Human Interest
Birthdays are generally occasions for celebrating, especially your 16th coming of age which is notorious for going out with friends, family and having a good time. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, more and more people are having to resort to celebrating their special day in lockdown, as attempts to control the spread of the virus were put in place by the government on March 23rd 2020.
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No matter the milestone, the restrictions have had to be abided by the public, and for the most part, people have celebrated their birthday within the suggested guidelines, staying at home and finding new ways to celebrate and communicate with those who they would have otherwise been spending their special day with.
Special birthdays in lockdown
How people are spending theIr days
Eden Hannigan
Whilst the lockdown has been somewhat helpful in repairing communication with relatives which had potentially been strained because of clashing schedules with work and school, it has tested many families who have had to try and make their partners, children or even their own days good and memorable during this period of uncertainty.
While for some it has been fairly easy to shower their loved ones in gifts, others simply haven’t been able to due to the economic burdens the coronavirus is presenting - unemployment is rising, with some families being furloughed but even then some of the wages received are suffice enough to pay rent, bills and food, and not for gifts for birthdays that’ll come around in the next year.
Nevertheless, parents will try everything to make sure their kids have the best day possible during lockdown. For example, one set of parents managed to get in touch with several stars from different sports that their daughter enjoyed and got them to send personalised messages and videos to brighten up their child’s 16th birthday in the given circumstances.
“I was so surprised to see all of the responses that I got,” said Eden, who was sent the lockdown messages,
“It’s just very nice to know that these people are still willing to look out for their community even when they are not allowed to do what they love.
"I’m just very thankful and it was a great surprise that made by 16th birthday”.