Birthday Customs?

When I was in Paris this year in June it was my Birthday, what do French people do to celebrate birthdays? cards, presents etc

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Cards, cakes, presents, dinners out. It all depends how old you are and who you celebrate with.

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Chocolates!!!

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I celebrated my birthday in Paris, and I were dissapointed, doesent at all seem to be the big thing it is in sweden:/ Got a gift from my mother inlaw in the morning, then my boyfriend took me to dinner at night, and then we spent the night in a nightclub that I really dislike (Le paris paris) just because my boyfriends friends were there, and he did not say happy birthday until at the dinner, I felt spoilt, but that night ended in a huge fight.

Mvh/ Emma

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We%26#39;re actually talking about how the French celebrate birthdays, not people of other nations. Sorry yours wasn%26#39;t as much fun as you%26#39;d hoped, though.

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And they sing Happy Birthday.

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And ladies are given flowers.

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What about fêtes? (Celebrations for your Saint%26#39;s name day) A long time ago, when i first tried to buy a %26#39;Heureux Anniversaire%26#39; card in France, I could only find %26#39;Bonne Fête%26#39;. Has birthday taken over?

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When I was there there didnt seem to be many card shops, maybe its because I wasnt there long enough, here in Edinburgh there are cards shops everywhere and wrapping paper, birthday cakes and birthday things, is this not such a big thing in France? I am just curious.

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Dear Underhill

I was talking about french people, my boyfriend is french, his mother is french, his father is french, they have lived in Paris all their lives, and I celebrated my first birthday in france with only french people around me. After the fight, we realised that it all was based on the fact that my boyfriend did not know how we do in sweden and how important it is and I dident know that it was not that important in france, so I saw his behavior as rude even if it ofcause were not.

Best regards

Emma

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Much less of a big deal here. There are small gifts, and the occasional party, but mellower than the blow outs we attended in N. America. Especially for kids, which as a Mom, is a major relief.

Kids just write out the invitation of a piece of paper, handing it out to a few of their close friends. The party is usually at home or the local park. Occassionally an assistant is hired, but usually it is just the Mom.