Having a birthday on Valentine’s Day or a couple days after sounds sweet in theory. Candy fills store shelves, bakeries overflow with desserts and restaurants are already decorated. But for people born in mid-February, the overlap between romance culture and personal celebration often turns their birthdays into an afterthought.
When someone’s birthday falls on Valentine’s Day, it rarely feels fully theirs. Friends hesitate, unsure whether to treat it as a romantic holiday or a personal milestone. Couples prioritize reservations over parties. Plans become complicated, and what should feel meaningful becomes shared in a way that makes it easy to overlook.
Those with birthdays two days after Valentine’s Day face a different version of the same problem. By then, decorations are discounted, chocolate boxes are half-empty and the excitement of celebration has passed. What should feel special instead feels leftover, rushed or recycled.
Beyond inconsistency, this reflects cultural priorities. Valentine’s Day dominates mid-February with messaging that focuses on romantic love. Adding a birthday into the mix can double the discomfort. A day meant to celebrate personhood becomes a reminder that personal milestones must compete with something louder and more socially enforced.
Still, mid-February birthdays often build resilience. People learn to celebrate on random weekdays, value effort over extravagance and laugh when their cake says, “Be Mine.” But resilience should not be a requirement for having a birthday.
Birthdays are universal. Everyone deserves one day that feels undeniably theirs. Valentine’s Day deserves its place, but love exists in more forms than roses and candlelit dinners. Friendships, family and self-recognition matter too – and birthdays honor all of them.
AJ Pearman can be reached at [email protected].