The birthday is the anniversary of the date of one’s own birth, typically celebrated with a gift and party. This is the most common use of the word, but it can also refer to the anniversary of a group, nation or organization’s founding, as in “The museum is celebrating its fiftieth birthday next year.”
The exact origin of the birthday is obscure. Some experts believe it may be derived from the Anglo-Saxon byrdsdaeg, which refers to a feast day or memorial in honor of a saint or king. The birthday may have become more widely celebrated with the rise of the middle class in Europe after 1800, and the popularity of social gatherings.
Across the globe, people have many different traditions for marking the occasion. The most prevalent are the sharing of presents, eating cake, and singing happy birthday to the celebrant. Many of these traditions were inspired by the ancient Greeks, who believed that everyone had a spirit present at the time of their birth and that this spirit maintained a mystic relationship with them throughout their lives. This may be the origin of the tradition of lighting candles on a birthday cake.
Birthdays are a great way to show loved ones how much they mean to you. However, sometimes it can be difficult to come up with a thoughtful, heartfelt message to share in person or online. Luckily, we’ve collected this delightful collection of short birthday wishes to help you express how special your recipient is to you.
These short but meaningful birthday messages are perfect for signing a card, writing on a gift tag, or sharing in a video. They can be used on their own or paired with other words of wisdom to create an original and touching sentiment.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your own birthday wishes, check out our article on What to Say on a Birthday.
The best way to celebrate a birthday is with family and friends. This is why many birthday traditions are associated with large gatherings of loved ones. Among the most popular are gifts, cards, and a birthday dinner or party. Traditionally, the birthday dinner begins with lighting candles on a cake and singing happy birthday. This is followed by a speech by the host and opening of presents.
During the dinner, people give their birthday wishes to the celebrant and sing another traditional song, often Happy Birthday to You. This famous tune was reportedly written by an elementary school teacher named Mildred Hill and was originally called Good Morning to All. It was later changed to the more well-known version that is sung at most birthday parties today. Many of the same customs are also shared by cultures around the world, including putting on a show of talent for the birthday boy or girl and playing a game of pinata.