As the siblings grew up in Falconer, every year felt like another big celebration, one the whole country shared with them.

“We would stay up on New Year’s Eve, and we never thought we were celebrating the new year. We thought we were waiting until midnight to celebrate our birthday,” Tim Switaj said. “When we were kids, we used to think everyone in the United States was doing the countdown for our birthday.”

Birthed by their mother, Karen Anne Switaj, at Jamestown’s WCA Hospital just after midnight as the calendar flipped to 1974, the Switaj twins became known as the New Year’s twins. Although sets of twins and even “the famous triplets” run in their family, the New Year’s twins had an experience unique to just them, as the first born in the year 1974 in Chautauqua County.

From various giveaways to participating in parades, the twins were treated like royalty in their youth. Even now, Tim says people still mention his birthday in passing. He always used to joke, “You know, I’m famous.”

Tim and Tammy Switaj were born on New Year’s Day, just as the calendar flipped to 1974. Submitted photo

As the years passed, even though some of the excitement around their story faded, the siblings still enjoyed their birthday celebrations each year. Now, they each celebrate with their own families.

“When we were little, it was a big deal. It’s still a tradition in my family that we celebrate at midnight every year,” Tammy said.

Tammy celebrates with her husband and two children each year, while always checking in with her brother when the clock strikes midnight. Tim married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer, who he celebrates with each year. Together, they have a 30-year-old son, Travis.

The siblings have each called Chautauqua County home for the majority of their lives. They grew up on Main Street in Falconer and each graduated from Falconer High School in the early 90s.

Tim Switaj — the older of the twins by just a few moments — now owns a vehicle repair and sales shop in Busti, where he has also served as a volunteer fireman for two decades and held the roles of president and vice president. Tammy Switaj, now Beaman, works as a school bus driver for the Cassadaga Valley Central School District through First Student.

Tim and Tammy Switaj were born on New Year’s Day, just as the calendar flipped to 1974. Submitted photo

Tim said that with Christmas a week earlier, then with New Year’s celebrations and the birthdays of himself, his sister, and a cousin who was born on the same day a few years later, the holiday season has always had a lot of overlap between the celebrations.

“I always liked this time of year because we got so many gifts growing up, but then we had to wait a whole year for anything,” Tim said.

Tammy joked what is different this year is she might need to take a couple naps to stay up until midnight. “We are turning 50, it’s late,” she joked.

This year, when nearly everyone else is counting down to see the ball drop, the countdowns and cheers will again mean something different to Tammy and Tim, just as they have for all five decades they have shared their unique story.

“She’ll still call and say happy birthday,” Tim said of his sister. “It’s never happy New Year, it’s our birthday.”