Birthday rituals? What do you do to make your birthday a bit extra special? Beyond cake and good food, although I’ll take those recs too!

Question

Lulu Lefferts · Answer

Hoarding all birthday cards & presents for the actual day: There is something extra special about going to bed the night before my birthday with a little stack of birthday cards on the nightstand next to me. I love waking up the next morning and tearing through all those little envelopes of love. Really starts the day off right.

janjira · Answer

birthday rituals: birthdays truly feel like a reset compared to new calendar years.

i typically take some time to reflect on my year, and i journal about my goals, dreams, and ambitions and how i'm going to get there. it's also a great way to document where i'm at for future me to look back on.

i also love to switch my appearance up– getting my hair done, changing the shape of my eyebrows, or even experimenting with a new makeup look!

Savannah Spoor · Answer

For the first time this year, people made wishes for me. They would light a candle, make a wish for me, and then put it in the cake. At the end, I would blow all the candles out. It was truly so special.: For example "my wish for you this year is that you XYZ" and then put in the lit candle to the cake

Riki Rattner · Answer

aura photo and letter to self: a friend introduced me to aura photos a few years ago and we’ve gone together around my birthday since. it’s so fun to see the colors change / remain the same.

a letter to self is also so lovely. can seal in an envelope and write a date to open, or even wait til next birthday. then you have one to read and one to write each year around the sun 🌞🎉

Myshelf · Answer

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, have a yummy meal & walk back: Fun for everyone in the family- young and old.

Can’t help but get grateful for whatever stage of life I’m at.

Feels the right amount of excercizie (after food and cake).

I get to return to my city and soak it in 😍🥳😎

Roger · Answer

Extend your birthday celebration!: Why limit yourself? You’re special for at least a week! Go hear some music. See a show. Visit a friend. Order the affogato after dinner. You can sleep when you’re older!

Sophia Lucchesi · Answer

Custom Candle from Enchantments NYC: The lovely team at Enchantments NYC will carve you a candle based on your sign, hopes and wishes for the year ahead, and shit you want out of your life. Can’t wait for mine to arrive ahead of my 40th birthday!

John Secunde · Answer

Listening to your favorite music: There’s a piece of classical music that I love, but I only listen to it on my birthday. It’s a tradition which has become very dear to me. Maybe find a song or album that means a lot to you, but isn't in your casual rotation, and earmark some time on the b-day for it.

Jasmine · Answer

I take off work: Instant mood booster

Sophie Consults · Answer

Annual woo woo check in: Astrology reading, tarot cards, see a psychic (who comes with good recommendations from a trusted friend!). An annual woo woo check in always sends me off on my new calendar cycle with renewed energy!

Andrea Toomer · Answer

Freebies! The Starbucks free birthday coffee, Anthropologie birthday benefit  20% off entire purchase, etc.: Little dopamine hits!

JV · Answer

Many, Many Birthday Candles: I want you to put more candles than you know what to do with on top of your next birthday cake. Make the candles swirly, or multi colored, or sparkly and gold, just don’t count and use too many and, as with all my recs: have fun and don’t set yourself on fire.

alexis · Answer

Lunch with my best friend: Even if it’s a weekday and we’re both working, we make it happen. (Sorry for the weird photo, the app wouldn’t let me comment without one.)

Dylan · Answer

Comma Bath House & Spa: A divine space for a soak, sauna and recharge

Dylan · Answer

Sense of Self: a fancy bathhouse and sauna situation always feels so lush and luxurious i feel like i've been rebirthed after a couple of hours here

Dylan · Answer

When someone asks what you want for your birthday...direct them to your Rec League!: So it's my birthday on Thursday (yes, I'm a Leo, obviously I have to announce it to the world), and a friend who's insisting on buying me a gift asked what my favourite scents were.

Naturally, I replied, "Your presence is the only present I need!", to which she responded, "Well, I'm going to buy you something anyway, so you might as well tell me!"...

So I sent her a link to my rec league collection of my favourite smells!

It's giving wedding registry but more fun! Also yes that is little me circa 1989 🥲

I ♥️ @Rec League!

Dylan · Answer

John Waters' Poppers Themed 80th Birthday Cake: if i make it to 80, this is the vibe

Dylan · Answer

Tarot reading as a birthday gift: One of the best birthday presents I have ever received. This person was truly talented and knew so much before I even spoke a single word to her.

I told my ever-sceptical Dad about some of the things she shared with me, and even his cynical mind was blown. Validating and enlightening.

An incredible gift.

Karen Fischer · Answer

Birthday spa day!: I just celebrated my 33rd birthday with a choco-massage, meaning, a cacao treatment, sauna, and massage package. Last year I also did a spa day with massages for my birthday, but the add-on was a salt tank to try floating. My husband is just lucky to go with me. :)

clownmommy · Answer

birthday week: why is your bday always the quickest day ever?? i proudly grew up in a birthday week family and plan to carry on the tradition for my children. making 6 days leading up to your birthday a little extra special helps take the stress off doing something crazy on the big day and lets the celebration really settle in

Shellie Gossling · Answer

Camp Hollow Birthday Candle Holder: These are the most whimsical little heirlooms,  get one for each member of the family or one for everyone to share.

Emilie Bienvenew · Answer

Always taking a day off on my birthday !: And come up with a very specific plan, mine is quite consistent year after years:

- a massage

- a nice restaurant

- caviar

The theme: me, me, and me!

Sophie · Answer

Eat long noodles for long life on your birthday + New Year's Day: This year's bday noodles were dan dan mian from pine and crane DTLA.

Shellie Gossling · Answer

Pick a birthday theme and stick with it: My birthday is in May and I love strawberries so every year I buy myself something strawberry themed and have a strawberry themed birthday.  It makes me so happy.  Pictured: strawberry candles on a strawberry cake, with strawberry plates and a strawberry dress 🍓

Mo · Answer

Buy yourself a bday gift: I recommend something you might otherwise not buy because it seems frivolous. My bday is coming up and I bought myself a hot chocolate maker from hotel chocolat, it is not at all necessary but i love it.

Dylan · Answer

Romance yourself! Romance your friends!: Truly cannot recommend this more highly.

Romance yourself!

Book yourself in for a treat-yourself day - spa, sauna, massage, mani pedi, hair, facial - whatever. You also don't have to spend money to do this! Spend a day alone without too many distractions - journal about what you're grateful for (even something as simple as sunshine or clean water or a roof over your head), connect with nature, listen to a song that makes you feel loved (my rec would be Know That You Are Loved by Cleo Sol), light some incense/your fave candle, swim in the ocean or take a bath, make your favourite meal, kiss/pat a cute animal.

Romance your friends!

Send a love letter to your bestie. Make a playlist for a friend with all your favourite songs. Prepare a delicious dinner for a friend & decorate the table with flowers. Send a text just to tell your friends you love them. Buy a little gift for a friend just because. Write all the things you love about your bestie on little bits of paper, put them in a jar and gift it to them to read when they're feeling down. Deliver a tasty treat from the bakery. Call a mate you haven't spoken to in ages. Plan a FaceTime catch-up with a long-distance bestie. Send them a video of yourself doing a silly dance!