What do cards, steamers, balloons, gifts, music, food, candles, laughter, friends, relatives and a large chocolate cake spell?

Right! Celebration time. Recently there was a birthday party for our grandson Keegan who turned six. A day was held to bless and honour our young lad not only with presents, but with good wishes for the coming year. A time of rejoicing for the many gifts his life has and continues to bring to all of us.

Before the time of calendars, people’s birthdates went by unrecognized. However, upon discovering ways to mark time, celebrations began to be held to honor the really elite men and women of a country.
Perhaps it was a mother, a spouse or even a child but someone during the 16th century thought their loved one was just as worthy to have their birthdate honored. Thus, commenced the delightful tradition of celebrating birthdays.

Perhaps, like me, you have had the fun of finding a coin in your piece of birthday cake. History states that this custom began in England. As well as coins, they would also hide rings and thimbles.

Not all, but some customs practiced at these celebrations were the results of superstitions. A common belief held that bad spirits sought to harm the person on the anniversary of their birth. Therefore, surrounding them with family, friends and good wishes would scare away any lurking evil imps.

Likewise blowing out all the candles on your cake, which started in Germany around 200 years ago, brings one good luck.

I do not know the origin of the crying superstition, but as a child I was told not to cry on my birthday. Apparently, if I did, I would have something to weep about every day for a full year.

The habit of singing Happy Birthday to You is relatively new. Slightly over 100 years ago, Mildred Hill and Patty Hill of U.S.A. wrote it. Since then it has been used all over the world and adapted to suit other occasions.

Let’s celebrate birthdays. Blow up a balloon, bake a cake, choose a card, and let’s make someone’s designated day special. 

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