Talk:Half-birthday

March 0

I just removed this section as wrong and/or pointless:

You have no half-birthday, in the strict meaning of the word, if you were born on one of the following dates:

31st of March
31st of May
29th of August (except in leap years)
30th of August
31st of August
31st of October
31st of December

It doesn't matter what day you were born, there is still a day of the year that is 6 calendar months away. I believe this is meant to say that for these birthdays, the half-birthday will not be the same numerical day of the month (e.g., the half-birthday of March 31 is Sept. 1), which doesn't seem worth mentioning. - DavidWBrooks 14:03, 7 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I always thought that the half-birthday was the same day of the month. What's up with adding a fractional number of days to your birthday to determine it. And also, half birthday is not on a random day. The 31 March half birthday is on either 30 September or 1 October... this is just like people with birthdays on 29 February, as their actual birthday only occurs once every four years.. My birthday is on 14 August, so my half birthday is on Valentine's Day (14 February). Stephe1987 07:45, 7 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Blatant nonsense removed from March 0, thanks. –Be..anyone 💩 01:36, 20 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

This problem is currently noted in brief form (i.e., months have differing numbers of days, and, in consideration of August 30 birthday, it's seen that there is no Feb. 30). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 167.102.56.94 (talk) 20:42, 19 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]

calculation

My question is in regard to the half-birthday page. I had made a change that I thought improved the page. It explained how half-birthdays were effected by leap years. Take a look at two sites I found: http://halfbirthdaycalculator.com/half_birthday_explained.htm and http://peterjanes.ca/peterj/half-birthday.cgi, These sources back up my change. Do you disagree with this way of thinking?

It struck me as excessive, pedantic and unnecessary. (Obviously, that's a judgement call - the material wasn't wrong.) This isn't a scientific treatise on some major phenomenon, it's a quick explanation of a loose concept. Loading it up with calculations looks kind of silly to me, as if we did probability calculations on the Eeny, meeny, miny, moe page. - DavidWBrooks 13:02, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with you when you say "This isn't a scientific treatise on some major phenomenon" but I think giving accurate information is important. Why not give the quick explantation and the more accurate? Both calculators online do it "right" - why not us? Some take birthdays and half-birthdays seriously - probably more than Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

Another argument: wikipedia is not a how-to guide (that's part of What wikipedia is not), and describing a calculation that' available elsewhere on line could be construed as falling over that line. But again, it's a judgement call. (Are there people out there why don't know how to find their half-birthday, and come to wikipedia to find out? That seems unlkely to me.) - DavidWBrooks 16:12, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

With that argument we should not include "A half birthday is determined by adding or subtracting 182.725 days to a birthday. For example, if a birthday is May 15 (135th day of the year), the half-birthday is November 14 (day 317.625, rounded to day 318)." If this is included, someone may attempt to figure out their half-birthday using these instructions. Without being told about leap year's effect could create an error. I personally think it should be added.

You're right - we shouldn't have that, IMHO! I'll take it out - see what you think, and if you think it should be returned with your addition, then please do so. Apparently nobody but you and me is excited by this issue. - DavidWBrooks 18:38, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'll give it some thought. Thanks for working it out. I'm now off to add a leap year equation to Eeny, meeny, miny, moe;)

final paragraph

Is there any reason to include the sentimental material at the end of the entry as it exists today? (4 March 2008)"Celebrating a half birthday is a wonderful way of letting someone know you care about them and think about them, even if it is not their birthday. You are recognizing them and making them feel special half way through the year. It is a new holiday that everyone can celebrate." Who cares? This is not fact, merely opinion. I recommend removal.129.82.29.54 (talk) 22:17, 4 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well said. I have removed it. (It was just added today, by the way.) - DavidWBrooks (talk) 22:40, 4 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Significance

Some retirement plans begin when one reaches the age of 59-1/2. It might be sensible to celebrate that particular half-birthday. There must be rules for calculating it, as a day here could make quite a difference in rare circumstances. WHPratt (talk) 17:28, 25 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, see above for some problems that come up when you go from month/day to (6 months later)/day; for example, August 30 can't have half-birthday on Feb. 30 (there is no Feb. 30). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 167.102.56.146 (talk) 20:12, 23 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps someone in the benefits/pension business can explain how this is handled. When does someone born on August 30, 1957 turn 59-1/2? After all, if someone died near some target date like this, there could be a dispute as to whether his estate qualified for some benefit or other, so there must be an official rule. WHPratt (talk) 16:10, 19 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Notability

A "notability" tag has been placed on this harmless little article. The fact that the topic has been used as the main plot point of three published books - albeit kids' books - establishes more than enough notability. When adding in the (at moment) three references, the tag does not seem supported. If nobody has any better argument to keep it, I will remove the tag. - DavidWBrooks (talk) 18:44, 17 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

commercialization of the half-birthday?

Apparently some people want to indulge by celebrating the half-birthday and not just the birthday.

Please remember that some people need a half-birthday celebration because of birthday falling out of season. My own birthday is August 2, and I could never celebrate my birthday in school on that day. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 167.102.56.146 (talk) 20:13, 23 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]

My comments about half-birthday should also have mentioned that birthday or half-birthday falling near Christmas holidays would need further adjustments regarding celebration. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 167.102.56.94 (talk) 20:45, 19 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]