Do you tell people it's your birthday?

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I don't tell anyone unless they ask because it really hurts if it is forgotten and I had a (either reasonable or mislead/misunderstood) expectation of something. Part of it is that I would like to once, as an adult, have a little sincere fuss made over me by the small group of people I call friends, but am hyper sensitive to the thought that other folks might not find me important enough to make a little fuss over. Not a real big deal, that would be too stressful, but something that shows they thought enough of me to care to do something special, even if it's a small nothing bag of cookies and an afternoon of their time set aside just for me kind of thing. It really hurts when people act in ways that show they completely forgot me, so why give them more opportunities?

As for a celebration, if it is an annual thing, it gets this "rote" feeling to it, feels insincere and is a whole different kind of uncomfortable. It was kind of awkward at work, when I worked in an office setting, because they had a policy of getting a cake and singing happy birthday and sending around a card for everyone to sign. You passed the card around in a folder from desk to desk, so the birthday person wouldn't see it until the "surprise" was revealed (even though they did it for everybody every year, so you knew it was coming). Since I was the secretary in charge of birthdays, if I didn't do it, it didn't happen. So it felt really uncomfortable the first few times getting my own card and ordering my own cake (my boss made me do it). I mean, what do you say? "Here is my birthday card for you to sign"??? "Put it in this folder so I won't see it until *the big surprise* at lunchtime"??? Aaawkward!, until they finally hired a second secretary who actually liked me and handled that job for me when it was my birthday. (She would always ask me quietly what kind of cake I preferred to make sure I liked it. Needless to say I returned the favor when it was her birthday!) On the plus side, I always got exactly the kind of cake I wanted

Now that I have a husband & children, we have a total of 3 birthdays and our wedding anniversary within 11 days of each other, so I just do "the birthday thing" for my son who is still little while my husband & I have a quiet dinner & movie together to celebrate both our birthdays & anniversary in one shot.

I may mention it to some during conversation but I don't like people making a big deal out of it & I do not want it to be some public thing.

I dont like to, nor see the point of making a big deal of my birthdays. I sometimes bring an upcoming birthday up in conversation where it's relevant to whatever we're talking about, or I may express my happiness for becoming a whole number older. (I just like becoming older, and having my age number increase..)

But, on my actual birthday I avoid mentioning it at all so as not to have people saying "Happy Birthday" to me and asking me questions like "What did you get?", et cetera..

Sometimes. It's never been a big deal to me, though. I know most people get excited when they're birthday is near, but I don't. It's just another day to me.

No ... May 1st came and went pretty much without incident. I DO NOT like being the center of attention for any reason -- particularly for something so meaningless. We were all born on some day or another. What's the big deal?

This year I got a handful of texts and calls, but kept it low-key. My wife and her family are big on birthdays and cards and little gifts. I guess I feel a part of the family.

But I did manage to avoid a party and just spend the day with my wife doing a day trip to a place we both enjoy together.

I am starting to loosen up a bit on the b-day thing... Starting to realize that birthday celebrations are kind of like funerals, the observance is less about the person central to the event than it would appear.

Only if they ask me. Haven't had a birthday party in 7 years, and don't plan on changing it today. I don't like getting presents (mainly because I feel I did not do anything to deserve any, and I hate surprises. Also, the things that would make me really happy can hardly be bought with money), I don't like having too many people around me, and I don't like getting attention for just the fact that I managed to survive another year - or any other reason in that matter.

no, i hate being centre of attention and feel embarrassed if people do things for me

Not usually, it's just another day to me. I tend to forget other's birthday's which never goes down well.

No. I don't feel comfortable when the "spotlight" is on me. But sometimes, in my mind I want people to know and do something so I feel special, even if for a moment, rather than be the ever constant, and usually comfortable, part of the woodwork I usually exist in.

I do tell people about my birthday however i don't want to make a big deal about it and i just like to keep things simple nothing fancy at all.

I don't tell people it's my birthday. Don't like it when people I'm not very close with pay too much attention (or any at all, really) to me.

The only thing I ever want done for my birthday is for the people closest to me to say "happy birthday." Just let me know you didn't forget, that's more than enough to make me feel that you care. I don't like it when I'm the center of attention, even when it's well-meant and only lasts for the space of a dinner.

Never. I try to take the day off work to avoid people who might say something or make a big deal out of it

Once I was at a restaurant with my family for my birthday celebration and the manager found out it was my birthday. He made a big deal out of it and gave me a shot on the house and I had to drink it there and then.

I hardly drink and the smell of shots make me feel nauseous. I ended up drinking it, hoping I didn't throw up. I didn't want to cause upset and make a scene by refusing it.