Birthday

Birthdays are celebrated in the by both the player and animal villagers of the player's town. They do not form an important part of the game, but add to the overall authenticity of the character's life. The player can choose their birthday when asked by a villager. This forms the first true conversation a player encounters in the game. Any date can be chosen for the player's birthday - if they select a date that is the same as the villager's in Wild World or City Folk, the animal will realise this and appear surprised.

Birthdays in Animal Crossing
Unlike the player, villagers do not celebrate their birthdays. The player is sent a large, inedible cake from their mother, which can be displayed in their house. The player will also receive letters from villagers with presents and be greeted at the player's front door by another villager who will personally present a gift, often an NES game.

Birthdays in Wild World

 * For a list of villager birthdays in Wildworld, see List of villager birthdays in Wild World.

This is the first game in which villagers also have birthdays - the player can visit them in their house on that day, where they will be walking around their home with a fellow villager that they get along with, usually one of the same gender. The player can give any item to the villager that is celebrating their birthday for a gift. The two villagers in the room, if near to each other, may applaud and laugh. A player can tell if it is a villager's birthday by a letter sent by them, and a notice that appears on the bulletin board on the day.

The player themselves receive a birthday cake which cannot be eaten, presented by the villager that lives closest to them, when they start the game on the day that is assigned as their birthday. The player will also receive a letter and a present from their mother.

Birthdays in City Folk
Unlike in Wild World, villagers do not celebrate their birthdays, despite a notice on the bulletin board that congratulates them. Instead, a player can send the villager a letter on that day. The villager then thanks the player for wishing them a happy birthday in their reply.

As with Wild World, the player is presented with a cake on their birthday by a villager, which can be placed in the home or eaten. After eating, flowers briefly blossom from the player, much the same as the emotion "delight."