Assuming you know people in the town in which you'll be celebrating, why not have a small party at a local kid-friendly venue the day after Christmas? Run around the gym at the local Y or go to the zoo.
If it's a party for family, spring for ice cream sundaes at an ice cream parlor or go out for pizza.
If you don't want to seem like you're begging for presents, ask for something sentimental instead--"bring your funniest hat and we'll take crazy pictures for the birthday girl to put up in her room" or "wear your pjs and be prepared to tell the birthday girl a bedtime story we can record and play for her after we return home."

I suggest you start a tradition of celebrating her 'half' birthday - that way you can have a nice barbecue in the middle of the summer and the day can truly be about her! It would end up being special and memorable and you get to avoid the tricky Christmas situation.

She is so young she won't remember it any other way!!

My birthday is Dec. 29th. My parents did simple things to make my birthday stand out, like not using Christmas wrapping paper on birthday gifts and not opening them at the same time as the Christmas presents. Have her birthday festivities in the room with the fewest Christmas decorations. We traveled a lot at that time of year, too, and parties with friends just didn't work, so we usually did something I specifically wanted to do. There wasn't much snow growing up in TN, so I usually chose ice skating. If anyone sends her birthday presents that arrive before you leave, bring them along if possible.

I know it's hard now, but it'll get easier. As she gets older, she'll appreciate never having to go to school (or work, for that matter) on her birthday and the fact that people always remember when it is! Christmas birthdays can be a lot of fun, since you and the people around will most likely be in a festive mood already.

My brother's birthday is the 20th and this will mark the second year that we are traveling during his Bday (to Hawaii and we know no one). Instead of a birthday party, he was allowed to "be the boss" on his Bday (just like a normal birthday) and pick everything that the family would be doing that day. He gets to pick a special outing and where we will eat for lunch and dinner. We're planning to bring his smaller gifts with us and have already arranged for room service to deliver a cake to the room for breakfast (come on...cake for breakfast? Every ten year-old's dream). He is really looking forward to it.

One more thing, your daughter is turning two. Please trust me that she will not remember this at all. Whatever you do - you are doing for yourselves. Don't stress out about it. Plan a little something with just the family and a cake. She will love it because you love it.

My husband is a Christmas baby. He has always had a big extended family Christmas. Growing up they would stop the Christmas festivities at the exact time he was born (mid-afternoon) and have a cake and everyone sing happy birthday to him. He says he enjoyed that and always having his family around him on Christmas.
I don't think you need to ask family to give her more presents but it's not too much to ask everyone to take 15 minutes so she can at least have a cupcake and a song. Everyone else gets to hear "Happy Birthday" on their birthday. Being born on a holiday shouldn't stop that.
I like the idea of the half birthday as well. That's something I try to do now for my husband.

I like the half birthday idea. My mother's birthday is the 26th and she always hated it growing up. She could never have a big party with all of her friends because they were usually travelling or spending holiday time with their families. Her brothers and sister were always so wrapped up in their new gifts it was hard to get them to focus on a birthday party. Family always gave her birthday gifts with the Christmas gifts to avoid having to visit again the day after. She never got to have many birthdays that were all about her, she was always surrounded by Christmas decorations, a tree, christmas wrapping paper.

I would say set aside time just for her birthday on Christmas day every year (birthday breakfast or birthday cake and ice cream) but then do a big party on her half birthday. Summer time is more fun for parties anyway!

i have a client who's daughter's birthday in on christmas. when she was very small they cleberated it that day, but as she got older they came up with a new plan - on the day in the morning they do christmas and in the evening a smal family birthday, but now that she is a youngster, she gets to have a big birthday party on her half birthday so all her friends can celebrate with her. So June 25th is her special day. i think it's so cute.

j
http://prudentadviceformybabydaughter.blogspot.com

As a Dec 20th baby who has shared that birthday with a step-parents (since I was 2), I always appreciated any efforts to separate my birthday and Christmas: separate party, no combined birthday/Christmas gifts, etc.

LOVE the half birthday idea to give her a little extra something, especially when her friends can be available to celebrate.

My daughter is turning 2 on Dec 27, so I feel your pain. What we did last year was have an impromptu pizza party. After getting the approval from the inlaws, we just called people we knew and said "we're having birthday pizza in 2 hours, are you in?" I made some really simple decorations, and that was it. Having it at the last minute eliminated the present question and kept things easy. Going out somewhere else like someone suggested is also a good idea.

My all time favorite birthday ever, was when I turned 5. My dad got up really early and decorated a clearing in the woods, in the snow, with heaps of balloons and streamers and hung candy and chocolate from the trees. He got us all bundled up in our snowsuits and we went for a hike in the woods, when we got to the clearing, I can remember being so surprised! I thought it looked so magical. Of all the birthdays I have had and probably will ever have that will always be my favorite.

Your daughter is turning two, she probably won't remember the restaurant you take her to, or the make shift guests you will invite. Do something special and unique, and trust me, that is what she will thank you for it when she is older.

oh my, Hails suggestion is wonderful. I am all for the half birthday but instead of waiting six months why not use valentines day or ground hog day as her party time. myself, son, and soon to be daughter all have january birthdays. i really wanted a water ballon fight party,swim party, or other out door party like the other kids had growing up. seeing all the ideas on this site let me know that an indoor party dosent have to be lame. a trip to the grocery store with a couple bags full of balloons can be a quick party set up and take down for christmas.

My son's birthday is Dec. 22 so we're in pretty much this same boat. This year for his 4th birthday is the first time we're doing a friends birthday party and we're doing it on the 12th (before we and everyone else starts their travels). In the past we've had very low-key celebrations at my parents' or my in-laws' homes. I definitely agree with others above that whatever you do this year is more for you--keep is simple and low-key. There's time for bigger parties later!

My birthday is Dec 21 and my daughter, who will be 2, is Dec 23. Talk about a busy week!! I did half-birthdays a few times as a kid, which was fun, but when I was really young my mom just rolled with the Christmas theme. Santa came to my party!! As I was thinking about Keaton's party this year the idea of an alterna-Santa came to mind...Santa dressed in hot pink with sparkles!? Birthday Santa?! We think she's still scared of Santa so I might save that for next year.

We have put a cute little note on the invitations for her January party...."Santa will have already unloaded his sleigh at Keaton's house so no gifts please." There's no stopping family members from gift-giving at her family party in December...they are well-trained not to wrap them in red and green thanks to my bratty complaints when I was young!

I'm finding that a lot of invitations are too springy themed with flowers and butterflies. It was hard to find something seasonally relevant without it just being polka dots.

I live in Minneapolis, and I've recently been to a few 3 year old parties. At that time of year, you'll want to keep things indoors! If you're in the south part of the city, Edinborough Park is a great place to have a kid's party. Check it out - they have a party and play area, trees and a stream, all indoors. http://www.edinboroughpark.com/

Also there's the Minnesota Childrens' Museum in St. Paul.http://www.mcm.org/

If she is old enough to enjoy bowling, a bowline outing could make for a fun party! My daughter loved bowling at age two, but I'm not sure how normal that is.

For a cake, if you're not into baking where you'll be staying, I recommend a cake from Lunds/Beyerlys http://www.lundsandbyerlys.com/ (Minneapolis grocery chain), target, if you want to go cheaper, or Patrick's bakery if you want to be really fancy. http://www.patricksbakerycafe.com/

Get balloons at the grocer or from Party City which has lots of twin cities locations. http://www.partycity.com/

A visit to the Como Zoo http://www.comozooconservatory.org/ (small and free)
or the Minnesota Zoo (big and expensive, nice aquarium) could also make her day special.

Have fun and enjoy the fair city of Minneapolis! If you need to get brunch while you're here, head over to the Red Stag Supperclub.

xo