Birth of Birthdays
(An enlightening article collated by Gautam Nath, Executive Vice President, TNS India)
History of birthday’s
Before humans had a way of keeping time, no one paid much attention to the anniversary of important events, such as birthdays. Only when ancient peoples began taking notice of the moon's cycles, did they pay attention to the changing seasons and the pattern that repeated itself over and over. Eventually, the first calendars were formulated in order to mark time changes and other special days. From this tracking system came the ability to celebrate birthdays and other significant anniversaries the same day each year.
Evidence of birthday observances dates back before the rise of Christianity. In pagan cultures, people feared evil spirits - especially on their birthdays. It was a common belief that evil spirits were more dangerous to a person when he or she experienced a change in their daily life, such as turning a year older. As a result, birthdays were merry occasions celebrated with family and friends, who surrounded the person of honor with laughter and joy in order to protect them from evil. Instead of gifts, most guests brought positive thoughts and happy wishes for the upcoming year.
Birthday Celebrations …
A birthday is considered a special day for the person, and so the person will often get special treatment from friends and family. This is specially true for children who cannot wait for their own special day. In contrast, many adults loathe the reminder that they are continually getting older.
Birthday Traditions Around the World
There are numerous traditions surrounding birthdays, some of which are described below. Two of the most significant factors throughout history, however, have been geographic location and spiritual beliefs.
Africa
Each year, Asante people in Ghana celebrate "krada" (meaning "Soul Day") on the day of the week that they were born. This observance involves a cleansing ritual intended to purify the inner soul. On a person's krada, he or she wakes up early and washes using a special leaf soaked overnight in water. An afternoon feast with family and friends is held in the person’s honor, and the celebrant usually dresses in clothing with a white background.
Latin America
In several Latino cultures, a girl's 15th birthday, called a "Quinceanera", marks her passage into adulthood. This celebration often includes a religious ceremony at church, in which the young lady recognizes her heritage and her spiritual journey. Many Quinceaneras include a candle-lighting ceremony, where a young woman illuminates her parents' candles using the flame of her own candle. In turn, her parents light the candles of their parents, and so on.
Mexican birthday celebrations feature piñatas filled with candy and small toys. At birthday parties, children take turns hitting the piñata, a hollow figure shaped like an animal, flower, automobile, or other object that is suspended from the ceiling. While blindfolded, kids hit the piñata with a stick until it breaks open. When the treasures rain down on the floor, everyone scrambles to collect them. People believe that the child who breaks open the piñata will have good luck.
Children in Argentina receive pulls on the earlobe for their birthday. Traditionally, they get one pull for each year of their life.
Middle East
Egyptian birthday parties are filled with dancing and singing when a child turns one year old. Flowers and fruit are used to decorate the party as symbols of life and growth.
In Saudi Arabia, people do not observe birthdays due to spiritual beliefs. Religious holidays and weddings, however, are occasions for great celebration.
At an Israeli child's birthday party, he or she sits in a special chair decorated with fresh flowers and greens. To celebrate the child's age, family and friends gather around the chair, lifting and raising it once for each year of life - plus one more for good luck!
Asia
When Japanese children turn 7, 5, or 3, it is thought to be especially lucky. They are allowed to participate in the upcoming Shichi-go-san (meaning "Seven-Five-Three") Festival, celebrated annually on November 15.
In China, people believe that tigers protect children. Family members bring newborns special food and present them with gifts of clothing or toys decorated with tigers. When a Chinese girl or boy turns one year old, a variety of objects and toys are placed on the floor around the child. According to ancient beliefs, the object that the child chooses is a symbol foreshadowing the profession he or she will pursue in life.
In Hong Kong and some other Chinese communities, special noodles are served for lunch in honor of the birthday child. The noodles are extra-long to symbolize a long life.
Filipino families display blinking colored lights to show that someone is having a birthday at their home. The whole family usually goes to church together to thank God, and a celebration with close family and friends may follow.
In Korea, "Paegil" (the 100th day after a child's birth) is a day of feasting for the child's family. Similarly, on a Korean child’s first birthday, a party called a "Tol" or "Dol" is held.
Europe
In Germany, a children's birthday celebration is called a Geburtstagsparty. Historians attribute Germans with the first birthday parties for kids.
Sending birthday cards is a custom that began in England about 100 years ago. Today, millions of cards are sent around the world each year to wish family and friends a happy birthday.
Another old tradition still practiced by some English people is to make a birthday cake with symbolic objects baked inside. In medieval times, objects such as coins and thimbles were mixed into the batter. People believed that the person who got the coin would be wealthy, while the unlucky finder of the thimble would never marry. Today, small figures, fake coins and small candies are more common. Guests are warned ahead of time as well, so no one injures their teeth or swallows a tiny treasure.
United States of America
Throughout history, Native American tribes have placed significance on milestones in a child's development rather than the day he or she was born. The day children take a first step is cause for just as much rejoicing as when they get married or become parents.
Happy birthday to you ….
Singing "Happy Birthday to You" has also been a long-standing tradition on birthdays as well. It was written by two American sisters in 1893, and has been translated into several languages around the world.
Do you share your birthday with ….. ?
1. Angelina Jolie : June 4
The babe
2. Richard Branson : July 18
Chairman of the Virgin Group of Companies
3. Nelson Mandela : July 18
Freedom In South Africa
4. Rupert Murdoch : March 11
The guy behind the News Corp. media empire
5. Prince Charles : Nov 14
Succesor to the throne
6. Jamie Hall: Sept 2
Regional Managing Director, TNS ALM
7. Britney Spears : December 2
Pop superstar singer of ...Baby One More Time
8. Paris Hilton : Feb 17
Hilton Hotel heiress and star of TV's The Simple Life
9. William Shakespeare : April 23
The famed author of Romeo and Juliet
10. Brad Pitt : Dec 18
Hunky star of Fight Club
11. Tony Cowling: Jan 2
Founder TNS Group
12. David Lowden: Aug 16
CEO, TNS Global
13. Bill Gates – October 28
Founder and head of Microsoft Corporation
14. Benjamin Franklin – Jan 17
America’s most lovable founding father
15. Vincent Van Gogh – March 30
The marvelous painter who cut off his own earlobe
- Ends -
History of birthday’s
Before humans had a way of keeping time, no one paid much attention to the anniversary of important events, such as birthdays. Only when ancient peoples began taking notice of the moon's cycles, did they pay attention to the changing seasons and the pattern that repeated itself over and over. Eventually, the first calendars were formulated in order to mark time changes and other special days. From this tracking system came the ability to celebrate birthdays and other significant anniversaries the same day each year.
Evidence of birthday observances dates back before the rise of Christianity. In pagan cultures, people feared evil spirits - especially on their birthdays. It was a common belief that evil spirits were more dangerous to a person when he or she experienced a change in their daily life, such as turning a year older. As a result, birthdays were merry occasions celebrated with family and friends, who surrounded the person of honor with laughter and joy in order to protect them from evil. Instead of gifts, most guests brought positive thoughts and happy wishes for the upcoming year.
Birthday Celebrations …
A birthday is considered a special day for the person, and so the person will often get special treatment from friends and family. This is specially true for children who cannot wait for their own special day. In contrast, many adults loathe the reminder that they are continually getting older.
Birthday Traditions Around the World
There are numerous traditions surrounding birthdays, some of which are described below. Two of the most significant factors throughout history, however, have been geographic location and spiritual beliefs.
Africa
Each year, Asante people in Ghana celebrate "krada" (meaning "Soul Day") on the day of the week that they were born. This observance involves a cleansing ritual intended to purify the inner soul. On a person's krada, he or she wakes up early and washes using a special leaf soaked overnight in water. An afternoon feast with family and friends is held in the person’s honor, and the celebrant usually dresses in clothing with a white background.
Latin America
In several Latino cultures, a girl's 15th birthday, called a "Quinceanera", marks her passage into adulthood. This celebration often includes a religious ceremony at church, in which the young lady recognizes her heritage and her spiritual journey. Many Quinceaneras include a candle-lighting ceremony, where a young woman illuminates her parents' candles using the flame of her own candle. In turn, her parents light the candles of their parents, and so on.
Mexican birthday celebrations feature piñatas filled with candy and small toys. At birthday parties, children take turns hitting the piñata, a hollow figure shaped like an animal, flower, automobile, or other object that is suspended from the ceiling. While blindfolded, kids hit the piñata with a stick until it breaks open. When the treasures rain down on the floor, everyone scrambles to collect them. People believe that the child who breaks open the piñata will have good luck.
Children in Argentina receive pulls on the earlobe for their birthday. Traditionally, they get one pull for each year of their life.
Middle East
Egyptian birthday parties are filled with dancing and singing when a child turns one year old. Flowers and fruit are used to decorate the party as symbols of life and growth.
In Saudi Arabia, people do not observe birthdays due to spiritual beliefs. Religious holidays and weddings, however, are occasions for great celebration.
At an Israeli child's birthday party, he or she sits in a special chair decorated with fresh flowers and greens. To celebrate the child's age, family and friends gather around the chair, lifting and raising it once for each year of life - plus one more for good luck!
Asia
When Japanese children turn 7, 5, or 3, it is thought to be especially lucky. They are allowed to participate in the upcoming Shichi-go-san (meaning "Seven-Five-Three") Festival, celebrated annually on November 15.
In China, people believe that tigers protect children. Family members bring newborns special food and present them with gifts of clothing or toys decorated with tigers. When a Chinese girl or boy turns one year old, a variety of objects and toys are placed on the floor around the child. According to ancient beliefs, the object that the child chooses is a symbol foreshadowing the profession he or she will pursue in life.
In Hong Kong and some other Chinese communities, special noodles are served for lunch in honor of the birthday child. The noodles are extra-long to symbolize a long life.
Filipino families display blinking colored lights to show that someone is having a birthday at their home. The whole family usually goes to church together to thank God, and a celebration with close family and friends may follow.
In Korea, "Paegil" (the 100th day after a child's birth) is a day of feasting for the child's family. Similarly, on a Korean child’s first birthday, a party called a "Tol" or "Dol" is held.
Europe
In Germany, a children's birthday celebration is called a Geburtstagsparty. Historians attribute Germans with the first birthday parties for kids.
Sending birthday cards is a custom that began in England about 100 years ago. Today, millions of cards are sent around the world each year to wish family and friends a happy birthday.
Another old tradition still practiced by some English people is to make a birthday cake with symbolic objects baked inside. In medieval times, objects such as coins and thimbles were mixed into the batter. People believed that the person who got the coin would be wealthy, while the unlucky finder of the thimble would never marry. Today, small figures, fake coins and small candies are more common. Guests are warned ahead of time as well, so no one injures their teeth or swallows a tiny treasure.
United States of America
Throughout history, Native American tribes have placed significance on milestones in a child's development rather than the day he or she was born. The day children take a first step is cause for just as much rejoicing as when they get married or become parents.
Happy birthday to you ….
Singing "Happy Birthday to You" has also been a long-standing tradition on birthdays as well. It was written by two American sisters in 1893, and has been translated into several languages around the world.
Do you share your birthday with ….. ?
1. Angelina Jolie : June 4
The babe
2. Richard Branson : July 18
Chairman of the Virgin Group of Companies
3. Nelson Mandela : July 18
Freedom In South Africa
4. Rupert Murdoch : March 11
The guy behind the News Corp. media empire
5. Prince Charles : Nov 14
Succesor to the throne
6. Jamie Hall: Sept 2
Regional Managing Director, TNS ALM
7. Britney Spears : December 2
Pop superstar singer of ...Baby One More Time
8. Paris Hilton : Feb 17
Hilton Hotel heiress and star of TV's The Simple Life
9. William Shakespeare : April 23
The famed author of Romeo and Juliet
10. Brad Pitt : Dec 18
Hunky star of Fight Club
11. Tony Cowling: Jan 2
Founder TNS Group
12. David Lowden: Aug 16
CEO, TNS Global
13. Bill Gates – October 28
Founder and head of Microsoft Corporation
14. Benjamin Franklin – Jan 17
America’s most lovable founding father
15. Vincent Van Gogh – March 30
The marvelous painter who cut off his own earlobe
- Ends -
