A birthday is an annual anniversary that commemorates the date of a person’s birth. In most cultures around the world, a birthday is celebrated by friends and family with food, drinks, and gifts. A person may also choose to celebrate alone, with their partner, or with their children. Some religions such as Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays.
When writing a birthday card or message, it’s important to tailor the sentiment to suit the individual and their personality. It’s also a good idea to include any notable accomplishments in the past year that the birthday person has achieved. This will show the individual that you are invested in their success.
The word birthday comes from the Old English word byrthday, meaning “coming of age.” The first known reference to a special celebration occurring on a person’s actual birthdate occurred in a 1596 poem by William Shakespeare, and the phrase was later adopted into popular culture as a yearly holiday. Birthday can also be used to refer to the anniversary of an event or a group, such as a university or a sports team.
Birthdays are generally celebrated with a party and a cake that is topped with the number of candles that corresponds to the person’s age. One common birthday tradition is for the person to blow out the candles and make a wish. It is believed that the act of blowing out the candles sends a signal to any gods or goddesses that may be watching, and that the wishes made are heard.
People often give cards to their loved ones on their birthdays, and about 2 billion of them are sent each year worldwide. Some people enjoy going to restaurants on their birthday and having a meal that is themed for the occasion. In the United States, many restaurants offer a special menu for birthdays.
In some cultures, the birthday person is given a special cake or dessert, typically one that is decorated with letters to spell out their name. The cake is then topped with candles, which are usually arranged in the shape of their age. The birthday person is usually told to blow out the candles and make a special wish, which it is superstitiously believed that will come true.
It is thought that ancient civilizations began to celebrate birthdays as a way to protect their citizens from evil spirits. The ancient Greeks believed that a person’s birthday was a day when the gods welcomed them into their universe, and that friends and family could gather to protect them by surrounding them with good cheer, thoughts, and prayers. In addition to lighting candles, they would use noisemakers to scare away any unwanted evil spirits. The modern birthday is believed to have originated from these rituals.