usually on the Friday closest to my actual birthday and my mom made tuna casserole. But now as an adult I stuggle with how to observe Lent and celebrate my birthdays or let others celebrate with me, rather.

I haven't totally decided on what I'm giving up but I'm pretty sure what I will be doing for my birthday will be what I'm giving up (eating out/going to movies...maybe). I don't discuss what I do or give up for Lent but what if this comes up? I don't want to mislead others or make them feel guilty so if I know how to talk about this it would help.

I go throught this every year and I'd like to reconcile these two things once and for all.

[Jeanne S]

My b day falls during Lent too.I guess I am old enough,that it isn't that important to me to celabrate in any special way.Another thought,think of this as an opportunity to sacrifice during Lent,by denying yourself a birthday celebration.

[Bruised Reed]

Originally Posted by Jeanne S

My b day falls during Lent too.I guess I am old enough,that it isn't that important to me to celabrate in any special way.Another thought,think of this as an opportunity to sacrifice during Lent,by denying yourself a birthday celebration.

I really don't care if I celebrate it or not. I'm pretty low key about most holidays. However, when I celebrate with others I'm not sure what I should do. Some friends want to do something for/with me and I don't know if I should point out that the day they want to do it is during Lent AND in this case on a Friday. One person is taking the day off from work, too. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

[Jeanne S]

Originally Posted by Bruised Reed

I really don't care if I celebrate it or not. I'm pretty low key about most holidays. However, when I celebrate with others I'm not sure what I should do. Some friends want to do something for/with me and I don't know if I should point out that the day they want to do it is during Lent AND in this case on a Friday. One person is taking the day off from work, too. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

How about postponing your celebration until the following Sunday?Sunday's are not held to Lenten practices

[EmeraldWings]

Originally Posted by Jeanne S

How about postponing your celebration until the following Sunday?Sunday's are not held to Lenten practices

that's what we do in my family, there's a few birthdays that fall in lent, and we just celebrate them on the following Sunday.

[joanofarc2008]

I have a birthday during Lent but I am not giving anything up - I am adding spiritual practices. It would probably be a problem if my birthday fell on a Friday but it does not thank goodness.

[Bruised Reed]

How about postponing your celebration until the following Sunday?Sunday's are not held to Lenten practices

If I were the one doing the inviting and taking time off of work this might be a no-brainer. I need to be a little more sure I'm not insulting someone before I suggest changing their plans so looking for a little more information.

If there was a hard and fast rule that said "no celebrating birthdays during Lent" I would have something to go on. We have a rule about not eating meat so I/we won't eat meat. But there isn't a rule about eating cake on Fridays (in the Latin rite anyway).

I don't want my personal peity to make someone feel bad about doing something kind. So I feel torn: just go with it for one day (and not say anything) and resume Lenten practice once I get home or say something and maybe hurt someone's feelings.

Also, I've already had to nix one plan (pedicures - my back went out so I can't do this) and I'm starting to feel like a real buzzkill about one stupid day.

I'll be better prepared for next year anyway.

[catholictiger]

think of it as extra time off purgatory

[centurionguard]

I know "if" I had a Birthday during Lent outside of Sunday I'd post phone it until Sunday.
I think its more personal than anything else. I'm doubly sure nobody would incur a sin if they did break the Lenten Fast if they did celebrate their birthday.

What about Irish Catholics who like to wing-it-up on Saint Patrick's Day March 17th?
might their be a temporary dispensation in order for that day?

Not sure how it is for American Catholics but in Canada Saint Patrick's Day is ("not") an official liturgical Feast Day in the Ordo. Possibly optional.

[Bruised Reed]

Originally Posted by catholictiger

think of it as extra time off purgatory

Are you referring to the agony of trying to figure this out? Yes, I would agree! I'm offering it up.

[catholictiger]

Originally Posted by Bruised Reed

Are you referring to the agony of trying to figure this out? Yes, I would agree! I'm offering it up.

saying the sacrifices you may have to make on your birthday during lent will knock some time off purgatory.

[Corki]

Originally Posted by Jeanne S

How about postponing your celebration until the following Sunday?Sunday's are not held to Lenten practices

My birthday is almost always in Lent. I have never subscribed to the Sunday off practice. Unless my birthday falls on Ash Wednesday or on a Friday, it's my day off. I try to balance giving things up and doing positive spiritual activities so a day off from the "giving up" isn't a day off from Lenten practices entirely. As a personal devotion, you follow whatever rules you set for yourself.

While the traditional way to do "giving up" is for the entirety of Lent, with or without Sundays, I hear more and more about people putting variety in their abstinences. For example, you might give up candy one week, coffee the next and alcohol the week after that. Or there are even some who give up one thing on Mondays in Lent, something else on the Tuesdays, etc. If you want to try that, you can just make sure that giving up cake and ice cream isn't going to be on the week/day on which your birthday falls.

[catholictiger]

Originally Posted by Corki

My birthday is almost always in Lent. I have never subscribed to the Sunday off practice. Unless my birthday falls on Ash Wednesday or on a Friday, it's my day off. I try to balance giving things up and doing positive spiritual activities so a day off from the "giving up" isn't a day off from Lenten practices entirely. As a personal devotion, you follow whatever rules you set for yourself.

While the traditional way to do "giving up" is for the entirety of Lent, with or without Sundays, I hear more and more about people putting variety in their abstinences. For example, you might give up candy one week, coffee the next and alcohol the week after that. Or there are even some who give up one thing on Mondays in Lent, something else on the Tuesdays, etc. If you want to try that, you can just make sure that giving up cake and ice cream isn't going to be on the week/day on which your birthday falls.

I say as long as you're days off don't grow you away from God then go for it

[Bruised Reed]

Originally Posted by Corki

My birthday is almost always in Lent. I have never subscribed to the Sunday off practice. Unless my birthday falls on Ash Wednesday or on a Friday, it's my day off. I try to balance giving things up and doing positive spiritual activities so a day off from the "giving up" isn't a day off from Lenten practices entirely. As a personal devotion, you follow whatever rules you set for yourself.

While the traditional way to do "giving up" is for the entirety of Lent, with or without Sundays, I hear more and more about people putting variety in their abstinences. For example, you might give up candy one week, coffee the next and alcohol the week after that. Or there are even some who give up one thing on Mondays in Lent, something else on the Tuesdays, etc. If you want to try that, you can just make sure that giving up cake and ice cream isn't going to be on the week/day on which your birthday falls.

Interesting. I think switching it up would help in being mindful of Lent. I've noticed that if I give up TV for example, I get used to it and don't miss it so much and it isn't as much of a sacrifice. Or doesn't feel like it.

For what it's worth I gave of TV a Lent or two ago and got rid of cable and haven't gone back. I read a lot more as a result. I'm thinking of making this Lent about spiritual reading only.

[Bruised Reed]

I forgot to say thank you to everyone who responded. I'm still open to others thoughts.