With a birthday on Dec. 22, senior Olivia Owings bumps into struggles with celebrating her own day during the holiday season.

“It is always weird to try to schedule birthday stuff, because there’s always been some sort of altercation,” she said. “One time in the past on my birthday we did a Secret Santa like that, it was kind of annoying.” 

Owings birthday is three days before Christmas, and her brother Abram Owings is three days following Christmas, making the events difficult to all celebrate solely and equally.

Olivia Owings said that on top of scheduling issues, her birthday and Christmas gifts are usually given together as one.

“If it’s not my immediate family or grandma it’s always combined,” she said. “Ninety-percent of the time it is one gift for both.” 

In addition to combined gifts, junior Abram Owings said that Christmas and his birthday are commonly combined events.

“We usually don’t have my birthday with just my family,” he said. “We’re usually doing something with our cousins or grandparents.”

Olivia said Abram is even worse off than her, since his birthday (Dec. 28) comes after Christmas and the holiday excitement is fading.

“I think definitely it is worse for Abram,” she said. “I’m glad that I was born before Christmas, but the fact that (Christmas) is over makes it worse.”

Although a birthday around the holidays has a small brightside, Abram Owings said that the negatives surpass the positives.

“The time of year is a lot more exciting,” he said, “but the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and benefits.” 

Despite being overshadowed by Christmas and oftentimes disregarded due to timing, the pair said that their mom always makes an effort to never let the holiday overshadow their birthday.

“My mom has never allowed a Christmas family function on my birthday,” Olivia Owings said. “She always makes a point to never wrap our presents in Christmas wrapping paper.”