Birthday Between Good Friday & Easter

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My husband’s actual birthday falls on the Saturday after Good Friday and Easter (March 22, 2008). Before I make plans to throw a party in his honor to celebrate his birthday, I wanted to check on what the Church says about how that time should be spent. Something is telling me that day should be spent in prayer and reflection on Christ’s death and not spent in celebration until Easter. Please advise. Thanks in advance 🙂
 
My husband’s actual birthday falls on the Saturday after Good Friday and Easter (March 22, 2008). Before I make plans to throw a party in his honor to celebrate his birthday, I wanted to check on what the Church says about how that time should be spent. Something is telling me that day should be spent in prayer and reflection on Christ’s death and not spent in celebration until Easter. Please advise. Thanks in advance 🙂
I would not have a party that day, especially for an adult who has the ability to wait a few days extra. Any day after Easter Sunday is perfect. So Easter Monday would be fine, or, if you need a weekend, the next one would be perfect! 🙂
 
My birthday tends to fall during Lent more times than not. We always celebrated it just as we would have birthdays that fall outside of Lent. I think the only time it effected anything is if it was on a Friday we would have fish for dinner and if I gave up chocolate or ice cream, we would have something else.
One year I gave up ice cream for Lent so mom bought sherbet 😃

Guess my question would be, if you delivered a child during Lent, would you celebrate less?
 
My husband’s birthday is on Good Friday this year and our son’s birthday is the Saturday before Palm Sunday.:rolleyes:

We’re having a quiet family dinner and going on a birthday camping trip (if the weather’s nice) the week AFTER Easter.
 
My birthday tends to fall during Lent more times than not. We always celebrated it just as we would have birthdays that fall outside of Lent. I think the only time it effected anything is if it was on a Friday we would have fish for dinner and if I gave up chocolate or ice cream, we would have something else.
One year I gave up ice cream for Lent so mom bought sherbet 😃

Guess my question would be, if you delivered a child during Lent, would you celebrate less?
My response is similar… respect the fasts, but don’t avoid celebration!

I think if it fell on Good Friday, then maybe have the party after that weekend… but other than that, just respect the season and the fasts without ignoring the celebration…

My second son was born on Holy Thursday… and this year his birthday falls on Easter Monday! 😃
 
My birthday tends to fall during Lent more times than not. We always celebrated it just as we would have birthdays that fall outside of Lent. I think the only time it effected anything is if it was on a Friday we would have fish for dinner and if I gave up chocolate or ice cream, we would have something else.
One year I gave up ice cream for Lent so mom bought sherbet 😃

Guess my question would be, if you delivered a child during Lent, would you celebrate less?
These are some very good points. I think the fear was that it was Holy Saturday, not lent. Holy Saturday is part of the Triduum, the holiest three days of the year. It would not be appropriate for a big celebration on these three days. Now, if it were any other Saturday in lent, as long as the Lenten promises are kept, and abstinence if it’s a Friday, I don’t see the problem in it. Personally, I’d just move it to the nearest Sunday if it is a teenager/adult. 🙂
 
These are some very good points. I think the fear was that it was Holy Saturday, not lent. Holy Saturday is part of the Triduum, the holiest three days of the year. It would not be appropriate for a big celebration on these three days. Now, if it were any other Saturday in lent, as long as the Lenten promises are kept, and abstinence if it’s a Friday, I don’t see the problem in it. Personally, I’d just move it to the nearest Sunday if it is a teenager/adult. 🙂
I agree with you, we are talking about an adult. And there is a difference if the OP is talking about dinner with family with some cake and ice cream or a BIG party with everyone they know. I would hold off on the big party till after Lent, but a small family dinner with cake and ice cream, go for it 👍 . I also just feel that we celebrate life (thus birthdays) no matter what! Maybe it is my protest to all the JW’s I know, I am up for celebrating birthdays with gusto!! 😃
 
These are some very good points. I think the fear was that it was Holy Saturday, not lent. Holy Saturday is part of the Triduum, the holiest three days of the year. It would not be appropriate for a big celebration on these three days. Now, if it were any other Saturday in lent, as long as the Lenten promises are kept, and abstinence if it’s a Friday, I don’t see the problem in it. Personally, I’d just move it to the nearest Sunday if it is a teenager/adult. 🙂
I also agree. It reminds me of a friend whose birthday fell on Christmas Day (year after year after year 🙂 ). He moaned and complained regularly about being short-changed until his rather hefty Italian father finally boomed, “Look, it’s your birthday and it’s God’s birthday. He’s more important. Deal with it.” 😃
 
These are some very good points. I think the fear was that it was Holy Saturday, not lent. Holy Saturday is part of the Triduum, the holiest three days of the year. It would not be appropriate for a big celebration on these three days. Now, if it were any other Saturday in lent, as long as the Lenten promises are kept, and abstinence if it’s a Friday, I don’t see the problem in it. Personally, I’d just move it to the nearest Sunday if it is a teenager/adult. 🙂
That’s correct - my real concern is that my adult husband’s birthday falls on Holy Saturday. It would have been nice to celebrate with a party on his actual day, but I agree that the Saturday before Easter is one of the most holy days of the year and we are fine with keeping solemn the Triduum. Since we prefer to celebrate as close to the actual day as possible, would it be inappropriate to celebrate on Easter Sunday? I’m thinking it would and I wouldn’t want to detract from the nature of the holiday. The alternative is we could celebrate earlier, say the Saturday prior (March 15th) - the Saturday after (March 29th) would be too late. Thanks for all the responses, they’re all very helpful 🙂
 
IMHO, an adult who is serious about the Faith would happily forgo one birthday party for the sake of Easter.

Pick a Saturday after Easter if nothing else, or, just offer up the party for the sake of those in Purgatory and have a party next year.
 
This is an aside.
The girl down at the next corner (a friend of my older sister) when I was growing up was born on Christmas. Her parents celebrated her birthday on June 25 each year. Moving a festival for the convenience of a greater festival is always acceptable. Holy days of obligation supplant ordinary Sunday Masses.

Matthew
 
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