The day someone is born is the beginning of a new life, and a moment to be celebrated and cherished. People love to be reminded of this by their friends and family, and gifts are often given as a sign of affection.
However, not everyone celebrates their birthday. Some, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, refuse to acknowledge it. Others do not like the way it is commercialized or the pressure to buy them gifts. Some of us may even wish to be forgotten on their special day.
For most of human history, birthdays were not celebrated very much, or at least weren’t celebrated widely. It was probably not until the Industrial Revolution that it became possible to make sugary cakes, and when this happened the celebration of a person’s birth date became a popular practice worldwide.
In the western world, birthdays are usually celebrated with a party, where the person is surrounded by their loved ones. Guests sing a song called Happy Birthday to the person and give them gifts. There is also a cake, often with the number of lit candles corresponding to the age of the person. In many cultures, it is superstition that if a person blows out all the candles in one breath, their wish will come true.
Whether you are celebrating your own birthday, or that of a friend or loved one, we hope this article has given you some insight into the day and some fun facts that may surprise you!
We hope you have a great day and all the best for the year ahead. – The Wordnik Team
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