You say it's your birthday – it's my birthday too
The first Commenter yesterday asked me to devote a blog to the subject of birthdays. Someone else suggested that we tried to find out as many people’s birthdays as possible and work out what the most popular birthday among Watsonians might be.
This reminded me of something my colleague Horne did in his excellent Edinburgh show ‘Odds’. He said that in a group of 50 people, the ‘odds’ of two people having the same birthday were weirdly high, because of some mathematical principle I don’t remember and might not have understood in any case. This is even though there are 365 days of the week to choose from and so you would intuitively think the birthdays of a small group would be unlikely to overlap.
So:
How many readers of this blog share a birthday?
Can we find out the most-shared birthday and make it an official day of Watsonian Celebrations?
Also, can someone explain why people have the same birthday more often than you think?
I’m not sure what the best way to tackle the first question is. But basically, some people need to get the ball rolling by posting a Comment to reveal their birthdays. If you see that yours is already up there, write something to the effect of I AM THE SECOND PERSON WITH THE BIRTHDAY APRIL XX. And so on until one day emerges as the winner. In your Comment you can also supply information about whether you like birthdays or find them depressing/a nuisance.
Maybe we can even put some of the people with a shared birthday in touch for a party. Like Rhian and Sephy, who are sharing the Toblerone and whose addresses I now both have. Fun.
I must post this now because I’m about to go on stage in Halifax and my long-suffering tour manager Giles is understandably anxious.
Posted by KateR on December 22, 2010
19th September. I love birthdays!
Posted by Amy B on December 22, 2010
Mine’s the 23rd of July (apologies for slowness of commenting)
Posted by Cathy on December 13, 2010
Mine is 15th Dec, which I think is the 2nd one on here. But more importantly it’s in 2 days time!!
It will be my 30th, but I still get excited!
Posted by issey on December 11, 2010
My birthday is June 28th
Not sure if I share it with anyone else here as I don’t think I can face searching through all 200 comments! (sorry)
Posted by Lisa D on December 10, 2010
Well it seems unlikely that I’ll ever be leaving the first comment, I am pretty stoked to be leaving the 200th. Hurray for playing catchup!
My birthday is March 18th. Only one so far (can’t believe I just read all 199 comments…)
I love my birthday. 364 days out of the year I’m taking care of the well being of everyone else; on my birthday I ignore everyone’s preferences and insist on enjoying myself. It’s like a mental health reset button.
Posted by Aislinn on December 10, 2010
Hello! Mass blog comment catch-up time! (Though I’m not sure I needed all those words in that sentence.)
My birthday’s another July one; the 19th. I did a quick search for ‘July’ on this page and couldn’t find any other 19s, despite how popular the month in general seems to be. My Nan and Mum are also July birthdays.
Brian May and one of Liberty X also have my birthday, so I think we’ll all agree that’s a win/win situation.
Also, I don’t have an issue with birthdays. Christmas is cooler because loads of people celebrate it, whereas with birthdays no-one cares so much because they’re constantly happening. Also, mine’s at the sort of time when people go on holiday and so it’s hard to sort of do anything. Not that I ever do. But birthdays: GOOD on the whole.
Posted by NaomiB on December 10, 2010
After all that I am the first on the 6th May, though I have many friends sharing the day before. I share my birthday with George Clooney, Tony Blair and Sigmund Freud. lol
Posted by amycool on December 9, 2010
Hooray! I have a birthday buddy!
Posted by Dara on December 9, 2010
As far as I can tell (well according to Tibb’s last list anyway) I’m the second person with June 23rd.
Seeing as this is my first ever comment I think QIP would be an accurate description so hi everyone.
Posted by David on December 9, 2010
16th November, and seemingly the only one so far?
Posted by Lena on December 9, 2010
11th February here, think I’m the first one.
Posted by Lesley Lowman on December 8, 2010
May 22nd.Next year I will be 59 but I try not to think about that too much!Going to comedy and music gigs(often with my lovely daughter,who doesn’t mind me keeping her company!)keeps me feeling young at haert!!
Posted by Jess on December 8, 2010
9th December, so quite soon
Posted by KG on December 8, 2010
The second 1st August here!
A summer birthday used to be good as it was always in the school holidays. Now I’m old it is bad because it’s always in the school holidays.
Posted by Beth on December 8, 2010
As far as I can tell after reading through ALL of those comments I appear to be the only person with a birthday on the 27th October. Quite a few watsonians seem to be fleshing that week out now though!
Posted by matt on December 8, 2010
mine’s 1st July, which I appear to share with Katy. Hello, Katy.
Matt
Posted by Rachel Winter on December 8, 2010
Mine is 25th Oct, I’ve gone all the way down and not seen amy others.
I think birthdays CAN be depressing, but then it depends how your life is going. If its going badly then the enforced ‘joy’ of a birthday is quite an irony and makes you feel worse, but if life is great then its ‘my life is great and – whoohoo – its my birthday too!’.
Like the Jan 1st thing its one of those cut off points that makes you think about what, if anything, you’ve done that year.
Posted by Tibbs on December 8, 2010
I really should’ve miniaturized that link. Ah, well.
I am please to report that January finally has it’s own poly-birthday! Now the other months can stop picking on it. The 12th of January is shared by both amycool and James (who informed me via twitter, as his comment is temporarily lost in moderation; and don’t think I wasn’t tempted to keep that information to myself in the hopes that a few people might take me for a wizard when his comment eventually surfaces).
Posted by Cat on December 7, 2010
Hello. 24th November. First one I think.
Posted by Sally on December 7, 2010
Mines 8th June, although i never really celebrate it!
Posted by Jen on December 7, 2010
3rd of November.
Next time it rolls round, I’ll be thirty. Which is beginning to depress me.
Posted by ShineUrShoesGuv on December 7, 2010
I think I’m the second birthday on 1st June -
hi Talks to Rainbows – I’m bit of a QIP too
Posted by Shell on December 7, 2010
8th November
I usually keep quiet about my birthday till it’s past so this is good timing. I didn’t notice another 8th Nov but I’m on my phone so only scanned quickly.
Posted by Ingrid on December 7, 2010
Virtual Lintu its great to have someone with the same birthday! And i have seen a few people (beth and lisan66) only a few days out to! I love having a birthday in june (as many have pointed out) just in the middle of the year, with a good gap between christmas on either end.
x
Posted by Tibbs on December 7, 2010
This comment is mostly a place-holder so that I know where I’m up to for keeping the list (https://docs.google.com/document/d/10GMEcCXe2FEFjfWuLMYlPKlDuerhiuUH-_W6MK_RbGQ/edit?authkey=CIPYlawJ&hl=en#) updated.
But so that it is not quite so pointless, have some updated stats:
Moments after I complain that we have no b-days on the 19th of any month, I get TWO comments that redress this imbalance quite nicely. Ta very much, and ! And I would like to take this opportunity to complain that I still don’t have a million dollars, hopefully with similar effects
January remains the only month without a polybirthdate (I’m not sure I like this term, but it’s all I’ve come up with as yet), while July and August have five a piece. If we count Tom’s five-month-old son (d’awwww!) as a Watsonian, then that inches 07 July into the lead once more, with 4 celebrants, while currently tied for second place are 13 March, 05 May, 18 September and 14 November with three each.
And re: blog title, my family have four songs that we play at every family birthday party, and this song is one of them. So I have heard this song at least five times a year every year since I can remember. But I’m still not tired of it!
Posted by Becca on December 6, 2010
I just totally cheated and did “search in page” to find out if anyone shared my birthday… it’s too late and my eyes are too tired to scan through all 164 comments at once… Sorry!
But Matthew and I share a birthday: 28th May
Posted by Drew on December 6, 2010
I feel slightly dizzy having flicked through all those dates so quickly!
My birthday is 23rd of November and this year I was 42. Didn’t get life, the universe and everything revealed to me. Bummer. However, I did get a present from Mark himself the very next day for which I would like to publicly thank him, again.
I believe I am the only person currently listing that date. Isn’t it all exciting!
Posted by LollyPolly on December 6, 2010
Quote Tibbs “We currently have four hat-tricks vying for supremacy:
13 March
05 May
07 July
14 November
Exciting stuff!”
Woo! Come on 13th Marchers! ;o)
Posted by EmmaT on December 6, 2010
18 March, born a day before my mum’s birthday. She used to give me money for my birthday, which being the only income I used to get, I ended up spending it on her present. She should have just gone and got herself something nice. I love birthdays though, but this years was a bit of a damp squib as it was the first of the 27 I have had that I have worked.
Posted by Beth on December 6, 2010
Second check-in for the 29th of October here!
Hi, Laurs (…Laura? Google assures me that Laurs isn’t a rare name, so I hope I’ve not just put my foot in my mouth, again, as usual).
I love other people’s birthdays, but I don’t have any particularly strong feelings about my birthday when it’s My Birthday. I think the best example of this is from a couple of years ago, when I was away with a friend over my birthday. We came down to breakfast, then logged on to check our emails, and then had the following conversation:
Me: What the …?! I’ve got dozens and dozens of Facebook notifications! Has something big happened that we didn’t know about because we’re on holiday?
Friend: . . . It’s your birthday, you idiot.
Me: Oh, yeah.
Posted by Melanie on December 6, 2010
It was me who suggested the topic of birthdays, looks like it’s snowballed!
3 December here.
Posted by Lydia on December 6, 2010
Mine is on the 9th of November. I think I might be the only one with that date though. I thought there would be loads, because there is something like 3 other people in my year at school who share my birthday.
Posted by Anji on December 6, 2010
28th November – think that’s a first. I have just turned 28, it’s not hit me yet.
I was due on the 14th, which is also my mums birthday! But wanted my own special day. I have met an American who shares my birthday, and also get excited when taking dob’s at work when someone has the same date – oddly they never respond well if I say anything!
Posted by Tom on December 6, 2010
And a THIRD for 18th September – hello Rachel and Alice.
So that’s another hat-trick.
And my son was born on 7th July this year. Shazam! Four!
Posted by Alice on December 6, 2010
21st May! I also share my birthday with Mr T. Isn’t knowledge fun?
Posted by AlexY on December 6, 2010
I’m the third person with an October 8th birthday! And also one of a number of Alexs (which looks wrong without an apostrophe, but it’s grammatically wrong to put one in – dilemma for a pedant…) My mum’s birthday is 20th July, so she’s also a member of a popular group. But she doesn’t read this blog, so I think she shouldn’t be added to the stats.
Not generally a fan of birthdays, as I find it a bit awkward being the centre of attention. But this year I turned 40; had moved from London to Edinburgh in July, so hadn’t seen a lot of my friends in 3 months. I had also been on a big exercise drive for the first time ever (lack of social life = time to go to the gym; every cloud, etc), so had lost weight and bought a foxy frock. I had a big party in London, saw all my friends and family, who were all wildly complimentary, felt brilliant and had the best birthday ever.
I can recommend throwing yourself a big bash if you’re scared of a birthday with a zero on the end of it – it’s bloody great.
Posted by LB on December 6, 2010
I think I am the first for August 15.
I agree with Meg, the best thing about an August birthday is always being on summer holidays. There was a rumour once that ‘they’ were going to change the format of the school year and I was gutted as it meant I wouldn’t be on holiday for my birthday anymore. Not so worried about that now as I haven’t been at school for a good few (15..ish) years… Also ‘they’ piped down on that idea.
Anyway, I also liked August 15 because in France (where we were often on camping holidays) they always had fireworks due to some sort of national holiday. My parents used to tell me they were organised especially for me, which was nice.
Hello by the way, from a sporadic reader/lurker. This seemed like a nice safe post to start my commenting career on. I will try to be more consistent in my reading in the future…
Posted by Katie on December 6, 2010
16th August!!
And i am the first one after like 155 comments, I feel special :L I share this day with Frankie Boyle, score
I know statistically, my brothers birthday, 21st September, is the most common in the year. Mainly cause people get drunk and have sex on new years eve…
Posted by TalksToRainbows on December 6, 2010
1st June
*goes back to QIP-ing*
Posted by Tom Butcher on December 6, 2010
I’m 21st March (1980), the first day of Spring
Also the exact same day as Ronaldinho. For years I had to accept I was probably not the best footballer born even that day but since he found the party scene I might try and claim that title…
Looking forward to Hammersmith on Friday!
Posted by Craig on December 6, 2010
I AM THE SECOND 20th August woo! Hi Dani!
I am indifferent about birthdays though.
Posted by JontyLarr on December 6, 2010
I’m the second person to be born on 11 June. I also often quote it as also being Hugh Laurie’s birthday.
Posted by Cat on December 6, 2010
I believe I am 1st for 1st of August
and Sam would like to say he’s 2nd for 28th December!
Posted by cymruangel on December 6, 2010
My birthday is 13th October.
I don’t seem to share with any Watsonians, but other birthday twins are Margaret Thatcher and Edwina Currie… one of many reasons why I will never be going into politics!
Posted by Andrew on December 6, 2010
January 9th. I’m not surprised nobody else has it, nobody ever does. I love birthdays, and I’m regularly mystifed by the number of people who make a huge fuss over the poguealicious wretchedness of Christmas and yet are dismissive of birthdays. Surely the opportunity to make one person feel special is much better than everybody joining in a massive, meaningless act of reciprocation?
Posted by Kay (of Project Preston fame) on December 6, 2010
I am the second person to have the birthday December 22nd! Hello G!.
I love borthdays and last year was the first year that I had snow on my birthday it was amazin! Hope for the same this year.
Posted by Glamlovinkitty on December 6, 2010
17th of August here. Looks like I’m the only one?
Posted by SamJJ on December 6, 2010
I think I’m the first for 18 October? I like birthdays
Posted by Sarah on December 6, 2010
28th Feb
Posted by Weaselspoon on December 6, 2010
I seem to be the only September 3rd birthday.
Posted by Chris on December 6, 2010
Mine is 3 February.. I think I’m the first for that date.
Posted by BeardedIan on December 6, 2010
Looks like I am alone on here celebrating on the 5th of July.
Just like in real life. Ho-hum.
Posted by Steve on December 6, 2010
Tibbs – I’d like to break the 10th duck- 10th November! – same as Richard Burton
Posted by Ivan (@ivanbrett) on December 6, 2010
My birthday is the 26th April, same as Zoe!
Yay, there are two of us!
Posted by Georgia on December 6, 2010
I’m pretty sure I’m the first person on 16th June. Yay for me, but also darnit, no celebration day on my birthday
Posted by Gilly on December 6, 2010
I think I’m the first for the 10th of July, which makes me sad – I have lots of fun people on either side of me, though!
Posted by Tibbs on December 6, 2010
We currently have four hat-tricks vying for supremacy:
13 March
05 May
07 July
14 November
Exciting stuff!
January is the only month with no doubles as yet, although it is still one of the smallest months. June has surpassed July as the month with the most celebrants, at 17, and November is currently at the low end of the scale, with only 6. Also there are a few months that almost have a week’s worth of birthdays in a row: February has 12-15, May has 16 and 18-21, and June has a run of 22-26. So if we could flesh those out, please, that’d be lovely!
And I could be wrong about this, but it looks like we have no one who was born on the 10th of any month. Weird.
Posted by BJA on December 6, 2010
Another for 25th June following Lauren & Joe (hello to you!). This making me a Cancerian although astrology has always been a complete mistery to me I do remember a years ago Cadbury’s telling me it has a direct bearing on how I choose to eat a Creame Egg!
Posted by Clara on December 6, 2010
8th of April – same as Louisel. It is a good day although occasionally swamped by Easter.
Posted by alex :) on December 6, 2010
4th January. A good time for a birthday. Mid-summer post-Christmas torpor. I like that I stay the same age for the whole year, which makes cataloguing my memories easier. That sounds weird maybe. Basically, for every year of my life I can say (using my internal voice, usually): “1993, 11, Blenheim, form one, Renwick & Fairhall schools. BAM.” or “1986, 4, Auckland, sister born, Kristin kindergarten. W’CHA.” etc. Name me a year and I’ll name you some sticky-uppy bits on the ruler of my personal timeline.
That didn’t really alleviate the weirdness. Dreadful.
We all have our strange brain systems.
Anyway, as Alastair (and perhaps others, sorry, haven’t read all the comments) has mentioned, The Infinite Monkey Cage had some really interesting stats information last week. And a spot of Tim Minchin, bringing the catchiness with his “birthday paradox” sting. I too highly recommend listening to this episode.
Actually, listen to all of the episodes. Bloody good show.
Posted by Phil on December 6, 2010
4 March (1948). Couldn’t spot any others b4 my phone started playing up and whizzing through the comments to the last one in about 2 seconds! I did however spot my wife’s: 17 Sept; she’s not a reader but still entitled to a birthday I s’pose? I’ll take a look at one of your readers’ tables for mine.
Posted by Mastropiero on December 6, 2010
1st February, and I feel rather lonely now…
Posted by tothesky on December 6, 2010
I’m on 12th of February so have a double with Helen just below me
And Linsey, I may be wrong but you double with a certain Mr Watson 
Posted by Linsey on December 6, 2010
Aaah, mine is 13th February, which I think means we have 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th? But no doubles
Posted by heatherooo on December 6, 2010
My birthday is September the 17th, and I THINK I’m the first to post for that date, although I may have missed people as I was scanning through the mass of other comments.
Nothing else to say really. Just posting for the sake of participation, and cos I’m horribly wide awake and in fear of the impending Monday doom. x
Posted by Lukey on December 6, 2010
12 th of June, I avoid telling people this because of the whole hitting on the arm thing. I find birthdays a bit of a daft thing to celebrate, the earth has just been around the sun *insert age here* times since I was born, so what ?
Posted by James on December 6, 2010
My birthday is the 12th January. I believe that I am the 2nd person here with that birthday, and maybe the 2nd in the world (depends who is doing the counting.)
Posted by Helen on December 6, 2010
12th February for me. Don’t think anyone else shares it so far. Except Darwin, though admittedly he’s unlikely to comment.
Posted by Josh on December 5, 2010
24th August
And the thing is that, in a large group, it doesn’t matter who the birthday match is therefore it’s. It’s like the Lottery, the chances of someone in the UK winning the Lottery is almost 100%.
Posted by Suzy on December 5, 2010
Hello Emily, my birthday twin! I’m July 25th too
My daughter was nearly born on my birthday – thought I was going to get an amazing present … but she arrived on 27th!
My mum’s birthday’s 7th July – seems a popular day
My family is full of July birthdays – me, mum, my sister, my daughter, my uncle … an excellent month for a birthday I think 
Posted by Will F on December 5, 2010
I believe I’m second with a January 24th birthday.
Posted by Benjamin on December 5, 2010
My birthday is September 14th. Nothing to say – just like participating.
Posted by Hannah Mae on December 5, 2010
23rd June – I think I’m the first. Surprising, because at primary school there was a girl with my exact name AND my exact birthday. Stole my thunder a bit, I have to say.
I’m I the only one who slightly hopes this mass data collation signals the beginnings of a cult? A really optimistic one.
Posted by Kate B on December 5, 2010
Mine is the 9th of June, the same as Johnny Depp- which I have always been quite proud of
Nice to see lots of June birthdays close to mine, but I don’t think so far there has been anyone else with the same day!
Posted by Steve on December 5, 2010
It’s not so much the randomness of individual dates, it’s that your more likely to be born in July/August/Sept, something to do with the oncoming shorter nights, and it’s probably a better time to have babies (or was in the old days). This is the analysis of Mark’s birth dates to date, I think this works for any large group of people.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=tHfcJci4jqKzX33oanJDC2A&hl=en#gid=0
Posted by K on December 5, 2010
3rd for November 14th then. Thanks, Adam, for that lovely image. Do you realise in over 40 years I’d never yet made that connection? Bletch. Also, it’s us and Prince Charles, so y’know, woo or something.
Posted by Elise on December 5, 2010
My birthday’s on April 9th, I think I’m the first of those here. Fun fact: this means I share my birthday with both Hugh Hefner and Jenna Jameson. Not a year goes by that someone doesn’t point this out to me…
Posted by Tibbs on December 5, 2010
I’ve been updating the list (https://docs.google.com/document/d/10GMEcCXe2FEFjfWuLMYlPKlDuerhiuUH-_W6MK_RbGQ/edit?hl=en&authkey=CIPYlawJ&pli=1#), and I’m pretty sure I set it so that anyone with the link can edit it.
Forgot to add in my first comment that I love birthdays, they are ace. My friends and I tend to do kind of quirky birthday parties, like giving people treasure maps and getting them to trek throught the woods solving riddles at various locations before they can find their presents. Although these parties are usually not on the day itself, and are often, in fact, several months later (We’re not always that great at organizing things on time, plus we’ve come to realise that it’s not all that wise to do this sort of thing in winter).
I also especially love my birthday in particular, as Victoria Day in Canada is always the Monday either before or after, and having a long weekend near my birthday was always convenient for my childhood parties.
Posted by Katie on December 5, 2010
I’m 14th november too, same as Adam. Hiya!
Posted by Sam on December 5, 2010
Hi
My birthday is 12th March and my boyfriend (also a blog reader/lurker) is 15th December. Both of these dates are firsts I think from a quick scan through the comments so far.
x
Posted by Scott Cameron on December 5, 2010
Second person with birthday 2nd July, woop woop
Posted by Sam on December 5, 2010
Second 6th of August.
Posted by Heather Jones on December 5, 2010
2nd February – second one for this date (hello Sarah)
I’m coming up for 48 on the next birthday – about which I’m pretending to be sanguine, but am secretly rather glum.
Posted by tinkissarah on December 5, 2010
Think I’m the first person whos birthday is 16th December. Well to comment on this blog at least. I know 2 people who share my birthday (they aren’t related or close friends so don’t worry, they don’t steal my spotlight).
I am excited as in case you hadn’t realised, 16th Dec is little over 10 days away. Although I’ll be turning 25 this year which I think really does makes me an adult now. I can’t deny it any longer. It does make me rather sad though.
Posted by HelenLS on December 5, 2010
First for the 3rd of March. Born at midnight between the 2nd and 3rd though so I’ve never been quite sure.
I like birthdays. My mum, and my girlfriend’s dad have the same birthday and are the same age. Which I though was quite nice.
Posted by Tine on December 5, 2010
I´m the third whose birthday is 13th of March.
Posted by Dani on December 5, 2010
I think i’m the first 20th of August here.
Have to say i’m rather ambivalent about birthdays
Posted by LauraJ on December 5, 2010
31st October. Awesome as it’s Halloween so lots of fancy dress opportunities! Although I’m 30 now so it’s all a bit depressing.
Posted by hornseygirl on December 5, 2010
My birthday is on the 11th September.
My daughter’s is on the 31st December – her first one this New Year’s Eve – which might be a bit harsh in the future…
Posted by Katy on December 5, 2010
I’m joining the popular month of July but I think I’m the first to be on the first. So 1st of July for me. Like Anna, this will be my 30th birthday.
This will also be the last time we mention that fact. Thank you.
Posted by G. on December 5, 2010
22nd December. Seems strange that there are so few people so far with birthdays in December.
I like Birthdays when they truly are your day and you can do what you want. I hate it when you get forced into going out or having a big thing if that’s not what you want.
This year I’m taking the day off work, spending the day catching up with my parents, having a nice dinner out with my wife and best-friend then coming home and staying up until the wee-hours of the 23rd playing the new version of Civilisation just like I used to when I was 15 (I’m about to become 33).
Posted by Ben Draper on December 5, 2010
I AM THE 2nd PERSON TO HAVE THAT DATE.
Posted by Ben Draper on December 5, 2010
3rd July.
Infinite Monkey Cage. Your nemesis, Minchin, beat you to this question!
Posted by Adam on December 5, 2010
I believe I’m the first for 14th November, exactly 9 months after valentines day. Shudder.
Posted by Claire on December 5, 2010
I think I’m the first 20th April on here
Posted by Kathryn on December 5, 2010
Second person for the 27th August. Hi Michael.
I was one of the oldest in my year at school. Different system.
Posted by Someone on December 5, 2010
Pretty sure that makes me 3rd person with 5th May birthday here.
Which is quite cool. Hello.
Posted by Juliet on December 5, 2010
15th of November. Always thought of 15 as a lovely number. As if numbers had a personality or something. Maybe I should go back to sleep. xx
Posted by isabelle on December 5, 2010
I’m March 30th. Second one here I believe. hello max
I find birthdays to be a little exasperating. Because you’re supposed to have such a great day, when it turns out ever so slightly shit it becomes just a completely horrible day. There’s too much pressure to be happy on a single day.
Posted by Steph on December 5, 2010
Mine’s January 23rd, I think I’m the first one here…
Posted by Joe on December 5, 2010
I’m the second for 25th June.
Posted by elin on December 5, 2010
I join A lot of Rachels on the big moon landing day, 20th of July.
Posted by mark on December 5, 2010
first for 28th december and share with my twin.
Posted by Helen on December 5, 2010
Think I’m the second person to comment who was born on March 13th, first being LollyPolly. Sometimes I quite like birthdays, I quite like celebrating other peoples’ too. But other times they are a bit of a hassle, or a bit underwhelming. But its nice to break up the year a little bit. x
Posted by Simone on December 5, 2010
My birthday is on the 29th of August which, I think, is a first out of the people who have commented. Michael Jackson was also born on the 29th of August.
My lovely Mum makes me feel like i’m the most special person in the world on my birthday, so I like them a lot. I’ve lived in the UK (originally from Australia) for 4 years and I love the fact that I now have a summer birthday.
Posted by JoC on December 5, 2010
I was born on 3rd Jan. As an Australian it’s an excellent time to have a birthday, being in England now it’s not so much fun. Still, can’t complain- bank holiday!
Posted by Rachael on December 5, 2010
I am the SECOND person born on 8th October, Hi Daniel!
I like birthdays because it is always nice to have an excuse to eat cake and all that but they do have a tendency to be abit of a disappointment. Maybe I just have high expectations.
Posted by Suzanne, aka Snr Watsonian on December 5, 2010
Should have checked this earlier … it’s nearly taken me to Christmas to make sure I’m the first posting 18 May …
There are quite a few around then or am I just focussing on those particular dates?
May I be the first to wish us all a very happy next birthday!
Posted by jenni on December 5, 2010
31st December party tine!!!!
Mark, we watched you at Halifax last night (I am the girl that accosted you down the dark alley way while you were on your phone)!!
Just thougth I’d share what I heard in the interval.
2 usher women talking over selling the ice cream
1st – Is the comedian alright then tonigh?
2nd – Yeah not bad
1st – Do you think he’ll make it big then?
2nd – oh I dunno about that!!
Made me laugh!!
Great night.
You’re a lovely bloke, thanks for the autographs even though you were busy talking!
Jenni
Posted by Corry on December 5, 2010
First person (I think) for 19th December … yes it is soon… yes I would like a pony.
Posted by Alice on December 5, 2010
Second person born on the 18th of September, hello Rachel. I know a fee people with this birthday as well, at school you couldn’t move for people singing inanely on that day.
I prefer celebrating other people’s birthdays as while I enjoy birthdays themselves I can’t bear their major components: getting older, having people sing timelessly at you and birthday cake. People think I’m weird but as I get older I get to insist on different ways to celebrate- champagne, for example is adequate.
Posted by Marc on December 5, 2010
Hi Sophie.
You have now.
My birthday’s also 26 June.
Marc
Posted by ChrisP on December 5, 2010
ah yes!
Totally missed that little Beatles reference there!
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance!
Posted by LollyPolly on December 5, 2010
Incidentally I’m going to a Birthday party this afternoon…
Yes we’re going to a party party
Yes we’re going to a party party
Yes we’re going to a party party
*nod to lyric blog title*
Posted by ChrisP on December 5, 2010
17th January.
Terrible time to have a birthday. it really is.
Posted by LollyPolly on December 5, 2010
Hmmm, this doesn’t seem to be going very well so far, only a couple of days where 2 or so people share a birthday.
Hopefully this will be a tempting one for lurkers, like myself, and we’ll see a clear winner.
Until then….
13th March for me.
ps. I was at the recording of The Infinite Monkey Cage and it was fantastic! Well worth a listen if you haven’t already.
Posted by Adele on December 5, 2010
SECOND PERSON for 8th Feb. Hello Zoe!
I’ll be 32 next year and I still love a good birthday. It is however, a royal pain to be born on 8th Jan like my fiancée Roger (above) as it would appear that all the restaurants in the world shut down at that time so he has to put up with my cooking!
Posted by Roger on December 5, 2010
All these comments so far and it appears I am the first for 8th January. Same as Elvis but I don’t expect he’ll be adding to the blog comments.
Posted by Virtual Lintu on December 5, 2010
I’m the second for 4th June (Hi Ingrid).
I don’t like getting any older but it’s better than the alternative and also, it’s sweetened by getting presents. Which is never wrong.
Posted by Matt on December 5, 2010
I’m the second for 22nd August.
Don’t really do birthday’s.
I know a few people with matching birthdays to one’s already mentioned.
Posted by Tracey on December 5, 2010
Hi Mark. My birthday is September 26th. I was born in 1963 so that makes me 47. I share my birthday with Bryan Ferry, Serena Williams and Jo Caulfield. So, I can’t sing, play tennis and I’m not a comedian! Traceyx
Posted by Emily III on December 5, 2010
I think I’m the first with a birthday on 24th May. I’ll be 17 next year. I used to love having my birthday then because it was always near the May half term holiday. Now, I wish it was a bit later because I always have to revise for exams on my birthday. I do like that it’s not too near christmas though.
I love birthdays in general
I think they’re a nice excuse to see all your friends/ family. I agree with Zoe Fell about the inappropiate breakfast food 
Posted by Nuala on December 5, 2010
25th of April.
Posted by Sue (DiB) on December 5, 2010
22 August. I am 45.
I went to school in England so I was one of the youngest in my year, I liked having my birthday during the summer holidays.
Now I’m all grown up (except in my brain) and I live in Brisbane, so my birthday is now in the middle of winter. The daytime temperature is not that different though. :p
Posted by Madeleine on December 5, 2010
My birthday is the 20th of May, seems to be the first one so far. However, Tibbs is born the day before and Megan the day after… SO CLOSE! Also Steve has the same birthday as my primary school best friend Ingrid, (the twelth of May). We would always have out parties on consecutive weekends and it was a great time for all.
I was born on the exact day that the doctors predicted, which is quite rare apparently (only 3% of babies are… or 13%, I can’t remember, 3% certainly is more impressive) and my mother was in labour for only two hours. Her water broke minutes after my dad got home from work, they popped in the car to the hospital and I was born with minumal fuss. I’ve tried to make up for it by being a right little shit since then.
I am VERY much looking forward to my next birthday as I will be 18! and my life will truly being. Not so much for the alchohol, but more for getting into gigs and shows. Sufjan Stevens, Wavves and Foals, some of my favourite artists, are doing all 18+ shows a month before my birthday just to make me weep. Those cunts.
Posted by Alex on December 5, 2010
Think I’m the first 26th May. Nice date as the weather is generally good, but shit date as it is ALWAYS in the middle of exams. Not yet had a good birthday in my twenties, and I don’t expect 22 to be any better. 23 however will be AMAZING. I have decided. Anway…
Posted by ali on December 5, 2010
June 29th. I don’t really like birthdays.
/QIP, commenting because in 23 years I have never met anyone who shares mine.
Posted by Rick Procter on December 5, 2010
Weh-hey, I’m number 2 for 8th April, after Louisel above. But by the seems of it, I’m about twice her age. If she’s having her first driving lesson on 8-4-11, I would imagine that’s when she turns 17 – which is the same day I turn 33. In fact, on 8th April this year she would’ve been EXACTLY half my age. She’ll be catching up with me from now on though – come 2026, she’ll be two-thirds my age. Plus, on our next birthday, we’ll be half a century old between us – maybe if we put our heads together we could recall the moon landing…?
Hmm, now I’m into a bit of maths (at the risk of overgeeking) I’m tempted to have a go at the Birthday Paradox explanation. Alistair explained it above pretty well, and pretty simply, I reckon – and I see a few more have written on the subject. But what the hell…
The rule holds because ANY 2 people from the group could share ANY date – so in a group of 10 for example, the chance of Person A’s birthday being the same as anyone else’s is 9/365 = approx 1 in 40 (not all that unlikely in itself, eh?). And then, the chance of a match with Person B is the same…again. And again with Person C. Plus the chance with Person D too – and so on. Maths is absolutely fascinating, eh? Yyyyyyyes, indeed.
Posted by Tibbs on December 5, 2010
Mine’s the 19th of May. So no Watsonian birthday twins for me yet, although I do share my birthday with Pete Townsend and Malcolm X (much better than my mother, who shares her birthday with Hitler and my horrible grade 9 math teacher).
And for anyone who would like to see the data laid out, I’ve got a list of all the birthday posted so far here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10GMEcCXe2FEFjfWuLMYlPKlDuerhiuUH-_W6MK_RbGQ/edit?hl=en&authkey=CIPYlawJ
We’ve only had one December b-day, which is a bit surprising to me since a fair few of my cousins are born in the winter months, but it would seem Watsonian birth rates rise steadily through spring and peak with 11 in July, then begin to dwindle sharply in August. Which would imply that people start to lose interest in baby making around November. Odd. What else is there to do on those long cold nights?
Oh, and I loved Alex Horne’s show. Not least because he mentioned my birthday in it (it was the day that he hit a pigeon in midair whilst attempting to get a hole-in-one).
Posted by Joelle on December 5, 2010
I’m born on the 9th of August and I do believe I’m the first person with that day.
I love having my birthday in my favourite season, winter!
Posted by Natalie-Helen on December 5, 2010
THIRD FOR THE 7TH JULY!!!
Also I went to school with a girl who was born on the same day in the same ward of the hospital as my mum. Slightly weird when we met a school gates for the first time and our mothers recognised each other!
Would also recomend a listen to The Infinite Monkey Cage from 29th of Nov, not least for Tim Minchin’s tune which reminded me of Mark Watson makes the world substantially better…
Also nice use of the Beatles for todays blog title. Especially since they are now available on itunes.
^_^
x
Posted by A lot of Rachels on December 5, 2010
oh and p.s. 20th July is the best birthday, moon landing!
Posted by A lot of Rachels on December 5, 2010
Quick scan and I think I’m the first for 20th July. Oh, I was hoping to be in for official celebration.
I’m mixed on birthdays, I like people recognising that it’s my birthday but I never do anything for it as I’m never confident enough to do antyhing, I panic that no one will turn up and that it’ll be boring. I don’t need that stress when I’m meant to be having a good day.
Posted by Alanna on December 5, 2010
My birthday is the 28th April, I share it with Penelope Cruz, Lauren Laverne and Saddam Hussein. Brilliant
Posted by Tine Knudsen on December 5, 2010
My birthday is the 13th of March.
At every school I´ve attended I’ve always shared my birthday with at least one classmate.
I heard that it varies from country to country which months most children are born in depending on differences in when the official holidays are (which could mean more time/willingness to consider creating little new ones or simply increase in alcohol intake).
I wonder if there are as many March babies in Britain as there are here in Denmark (where I’m from).
I might owe my existence to my parents’ work schedule in the summer of 1981. Strange thought. Perharps I should send a thank you card to their respective bosses at the time for letting them take some time off.
Happy birthday to everyone
Posted by Matthew on December 5, 2010
28th May.
The 1st. My friends and family fill most the days in may and october. No idea why. Popular two months.
Posted by Dan on December 5, 2010
6th September, same as Tim Henman AND Greg Rusedski. So naturally I can’t play tennis
Posted by Lauren on December 5, 2010
25th of June. And hello to the people who had the 24th and the 26th!
Posted by Julie on December 5, 2010
11th June. I’m exactly the same age as Hugh Laurie, but he’s much more famous than me :p I’ve aged better than him though. I like having a June birthday, it breaks up the year nicely.
Posted by Josie on December 5, 2010
I noticed that we had one February 14th – Well, I’m February 15th!
I think there are a lot of people born in September/October/November because there’s a lot of lovin’ going on around Valentine’s Day. And similarly, those born in Summer just had parents who had no central heating and no other way of keeping warm in the Winter months.
I’ve got it all figured out.
Posted by Alexander on December 5, 2010
I’m the second person to be born on the first of April.
I work in statistics, and it’s really quite simple.
If you have however many (n) people in a group, the chances of two people sharing a birthday is One, minus the chances of all people being born on different days.
If you have two people it’s:
1 – ((1) x (364/365)).
The first person has to be born on a day, it doesn’t matter when that is. The second person can be born on any other day to not share a birthday with him. Each person adds an extra term of (366-n)/365 to the number you subtract from one. As you get more people, the chances become higher faster and faster.With twenty two people in a group, the subtracted term becomes less than a half, so the probability becomes greater than a half.
It is because the factor becomes smaller and smaller as you add a person, from almost 100%in a small group to perhaps 5% in a crowd. This is why the number of people you need to share your birthday is much greater. Every single person you add to the group has a probability of 364/365 of not sharing your birthday. As this factor remains constant, the probability falls far slower as you add people. You need over two hundred people for it to become statistically likely for someone to share your birthday.
Mine is shared, but this is not unlikely, as I am not particularly special in a way, just one of the set of people with birthdays.
Posted by Zoe on December 5, 2010
My birthday is the 26th of April. I was convinced I was going to have my son on that date too but he came on the 28th. H2osarah has the same birthday as my daughter though.
I’m not very keen on birthdays but since mine will now always be slightly forgotton in favour of the boys it really makes no odds.
Posted by Hannahq on December 5, 2010
15th April
Birhtdays. Hmm. I like getting people presents, and they are more special than Christmas because they are more individual. And its a good opportunity to be especially nice to people. And I like birthday cake.
Posted by squoozles on December 5, 2010
4th May, first one so far. And as a QIP (formerly lurker) this is something I feel able to comment on. Obviously. As I’ve just commented…
Posted by Laura-B on December 4, 2010
15th June, I’m the first person on that date so far. I agree with Lora and Becca – June is a good month because its a half distance from Christmas. It spreads out the presents.
There was a family in the Metro the other day who had three children, all born on the same date. And it was in the Metro, so it must be true.
Posted by Nat on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 1:st of April. I quite like birthdays, though I do find it annoying when people feel the need to make “original” april fools jokes on my birthday by “orgetting” to buy me anything, giving me one of my own possesions or wrapping up an empty cardboard box.
I much prefer celabrating others ^^
Posted by Rachel on December 4, 2010
18th September for me. Quite a few people I know share the same birthday. I like birthdays, though I’ve found they’ve started to go downhill a bit…
Well done for Halifax
Though I’m pretty sure I’ve told you this enough times now…
Posted by Jamie/James on December 4, 2010
A most magical 3rd of July..
Posted by Catherine on December 4, 2010
Oct 17 x 54. Quit being fun at 41. I like remembering my chidren’s births on their days.
Posted by Daniel on December 4, 2010
October 8th. My parents got married on 1st January, so I think I’m an anniversay mistake.
Posted by Beth on December 4, 2010
My birthday is 2nd June. The weather is generally quite good around then which means I had a lovely party on the beach this year : )
Posted by Megan on December 4, 2010
Born on the 21st of May. I have a cousin two days older and my best friend is two days younger. A lot of my friends are more in the latter bit of May/beginning of June. I think it’s because the last long/bank holiday weekend of a North American summer is at the beginning of September and a lot of babymaking goes on then (or something).
I also know a lot of people born in late September (Christmas babies) and November (Valentine’s babies).
Posted by Derek on December 4, 2010
I put 35 years, that is incorrect, I make a typing error. It should have read 54 years
Posted by Derek on December 4, 2010
My birthday is on 21st August, and has been for 35 times. Birthdays are great, but whereas Christmas is for all…….21st August has always been just for me……..or has it?
Posted by MusicalLottie on December 4, 2010
I don’t celebrate birthdays at all, but the maths geek in me would like my date of birth to be added to the stats. 27th July – I had schoolfriends who were born on the 24th and 25th.
Posted by Hannah on December 4, 2010
24th January.
I quite like birthdays. I see them as an opportunity for all my friends to come together and celebrate. With everyone being at uni or working, it’s hard to get everyone together and birthdays seem to make it easier, with most people keeping that date open.
I share the same birthday, one year apart, with a friend who I first played netball with. Scanning through all the comments, I’ve seen 6 people who share the same birthday with either someone from my family or a friend: 5th May, 27th November, 14th February, 7th August and 30th June.
Posted by Anna Lowman on December 4, 2010
17th November. It’s also Wossy’s birthday, and was Peter Cook’s. #birthdayfacts #ohwaitthisisnttwitter
Posted by Bloomability on December 4, 2010
Mine is the 6th of October
Posted by John Allison on December 4, 2010
Fantastic show in Halifax….. I would like to thank you for solving one of my life’s many riddles: when would being able to hoot exactly like an owl come in useful?
Anyway we thought you we very funny, thanks.
Posted by Kathryn on December 4, 2010
Whoop whoop… I am the second person to have a birthday on 26th December. Hello birthday-buddy Carl. This year I will be 30
Having a Christmas birthday is pretty naff as people try to fob you off by saying they spent both Christmas and birthday budgets on one fantastic present… when really they are just being tight! Also, they send you Christmas cards in place of birthday cards and wrap your birthday present in Chrsitmas wrapping paper. I could go on!!!
On the plus side, I never had to go to school on my birthday and I never have to go to work on my birthday.
Incidentally my Mum’s birthday is on Christmas day.
Posted by Sophie on December 4, 2010
26th June. I’ve seen some people with close birthdays, but not the same date.
A girl in my year has the same birthday as me and her sister and my sister (they’re in the same year too) have the same birthdays. It was really quite scary to find that out.
Posted by Kate W on December 4, 2010
13th November. The only person I’ve met with the same birthday was my next door neighbour at college; odd coincidence.
As h2osarah says, the last episode of Infinite Monkey Cage has a good explanation of the birthday paradox. People can download it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/timc (and all the other episodes, should they be so inclined). Well worth a listen! They tried this with the audience at the recording and it worked.
(Mark – as you’re a) in Halifax and b) a football fan, you might be amused to know that Halifax Town dropped off the bottom of every known league and then went bankrupt. The club’s now been re-formed as FC Halifax Town and plays in the Northern league… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Town_A.F.C.
I was born in Halifax, when the theatre you’re performing at was called the Civic; pretty sure I saw Geoff Capes in panto there in the 80s. It’s obviously acquired some taste since then! /halifaxtrivia)
Posted by Misha on December 4, 2010
I am the SECOND person to be born on May 5th. Hello Jessica!
I seem to recall at the last 24 hour show this came up, because I was the youngest person in the room by a few days? If anyone can remember the details please.
I can’t remember how the birthday Paradox works, but as many people have noted it was really well explained on the infinite monkey cage.
As for Birthdays, I quite enjoy them. My last birthday was lovely, I had comedy, cake and a pint in London town, although I then got stuck at Rugby on the way home.
Posted by Lindsay on December 4, 2010
11th July.
Same as my brother in law, and my best friend’s wife. And Giorgio Armani.
Posted by Aoife on December 4, 2010
I’m March 1st
Posted by Emily on December 4, 2010
16th May
I like birthdays in part because I don’t like Christmas. My best friend’s birthday is the day after mine, and I haven’t yet decided if I like that or not. It means she gets me a great present one day, and I have to do just as well the next, which I never can. I like that my birthday is in spring, but I don’t like that it is always during exam season. There is a chance I’ll have finals on my birthday next year but I hope we’ve finished by then. I had an exam the day after my birthday (ie my friend’s birthday, who also had the exam) this year, which wasn’t particularly fun.
Posted by DeborahF on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 7th of January so not long to go until I am 37. I used to share it with my Great Great Aunty Winnie but she died many years ago. We did have a joint party when I was 21 and she was 80. She was a lovely lady with a wicked sense of humour, but it was a little bizarre having a 21st birthday party in an old people’s home
Apart from that I’ve never really made a big deal of celebrating my birthday. Being shortly after Christmas & New Year all my friends were either broke, on diets or off alcohol from over indulging during the festive period. I still get joint presents so often I don’t even have many presents to open as I get most of them at Christmas.
That sounds pitiful doesn’t it, but I’ve had lots of birthdays so I’m used to it now and it doesn’t really bother me anymore
Posted by Meg on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 12th August. Always fun because I never have to go to school because it’s in the summer holidays. It does mean I’m one of the youngest in my year though. Some of my friends who have August birthdays have problems because they can never get together with friends because people are always on holiday. But I’m not as sociable as those people. I spend the whole of my birthday at home with my immediate family. Fun times.
The birthday paradox is curious. Out of the 33 people who have commented, 15 of them have the same birthday as at least one of my close family/friends. I always like finding significant days in films and books and matching them up with familiar birthdays. For example, Harry Potter’s disciplinary hearing in Book 5 happened on exactly the same day I was born – 12th August 1995 (yes I know none of it is real but it’s fun picking out interesting details.)
Posted by Katie on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 8th of July. Amazingly enough, I know someone the same age as me (also called Katie) who was born on the same day. But not at the same time. That would be insanely weird.
Also, I share my birthday with Beck. So while having my birthday in the middle of summer (my least favourite season) sucks, sharing a birthday with one of my favourite musicians is pretty cool.
(Oh, and amycool? My Mum’s birthday is the 12th of January. She is an awesome, awesome woman. So…there you go.)
Posted by Simon on December 4, 2010
18th of April. That is all.
Posted by Eilidh on December 4, 2010
I think I am the first for June 20th (and this is my first comment, I’m quite a serial lurker)
I agree with Lora and Becca, June is good as it’s a long way from Christmas and splits the year up a bit. I do find my own birthday a bit awkward and cringy but other peoples are always a laugh. Next year I will be 17 so I advise people to stay off the roads as my friends and I will start to drive. Eek!
Posted by Deanna on December 4, 2010
oh yeah. well, birthdays are nice. i used to like having a birthday in the middle of the year because it meant my presents were evenly spaced out. but it was quite rare for me to have a day all to myself because my sister was born a week (and 2 years) after me, so we’d have a joint birthday on some day in between. I was always one of the oldest in my class, but by the end of school, that meant i could buy beer before anyone else. I will be 28 next year, and I’m having my birthday in Paris. it’s the first birthday i’ve been excited about since my 1/4 century.
Posted by Deanna on December 4, 2010
30th June for me.
My sister is a 7th of July babby though (to go with the two already up here)
Posted by amycool on December 4, 2010
January 12th
I’ve never met anyone with the same birthday as me yet, although I have met people born on the 10th, 11th and 13th. Two of those people were dicks.
I’m not big on birthdays really. I quite like treating other people though. One year my Mum was working until 8.30pm on her birthday and me and my boyfriend made her a cake and put flowers and presents out for her. That was fun. But I don’t tend to get too excited about my own, possibly because it’s so soon after Christmas that I feel greedy getting more presents when I haven’t even put away the ones I just got. And I often get unwanted Christmas presents for my birthday, but on the plus side I also sometimes get new year sales bargains. And I guess the other good thing is if I don’t get something I wanted for Christmas, I get a second chance to ask for it.
Aside from gifts though, I feel similar about birthdays to new year’s day. It’s just another day really and it seems silly to celebrate. And the fact that nobody ever turned up to any of my birthday parties has nothing to do with it.
Posted by Gabi on December 4, 2010
Mine’s the 15th of October. Just getting cold the nice kind of cold and close enough to Christmas
Seem to be the first one in October..
Posted by Michael King on December 4, 2010
First person for 27th August. I was the youngest person in my year at school.
Posted by Steve on December 4, 2010
May 12th for me – many, many years ago…
Posted by Helen on December 4, 2010
SECOND PERSON for July 7th! Hello Andy!
Posted by Iona on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 23rd august. I hate being born in august cos I’m the youngest in the year at school so while all my friends have ID I have to wait a year before I can (legally) drink. And I have all summer and post A-level celebrations to do without being 18
Posted by Beth on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 4th April.
On my next birthday I will be 19. I really really do not want to be 19; I see it as one step closer to becoming old (I’m not saying older is bad, just that I really enjoy being 18…)
Posted by Jen on December 4, 2010
I’ll be turning 21 on the 14th of May. Over here in America, that’s sort of a big deal, because 21 is the drinking age. But it’ll be a complete anticlimax, because I’ll be studying abroad in England when it happens. Not that I mind because 1) all college students can get their hands on alcohol anyway, 2) that means I’ll be legal for an extra 4 months as soon as the semester starts, and 3) I’m not a huge drinker anyway, just the occasional few glasses of wine.
Posted by ediscott on December 4, 2010
27th November. I don’t really celebrate – remembering to keep on keeping on doesn’t warrant a reward. It’s the same day as my mother which gave my father an excuse never to get her another gift….
Posted by Laurs on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 29th October.
I love birthdays! Especially my own. (Although my 30th is fast approaching, how the hell did that happen, I was supposed to stay 21 forever!) It’s the one day of the year where I don’t feel guilty about being selfish and wanting to do something for myself!
Posted by Sarah on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 2nd February. It’s always cold, but there have been a couple of recent birthdays which have been snow days! Awesome.
Posted by Tom Beasley on December 4, 2010
I’m the first 6th August birthday!
Posted by Chris Jones on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 2nd July…
Posted by Becca on December 4, 2010
24th June! I agree with Lora, best time of year as it’s a great distance from Christmas!
Posted by sherbetjax on December 4, 2010
I am the first person to be born on May 5th
(well in this blog post … probably not in the whole world … i dont think)
~jessica~
Posted by lisan66 on December 4, 2010
Mine is the 6th of June
I’m not mad about my own birthday. I like the niceness of it all, and I’ve no problem getting older (yet), but I don’t like lots of attention, so generally I find birthdays to be full of people singing at me while I stand awkwardly in front of a flaming cake.
I LOVE other people’s birthdays though. It means I get to bake people birthday cakes and the best part of cake is making it.
Posted by Zoe Fell on December 4, 2010
Mine is the 8th of February.
Birthdays are good. I particularly like them as they’re one of the few days you can get away with eating something totally inappropriate for breakfast.
Birthdays – Birthday Cake
Boxing Day – Leftover Trifle
Easter – Chocolate (and tons of it.)
Posted by lora on December 4, 2010
I’m not certain I understand the birthday paradox myself. My birthday is the 22nd of June, I am fond of this because its a very good distance from Christmas so it spreads the presents and parties around.
Posted by max on December 4, 2010
Mine is march 30th.
I quite enjoy birthdays, even though they kind of lost their “magic” with the passage of time…
I’m pretty disappointed at my age, though. I’ll be 40 in 12 years. I’m far too young for that!
Posted by Andy on December 4, 2010
Hi
7th July for me, would be nice if we could reclaim it from the terrorists please?
Posted by Alistair on December 4, 2010
Infinite Monkey Cage this monday with excellent guest Tim Minchin (available on iPlayer) covered the birthday paradox at some length. The issue is that the chances of someone having the same birthday as you is very low, but if it is any two people in a group you get alot of different pairs.
2 people = 1 pair
3 people = 3 pairs
4 people = 6 pairs
5 people = 10 pairs
6 people = 15 pairs
7 people = 21 pairs
and so on so by the time your have 57 people your actually have 1596 pairs which gives you a 99% chance of having two people with the same birthday.
Posted by Sephy on December 4, 2010
My Birthday is on the 27th of January.
I can’t really explain the ‘birthday paradox’ myself (not sure i really understand it) but i found this webpage if anyone wants to read about it – http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.birthdayprob.html
Posted by Anna on December 4, 2010
My birthday is 31st July, I’ll be 30 on my next birthday, which sounds far too grown up. Incidentally, it’s my mum’s birthday today-happy birthday, mum! (not that she reads this. Not that I know of, anyway) I like birthdays, birthdays lead to cake, and I like cake.
I imagine that to find out why more people than you would expect share a birthday, you’d have to look back at what was happening nine months previously. I’d hazard a guess at there being a bit of a baby boom in around 9 months time, as at the moment the weather is crap and there’s nothing on telly, which will lead to people erm, making their own entertainment…
Posted by h2osarah on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 22nd of September.
The podcast called The Infinite Monkey Cage with Robin Ince and Brian Cox has an explanation of the birthday ‘paradox’ in the last episode (released November 29, 2010). Minchin’s in it as well. It explains it better than I can.
Posted by Irwin on December 4, 2010
7th August
I share my birthday with David Duchovny, although we’ve never had a joint party…
Posted by Emily on December 4, 2010
My birthday is 25th July.
In my primary school of 60 people there were three others with the same birthday. Strange. I tend to enjoy other people’s birthdays more than mine, that’s probably weird.
(Alex Horne’s Edinburgh show was brilliant. Even if he did drip orange juice on my shoe.)
Posted by Carl on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 26th December. This year I will be 24. I’m only 2 years away from my birthday birthday!
x
Posted by louisel on December 4, 2010
I think it’s called the Birthday Paradox, I’m not entirely sure how it works though.
My birthday is the 8th of April … I’d advise anyone in the North East of England to stay off the roads, as I’ll be having my first driving lesson then
Posted by Dawn on December 4, 2010
My Birthday is 14th February (Valentines Day!)
Next year I will be 52 years old but in my mind I am about 22 years old:)
Posted by Ingrid on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 4th of june.
I really like birthdays.Possibly because i haven’t had enough to get bored of them yet i still find them pretty fun! x
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on December 4, 2010
My birthday is the 24th of September….
I like birthdays. They’re mostly fun.
(I feel sorry for poor Giles!)