Be honest, Pandas: how many of you have ever forgotten a significant other's birthday? How many of you have had a partner forget yours? And what about relationship milestones? How many times have you fought with a loved one over a forgotten anniversary?

Don't feel so bad if you have. If you answered "Yes" to at least one of these, you're actually in the majority. A Dating.com survey in 2023 revealed that 82% of people have actually forgotten an important anniversary at some point in their relationship. It's probably not the best defense to throw out the next time you argue, but it's still something.

Birthdays aren't safe from being forgotten, too. 43% of the survey respondents said they forgot their SO's special day at least once during the relationship. After all, remembering dates like these means something; at least, that's what most people think. 

In fact, 68% said they would break up with their partner if they forgot an important relationship milestone. Granted, some would only separate temporarily, but it still shows how important anniversaries can be for some folks. 

Although we hate to perpetuate gender stereotypes here at Bored Panda, sometimes the statistics speak for themselves. Sadly, 82% of the respondents who said they'd forgotten an anniversary identified as men. 

When a partner forgets a birthday, an anniversary, or another important date, people tend to take it personally. In reality, the reason for their forgetting is quite easy to explain. Most people in the survey said they're simply too busy with work schedules or taking care of the household and the kids.

There can be so many anniversaries in a relationship: first meeting, first date, first kiss, first and the many subsequent years of marriage, and so on. How do you decide which ones to celebrate and which ones to possibly forget? Some might think that celebrating dating anniversaries is pointless after getting married, but relationship experts say that might be more important than even a 10th anniversary.

Essentially, celebrating dating anniversaries is about going back to your roots. By commemorating the day when you and your significant other met, you're remembering why the two of you got together in the first place. "It's a way to honor the roots by remembering the moments that laid the foundation for your lifelong commitment," Dr. Jacquie Del Rosario told Brides.

Why do we have to celebrate anniversaries at all? Psychologist Jeremy Nicholson says there are three reasons. 

1. To remember the past and the love story that led to the present moment;
2. To celebrate the present and be grateful for what each partner brings to the relationship;
3. And to recommit to the relationship and declare shared goals for the future.

Remembering anniversaries can get more difficult as years pass by. As relationship coaches Jocelyn and Aaron Freeman told The Good Trade, both partners put in the most effort at the beginning of a relationship, and it declines naturally with time. "It becomes easier to take your partner's presence for granted and forget your 'commitments' to each other," they explained.

However, not all people believe in celebrating anniversaries. Olga Alexandru, for example, writes for Business Insider how she and her partner refuse to celebrate Valentine's Day or any anniversaries. Instead of one fixed day a year, the couple surprises each other with small gifts and gestures throughout the year. Both believe it makes them more mindful of the relationship.

Content creator Jonna Jerome also doesn't get angry at her husband after he forgets their anniversary. On the contrary, she even loves him more for it. She writes how she changed her perspective on glamorizing the intoxication of new love over the years. "The hard times have shown me the kind of person I partnered with. This connection is what can keep you happily together long after neither one of you looks good in (or out) of a suit."

Yet we don't want to discourage anyone from celebrating anniversaries, especially if they're not with this much wholesomeness and style as the ones in this list. If you're a sucker for romance like me, be sure to check out our previous article about funny and wholesome anniversary surprises. And don't forget to share your anniversary stories with us in the comments, Pandas!