Birthday Calculator

Western Zodiac Signs

Your zodiac (star sign) is determined by your birth date. Each sign has unique personality traits, strengths, and characteristics according to astrology.

Birthstones by Month

Birthstones are gemstones that represent each month of the year. They have been associated with good luck, health, and protection throughout history.

Chinese Zodiac Animals

The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal. Your Chinese zodiac sign is determined by your birth year.

UK Birthday Milestones & Legal Ages

Various ages have legal significance in the United Kingdom. Here are the key milestone birthdays:

UK Generations by Birth Year

Different generations share common experiences, values, and cultural references. Find out which generation you belong to:

Fun Birthday Facts and Traditions in the UK

Birthdays in the United Kingdom carry a rich tapestry of traditions, customs, and legal significance that set them apart from celebrations in other countries. From the tradition of "bumps" in the playground to receiving a telegram from the monarch at 100, British birthday culture is steeped in history and social meaning.

Traditional UK Birthday Customs

One of the most distinctive British birthday traditions is the giving of "the bumps," where the birthday person is lifted by their arms and legs and gently bounced in the air -- once for each year of their age, plus one more for good luck. This tradition is particularly popular among school children and has been practised across England, Scotland, and Wales for generations.

The classic British birthday tea party remains a cornerstone of childhood celebrations. Typically featuring sandwiches with the crusts cut off, sausage rolls, crisps, jelly and ice cream, and of course the birthday cake, these parties are a rite of passage for children across the country. The tradition of placing coins wrapped in greaseproof paper inside birthday cakes dates back to Victorian times, when finding a sixpence in your slice was considered especially lucky.

Birthday cards are enormously popular in the UK, with Britons sending approximately 900 million greeting cards each year, a significant portion of which are birthday cards. The tradition of sending birthday cards became widespread in the early 20th century, and today the UK remains one of the largest card-sending nations per capita in the world. Many families also maintain the tradition of displaying received cards on the mantelpiece or a dedicated shelf throughout the birthday week.

Key Legal Age Thresholds in the United Kingdom

Your age carries significant legal weight in the UK, with various rights and responsibilities unlocking at specific birthdays. Understanding these thresholds is particularly important for parents, young people, and anyone navigating UK law.

At age 5, children must begin compulsory education in England and Wales (age 4 in Northern Ireland). By age 10, a child reaches the age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (age 12 in Scotland, raised from 8 in 2019). At age 13, young people can take on limited part-time employment, subject to local authority bylaws and restrictions on working hours during term time.

The 16th birthday is a major milestone: young people can leave full-time education (though they must remain in some form of education or training until 18 in England), consent to medical treatment, join the armed forces with parental consent, and buy a lottery ticket. At 17, they can apply for a provisional driving licence for cars and motorcycles. The 18th birthday is the principal age of majority: the right to vote in elections, buy alcohol and tobacco, get a tattoo, serve on a jury, and marry without parental consent all begin at this age.

Less commonly known thresholds include age 21, traditionally called the "key of the door" birthday, which historically marked the age when young people received the key to the family home. At 25, car hire companies typically remove their young driver surcharge. The State Pension age, currently at 66, is set to rise to 67 by 2028. And at 100, British citizens receive a congratulatory birthday card from the reigning monarch -- a tradition started by King George V in 1917.

Notable UK Birthday Statistics and Records

Research into UK birth records reveals fascinating patterns. The most common birthday in the UK falls on 26th September, approximately nine months after Christmas and New Year celebrations. Conversely, the rarest birthday is 25th December, followed closely by 1st January and 29th February (which only occurs in leap years). Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that September is consistently the most popular birth month in England and Wales, with mid-September dates dominating the top positions year after year.

The UK has some remarkable birthday records. The oldest verified person born in the UK was Charlotte Hughes from Redcar, who lived to 115 years and 228 days. Among living centenarians, the UK has one of the fastest-growing populations of people aged 100 and over, with numbers having quadrupled since the 1980s. The Office for National Statistics estimates that approximately one in three babies born today in the UK can expect to live to celebrate their 100th birthday, reflecting improvements in healthcare, nutrition, and living standards.