You know, we don't do what my husband calls "greeting card" holidays. I don't think he actually knows my date of birth, but he does know that our anniversary is in February. I think he'd be shocked if I didn't brew on his birthday or our anniversay. :cross:
But if that stuff is important to your spouse, then it's important to be sensitive to that. There is something that I learned the hard way about my brewing hobby, and I won't forget again.
Bob is a definite morning person, and from about 4PM on, he's pretty much done for the day. He wants to relax, have a beer, watch the news, have dinner, and then check email and stuff with a few more beers. I got a late start brewing one day and was in the middle of a brew at about 4:30 PM when he wanted to start dinner preparations (I brewed in the kitchen then). He was really, really upset with me and later he explained how he hates my "mess" after about 3 PM because it interferes with his routine. Now I know, and I've never done that again. I either get an earlier start, or put off the brewday, even though I haven't brewed in the kitchen in a few years.
It's simply about being aware of the other person's feelings, and it doesn't have anything to do with being "allowed" to do something.