A birthday is the yearly anniversary of the day a person was born. Usually, it is celebrated with a gift, party, or both. The term birthday can also refer to the age of a country, group, or organization: “That art museum’s five hundredth birthday is next year.”
People often celebrate their own birthdays with a meal and cake, though there are many other ways to mark the occasion. Some people choose to spend their birthdays alone or with close friends, while others enjoy going out and having a big party. Birthdays are sometimes a time for self-reflection, and it is common to make resolutions to improve oneself on the year to come.
As the concept of a birthday crossed cultures and centuries, various traditions merged into the celebrations that we know and love today. Each culture infused the celebration with its own customs, beliefs, and symbols. Lighting candles and making a wish, for example, is an ancient Greek ritual that symbolized the light of life and offered protection from evil spirits. Making noise, whether with singing, laughing, or the clattering of noisemakers, served to ward off those same spirits. Over time, these elements coalesced into the raucous birthday parties that we know and love.
Birthdays are the perfect time to indulge. Whether you are an alcohol drinker or not, a special bottle of your favorite spirit can be a great way to celebrate. If you are a fan of baking, treat yourself to a new recipe, or bake your favorite dessert. If you have a friend who shares your birthday, make them a batch of cookies or their favorite cake!
If there is a restaurant you have been dying to try, make your birthday the day that you finally go. It will be a night to remember, and you will have a new favorite place to go for dinner in the future.
For a fun twist on your birthday, plan a weekend away with friends who share the same birthday as you do. It’s a great way to spend quality time with people who are important to you, and it will give you lots of fun throwback Instagram posts in the future.
If you are not a fan of crowds or sexy clubs, take your birthday party to your own home for an intimate gathering. Organize the guest list and pick out a theme (70s glam, nifty 50s, English high tea, or something else entirely). You can also hire a mobile food truck to serve your guests, which is a super fun addition to any party.