0
Milestone birthdays are special ages linked to turning points in our lives. But which ones are important and why? And how do you celebrate milestone birthdays? Does it always need to be a party? We've put together a guide looking at what milestone birthdays are celebrated in the UK. We've also shared our advice on ways you can celebrate, plus what gifts are appropriate for the big days.
Each birthday is undoubtedly special. Most people will celebrate every birthday in some way or another. Whether that's with a party, day trip or a meal with loved ones. Some ages, however, are regarded as milestone birthdays, and these deserve extra attention. We've put together a list of the most special birthdays, so you have an excuse to party.
1st Birthday - The first full year of someone’s life is a huge achievement. It also sees the most rapid growth from a developmental point of view. To celebrate the 1st birthday denotes the transition of a baby into toddlerhood. It’s also a great pride-filled moment for parents too - who wouldn’t want to show off their youngest member of the family?!
13th Birthday – This is the start of the teenage years. It is significant to the children as they no longer regard themselves as a child. Celebrations will depend on the individual. Some teens won't want a family party as they'll rather spend times with their friends at this point. Ask for their input when planning their birthday, it will be appreciated.
16th Birthday - A coming-of-age milestone and often described as sweet sixteen. This is the age you can leave school and move onto further education, working or training. You can also make your first steps towards learning to drive. 16 is the age you start moving away from your childhood into adulthood.
18th Birthday - Probably, the most important coming-of-age milestone. This is the one where adulthood really starts to kick in. You’re now allowed to vote; you can open a bank account in your own name and pay your own bills. You can also buy and drink alcohol. For people going to university it is also the point when many move away from home. 18 is one of the biggest milestones as this is when you are officially classed as an adult.
21st Birthday - There are a few extra things that you can do at 21 that you couldn’t at 18. You can now apply to adopt a child and drive a heavy goods vehicle. In some countries the legal age for buying alcohol is 21. Once you reach this milestone it ends the majority of restrictions.
30th Birthday – Your twenties are often seen as a transition period. Where you learn the ropes about bill paying, house buying and find out who you are as a person. When you reach 30, that tends to be where you start settling into adulthood.
40th Birthday – 40 tends to be the middle age point in our lives. Some people may have a mid-life crisis around this age where they reflect on things that they wished they’d have done earlier. Some see this has a new chapter to make the most of their bucket list. Either way, kick start your 40’s with a huge celebration and appreciate how far you’ve come.
60th Birthday - Nearing the age of retirement, 60 becomes a reflective point in your life. It is an age when you should be able to look back on your youth and early adult life with fond memories. By 60, it’s likely you’ve become accustomed to working life and taking care of your family. Some see this as time to slow things down and take some well-deserved rest and relaxation!
65th Birthday - As you ready for retirement you'll find yourself with lots of free time on your hands. This is the start of discovering new things you hadn't previously had time for.
70th & 80th Birthday - By now you'll have lived an incredible life so each decade from now onwards is a milestone. Gather your loved ones and spend as much time together as possible creating memories.
90th Birthday - By 90 you will have outlived the average life expectancy by quite a number of years. If that isn’t worth celebrating, we don’t know what is!
100th Birthday - Wow! What an incredible achievement and a huge testament to your attitude to life. By 100 it’s likely you’ve slowed down quite a bit, but you’ll still have some seriously fascinating stories to tell. If there’s one thing to look forward to becoming a centenarian it’s getting that letter from the Queen!
How you celebrate one birthday isn’t going to be the same as how you might celebrate another. That said, the general consensus is that milestone birthdays are a special occasion that should be shared with your loved ones. Usually, a first birthday celebration through to an 18th or even 21st, would be accompanied by a party. This would often mean bringing together closest friends and family to celebrate your life.
That doesn’t mean you have to have a party though; often a party can be a costly experience and a time consuming one, too. Everyone is different, so if a party isn’t what the birthday girl or boy wants, then there are alternatives. Sometimes, a family meal can be just as much fun and equally as special, especially for those a little older. Likewise, if you have a child that would get more enjoyment out of doing an activity or visiting a special place, these things can be just as memorable and maybe even more personal. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to birthday celebrations!
Choosing a gift for any birthday can be difficult but even more so for milestone birthdays. For a special birthday you want to get them something unique and memorable that will be treasured. You can find some inspiration below but we advise going down the personal route.
For a first birthday, you might want to consider something educational. A special edition book, or one that’s personalised, can become a keepsake and treasured for years to come. Likewise, 16th, 18th and 21st birthdays will likely lend itself well to a personalised gift. This time something more suitably grown up like jewellery or a watch. For 18th and 21st birthdays, keys are regarded as a significant symbol of coming-of-age, so this could also be incorporated into your gift, too.
By the time someone has turned 30, what they enjoy and their priorities tend to change. Often by this point it’s all about “settling down” so generally household gifts can be a good go to. These can still be sentimental and personal, but trying to find something that’s timeless so it can be cherished and displayed for years to come is often the route to take.
For milestone birthdays beyond that, material possessions aren’t always as valued as experiences. Something fun that can be remembered and reflected on for years to come is likely to go down well.
Celebrating a milestone birthday is important as these ages are often linked to exciting new chapters. How you choose to celebrate is dependent on the individual but consider ways you can make it extra special.
