A new survey has revealed that one in three adults with a January birthday have scrapped or delayed their celebrations, believing friends and family will not turn up. The study of 2,000 adults, including 250 born in January, found that 35% of all respondents socialise less in the first month of the year, contributing to the bleak outlook for those born then.
As a result, 18% of January-born individuals have moved their birthday plans to another month, while 41% have organised a lower-key event than they would have liked. The survey, commissioned by Madrí Excepcional 0.0%, also showed that 21% have never celebrated their birthday with a party as an adult, and 36% believe they receive fewer gifts—worth an estimated £62—due to their birth month.
Comedian Henry Rowley, who was born in January, commented: 'My birthday always gets the short straw compared to my mates. Everyone's skint, the weather's miserable and Dry January is in full swing.' He has only celebrated his birthday twice as an adult but is now partnering with the beer brand to launch a Birthday Bar Tab at BOXPARK venues across the UK.
Reasons for skipping January birthday events include financial constraints after Christmas, cold weather, and a reluctance to drink alcohol. However, 66% of people said they would be more likely to attend if there were quality time, good non-alcoholic options, or if someone else paid. Sophie Mitchell from Madrí Excepcional said: 'We want to take the pressure off organising January birthday celebrations and make sure no birthday goes unnoticed.'
