Every March, my sister Kristin and I celebrate her fake birthday. You read that right–a fake birthday!
You see, my older sisters Kristin and Priscilla are fraternal twins. Growing up, they always celebrated their birthdays together.
Eventually, Kristin and Priscilla went off to different colleges. A year later, I joined Kristin at Cornell University, and we became roommates. One day in our dorm room, I had a brilliant idea. What if Kristin had a second birthday…a fake birthday. She wouldn’t age a full year, she’d just get to have a whole day to herself. We jokingly set the date for March 14, three months after her real birthday.
But, when March 14 rolled around, I actually bought Kristin a gift. Bright red shorts. (I decided that fake birthdays called for slightly unusual gifts.) We celebrated again a year later. And again the year after that.
I can hardly believe it, but it’s been 15 years, and the fake birthday is still going strong! Just last week, in keeping with the tradition of odd gifts, I hid candy Easter eggs around our apartment and left Kristin clues to find them.
It’s funny. What started as a joke quickly became a full-fledged holiday, even if we’re the only two who observe it. It’s one of the highlights of March.
And proof that every day, no matter how ordinary, has the potential for wonder. Whether it’s a fake birthday or buy-a-friend-a-pink-doughnut day or talk-to-everyone-in-the-elevator day. Who’s to say you can only celebrate life–and the ones you love–one day a year?
What about you? Do you celebrate any made-up occasions?
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