This guide will cover the birthday dates and the best gifts for each character in Harvest Moon Back to Nature. These gifts will be available on the farm, foraged in the countryside, or purchased from the supermarket.
Giving characters gifts on their birthdays has an increased effect on their affection, more so if you wrap the gift in wrapping paper.
Birthday Gift Affection Modifier
| Type of Gift | Unwrapped Birthday Gift | Wrapped Birthday Gift |
| Loved (Best) | +45 | +47 |
| Liked | +15 | +17 |
| Neutral | +5 | +7 |
| Disliked | -15 | -13 |
| Hated | -45 | -43 |
Spring Birthdays
Louis
Birthday: Spring 2
Louis is a bee researcher who lives with Gotz. He looks for rare species of bees at the base of Mother’s Hill.
| Best Gifts | Honey, Bread, Tomato Juice, Grape Juice |
| Liked Gifts | Cucumber, Eggplant, Apple, Spa-Boiled Egg, Tomato |
Bold (Purple Harvest Sprite)
Birthday: Spring 04
Bold is one of the seven Harvest Sprites. He’s one of the hardest workers among the Harvest Sprites.
| Best Gifts | Flour, Wild Grape, Honey, Bread, Omelet |
| Liked Gifts | Turnip, Carrot, Apple, Blue Grass, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Saibara
Birthday: Spring 11
Saibara is the town’s blacksmith. He can upgrade your tools to higher levels and make machines for your farm.
| Best Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Large Fish, Truffle |
| Liked Gifts | Ores (Copper, Gold, Silver, and Mystrile), Cucumber, Turnip, Branch, Lumber |
Staid (Blue Harvest Sprite)
Birthday: Spring 15
Staid is one of the seven Harvest Sprites. He is the best worker of all the Harvest Sprites and will gladly accept any kind of work given to him.
| Best Gifts | Flour, Wild Grape, Honey, Bread |
| Liked Gifts | Turnip, Carrot, Apple, Blue Grass, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Elli
Birthday: Spring 16 (Alternate: Spring 20)
Elli is one of the marriage candidates in the game. She is a nurse who works at the local clinic.
| Best Gifts | Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Blue Magic Red Flower, Toy Flower, Red Magic Red Flower |
| Liked Gifts | Blue Grass, Fish, Milk, Hot Milk, Sashimi |
Barley
Birthday: Spring 17
Barley owns Yodel Ranch, where you can buy cows and sheep. He lives with his granddaughter Mary and their dog Hana.
| Best Gifts | Spa-Boiled Egg, Rice Ball |
| Liked Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Egg, Milk, Vegetables, Ores (Copper, Gold, Silver, and Mystrile) |
Lillia
Birthday: Spring 19
Lillia owns the Poultry Farm and is the mother of Rick and Popuri. She is sick with an unspecified illness, so she rarely goes out of their house.
| Best Gifts | Blue Grass, Blue Magic Red Flower, Red Magic Red Flower, Turbojolt, Turbojolt XL, Truffles |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Milk, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Aqua (Light Blue Harvest Sprite)
Birthday: Spring 26
Aqua is one of the seven Harvest Sprites. He’s reluctant to work because he’s extremely concerned about getting dirty.
| Best Gifts | Flour, Wild Grape, Honey, Bread |
| Liked Gifts | Turnip, Carrot, Apple, Blue Grass, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Greg
Birthday: Spring 29
Greg is a fisherman who lives at Mineral Beach. He gives you a fishing rod when you first meet him.
| Best Gifts | Large Fish |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Medium Fish, Rice Ball, Corn |
Sasha
Birthday: Spring 30
Sasha is Karen’s mother and the wife of Jeff. She likes to chat with other women in town during the afternoons.
| Best Gifts | Chocolate, Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Cake, Cookie |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Red Magic Red Flower, Moondrop Flower, Toy Flower, Pink Cat Flower |
Summer Birthdays
Popuri
Birthday: Summer 3 (Alternate: Summer 10)
Popuri is a marriage candidate in the game. She’s a childish girl who wants to go out and see the world.
| Best Gifts | Spa-Boiled Egg, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower, Honey |
| Liked Gifts | Corn, Apple, Blue Magic Red Flower, Red Magic Red Flower, Egg |
Harris
Birthday: Summer 4
Harris is the local policeman and the son of Mayor Thomas. He spends his time patrolling the town and visiting the inn.
| Best Gifts | Spa-Boiled Egg, Wine, Bodigizer XL, Turbojolt, Turbojolt XL |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Bamboo Shoots, Carrot, Green Pepper, Honey |
Cliff
Birthday: Summer 6
Cliff is a drifter who stays at the Inn. He’s very distant to people and is very shy. He is your rival for Ann’s affection.
| Best Gifts | Spa-Boiled Egg, Hot Milk, Mushroom Rice, Sushi, Omelet |
| Liked Gifts | Cucumber, Tomato, Wild Grape, Carrot, Bread |
Basil
Birthday: Summer 11
Basil is a botanist conducting research about the plants around Mineral town. He is the husband of Anna and the father of Mary.
| Best Gifts | Blue Grass, Green Grass, Mushroom, Poisonous Mushroom, Truffle, Wild Grape |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Bamboo Shoots, Potato, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Timid (Green Harvest Sprite)
Birthday: Summer 16
Timid is one of the seven Harvest Sprites. He’s easily frightened and dislikes working with animals.
| Best Gifts | Flour, Wild Grape, Honey, Bread |
| Liked Gifts | Turnip, Carrot, Apple, Blue Grass, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Ann
Birthday: Summer 17 (Alternate: Summer 22)
Ann is one of the marriage candidates in the game. She enjoys cooking and loves to eat. She helps her father Doug by working at the Inn.
| Best Gifts | Spa-Boiled Egg, Bamboo Rice, Mushroom Rice, Omelet, Sushi |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Milk, Egg, Large Fish, Rice Ball, Wild Grape |
Kai
Birthday: Summer 22
Kai visits Mineral Town every summer and operates the Seaside Lodge. He is your rival for Popuri’s affection.
| Best Gifts | Flour, Oil, Bread, Large Fish, Bodigizer, Bodigizer XL, Turbojolt, Turbojolt XL |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Honey, Medium Fish, Onion, Tomato, Wild Grape |
Mayor Thomas
Birthday: Summer 25
Thomas is the town’s mayor and organizes most of the town’s festivals. He lives with his son, Harris, and the photographer, Kano.
| Best Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Truffle, Wine |
| Liked Gifts | Egg, Honey, Milk, Potato, Spa-Boiled Egg, Sweet Potato, Turnip |
Zack
Birthday: Summer 29
Zack comes to your farm to pick up the items in your shipping bin at 5:00 PM every day. He’s usually at his house on Mineral Beach or at the supermarket.
| Best Gifts | Large Fish |
| Liked Gifts | Medium Fish, Rice Ball, Spinach, SUGDW Apple, Wine |
Fall Birthdays
Gotz
Birthday: Fall 2
Gotz is a lumberjack who can upgrade your house and farm buildings. He stays at the Woodcutter’s House.
| Best Gifts | Ores (Copper, Silver, Gold, Mystrile), Bread, Lumber, Medium Fish, Milk, Egg |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Carrot, Corn, Cucumber, Potato, Green Pepper, Honey |
Stu
Birthday: Fall 5
Elli’s younger brother Stu lives with his grandmother Ellen. He’s good friends with May.
| Best Gifts | Honey, Wild Grape |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Ores (Copper, Silver, Gold, Mystrile), Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Hoggy (Yellow Harvest Sprite)
Birthday: Fall 10
Hoggy is one of the seven Harvest Sprites. He loves to eat and sleep.
| Best Gifts | Flour, Wild Grape, Honey, Bread |
| Liked Gifts | Turnip, Carrot, Apple, Blue Grass, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Manna
Birthday: Fall 11
Manna runs the local winery with his husband, Duke. She loves to chat with other women in the town square every afternoon.
| Best Gifts | Large Fish, Medium Fish, Pink Cat Flower, Honey, Orange Cup Fruit |
| Liked Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Cabbage, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Toy Flower, Moondrop Flower |
Chef (Red Harvest Sprite)
Birthday: Fall 14
Chef is one of the seven Harvest Sprites. As his name implies, he loves cooking and cooks for all the Harvest Sprites.
| Best Gifts | Flour, Wild Grape, Honey, Bread |
| Liked Gifts | Turnip, Carrot, Apple, Blue Grass, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
Karen
Birthday: Fall 15 (Alternate: Fall 22)
Karen is the hardest bachelorette to get to like you in the game. She has a mature personality compared to the other marriage candidates.
| Best Gifts | Wine, Truffle |
| Liked Gifts | Corn, Eggplant, Green Pepper, Moondrop Flower, Toy Flower, Blue Magic Red Flower, Pink Cat Flower |
Doctor
Birthday: Fall 17
The Doctor is a quiet person who spends most of his time at the clinic. He is your rival for Elli’s affection.
| Best Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Blue Grass, Large Fish, Poisonous Mushroom, Spa-Boiled Egg, Red Grass |
| Liked Gifts | Carrot, Corn, Cucumber, Egg, Tomato, Turnip, Medium Fish, Green Pepper |
Pastor Carter
Birthday: Fall 20
Pastor Carter is the town’s pastor. He spends most of his time inside the church.
| Best Gifts | Fish (any size), Flour, Oil, Lumber, Wine |
| Liked Gifts | Turnip, Potato, Onion, Pineapple, Green Pepper, Cabbage, Carrot, Milk |
Anna
Birthday: Fall 22
Anna is Mary’s mother and wife of Basil. She likes to chat with other women every afternoon in the town square.
| Best Gifts | Blue Magic Red Flower, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Red Magic Red Flower, Toy Flower |
| Liked Gifts | Blue Grass, Egg, Fish (any size), Green Grass, Honey, Red Grass |
Rick
Birthday: Fall 27
Rick works and lives at the Poultry Farm with Popuri and Lillia. He is Karen’s childhood friend and is your rival for her affection.
| Best Gifts | Spa-Boiled Egg, Honey, Wine, Turbojolt, Turbojolt XL, Large Fish |
| Liked Gifts | Blue Magic Red Flower, Chicken Feed, Corn, Egg, Red Magic Red Flower |
Winter Birthdays
Kano
Birthday: Winter 2
Kano is a photographer living with Mayor Lewis. He’s very passionate about photography.
| Best Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Blue Grass, Green Grass, Honey, Mushroom, Wild Grape |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Corn, Pineapple, Sweet Potato, Ores (Copper, Silver, Gold, Mystrile) |
Gray
Birthday: Winter 6
Gray works as an apprentice to his grandfather Saibara. He spends time in the library when he’s not working. Gray is your rival for Mary’s affection in the game.
| Best Gifts | Ores (Copper, Silver, Gold, Mystrile), Orichalcum, Adamantite, Bodigizer XL, Turbojolt XL |
| Liked Gifts | Branch, Lumber, Potato, Egg, Bodigizer, Turbojolt |
Doug
Birthday: Winter 11
Doug owns the Inn and lives with his daughter Ann. He spends all of his time inside the Inn.
| Best Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Mushroom, Green Grass, Oil, Flour |
| Liked Gifts | Onion, Cabbage, Carrot, Pineapple, Wild Grape, Blue Grass |
Ellen
Birthday: Winter 13
Ellen is an old lady living with her grandchildren, Stu and Elli. She spends all of her time inside her house.
| Best Gifts | Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower, Honey, Spa-Boiled Egg |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Carrot, Cucumber, Egg, Sweet Potato, Tomato |
Duke
Birthday: Winter 15
Duke owns the winery and runs it with his wife, Manna.
| Best Gifts | Spa-Boiled Egg, Large Fish, Bread, Wine |
| Liked Gifts | Cucumber, Eggplant, Spinach, Wild Grape |
Won
Birthday: Winter 19
Won is a merchant who sells you rare seeds that are not available at the supermarket. He does not have any “loved” gifts in the game.
| Best Gifts | N/A |
| Liked Gifts | Fish (any size) |
Mary
Birthday: Winter 20 (Alternate: Winter 25)
Mary is a shy librarian who loves reading and studying. She’s a candidate for marriage in the game.
| Best Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Blue Grass, Green Grass, Mushroom, Red Grass |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Honey, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower, Wild Grape |
Nappy (Orange Harvest Sprite)
Birthday: Winter 22
Nappy is one of the seven Harvest Sprites. He’s not as enthusiastic about working and prefers playing instead.
| Best Gifts | Flour, Wild Grape, Honey, Bread |
| Liked Gifts | Turnip, Carrot, Apple, Blue Grass, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
May
Birthday: Winter 26
May is the granddaughter of Barley. She’s good friends with Stu.
| Best Gifts | Large Fish, Honey, Moondrop Flower, Pink Cat Flower, Toy Flower |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Egg, Milk, Tomato |
Jeff
Birthday: Winter 29
Jeff is a timid guy who runs the supermarket. He lives with his wife Sasha and daughter Karen.
| Best Gifts | Bamboo Shoots, Fruit Juice, Bodigizer, Bodigizer XL, Turbojolt, Turbojolt XL |
| Liked Gifts | Apple, Blue Grass, Honey, Pink Cat Flower, Red Grass, Spa-Boiled Egg |
