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A child's birthday celebration

Birthday is the name given to the particular date each year on which people in many cultures celebrate the anniversary they were born. It is traditionally marked by a birthday party or, in some particular cases, a rite of transition. Birthday can mean: A celebration on a persons birthday Birthdays, a British greeting cards retailer Birthday (song), a song by The Beatles Birthday EP, an EP by Infected Mushroom Birthday, the fifth day of the week on the Zork calendar Birthday, a song by The Sugarcubes from their... An anniversary (from the Latin anniversarius, from the words for year and to turn, meaning (re)turning yearly; known in English since c. ... For other uses, see Party (disambiguation). ... Shan boy undergoing Poy Sang Long initiation A rite of passage is a ritual that marks a change in a persons social or sexual status. ...

It is thought the large-scale celebration of birthdays in Europe began with the cult of Mithras, which originated in Persia but was spread by soldiers throughout the Roman Empire. Such celebrations were uncommon previously so practices from other contexts such as the Saturnalia were adapted for birthdays.^{[citation needed]} Because many Roman soldiers took to Mithraism, it had a wide distribution and influence throughout the empire until it was supplanted by Christianity. The Jewish perspective on birthday celebrations is disputed by various rabbis.^[1] This article or section contains too much jargon and may need simplification or further explanation. ... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Saturnalia (disambiguation). ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Topics in Christianity Preaching Prayer Ecumenism Relation to other religions Movements Music Liturgy Calendar Symbols Art Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For the town in Italy, see Rabbi, Italy. ...

The celebration of birthdays is not universal. Some people prefer name day celebrations^[who?], and Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate either, considering their origins to be pagan festivals along with Christmas and Easter. Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Christian festival. ...

Birthday cake

Main article: Birthday cake

The birthday cake is traditionally highly decorated, and typically covered with lit candles when presented, the number of candles signifying the age of the celebrant. The person whose birthday it is may make a silent wish and then blow out the candles. It is also customary for the person celebrating their birthday to cut the initial piece of the cake as a newlywed couple might with a wedding cake.^{[citation needed]} Birthday Cake The birthday cake has been an integral part of the birthday tradition in Western cultures since the middle of the 19th century. ... Birthday Cake The birthday cake has been an integral part of the birthday tradition in Western cultures since the middle of the 19th century. ... For other uses, see Candle (disambiguation). ... In fiction a wish is a supernatural gift granting the recipients unlimited request. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Birthday cakes date back as far as the Middle Ages when the English would conceal symbolic items such as gold coins, rings and thimbles inside their cakes.^{[citation needed]} Each item was associated with a prediction. For example, a person finding a gold coin in a birthday cake would supposedly become wealthy; a person discovering a thimble would never marry. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

Sometimes special candles are substituted for the many individual candles in the shape of a numeral. For example, on the fifth birthday, there may be one candle on the cake in the shape of the numeral five, and on the fiftieth birthday there may be two candles on the cake, one in the shape of the numeral five followed by the other in the shape of the number zero. A numeral is a symbol or group of symbols that represents a number. ...

Traditions

In addition to parties, it is often common for people to receive gifts on their brithdays. There are also traditions of surprise parties.^{[citation needed]} However, in certain circles^[who?], it is expected of the person celebrating their birthday to treat their party guests instead; this varies depending on the local culture and may involve party gifts or other gestures.^{[citation needed]} Love gift Man presents a cut of meat to a youth with a hoop. ... A surprise party is a celebration that is not made known to one or more of the guests until it occurs. ...

In most English-speaking countries it is traditional to sing the song Happy Birthday to You to the honored person celebrating a birthday. The Happy Birthday song tune is thought^[who?] to be the most frequently sung melody in the world. Similar songs exist in other languages such as "Lang zal hij/zij leven" in Dutch, "Zum Geburtstag Viel Glück" in German, "Que los cumplas feliz" or "Feliz cumpleaños a tí" in Spanish, "Parabéns a você" in Portuguese, "Sto lat" in Polish, "Lá Bhreithlá Shona Duit" in Irish, "Joyeux Anniversaire" in French, "Tanti Auguri a te" in Italian and "Iyi ki dogdun, Mutlu Yillar Sana" in Turkish.^{[citation needed]} The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This article is about the musical composition. ... For similarly titled songs, see Happy Birthday (disambiguation). ...

Special birthdays

A birthday cake

• In most legal systems, one becomes a legal adult on a particular birthday (often 18th or 21st), and at different ages gains different rights and responsibilities — voting, certain drug use (for example, alcohol, purchasing tobacco), eligibility for military draft or voluntary enlistment, purchasing lottery tickets, vehicle driving licences, etc.^{[citation needed]}
• Many cultures have one or more coming of age birthdays:
  • Jewish boys have a bar mitzvah on or around their 13th birthday. Jewish girls observe a bat mitzvah on or around their 12th birthday, or sometimes on or around their 13th birthday in Reform and Conservative Judaism.
  • In some Christian traditions, generally Catholic and Anglican, Confirmation is the ritual by which a young person receives a Sacrament thought to bestow certain gifts of the Holy Spirit. The timing of the reception of this Sacrament serves, on a sociological level, as a sort of "rite of passage" into adulthood.
  • In Latin America the quinceañera celebration traditionally marks a girl's 15th birthday.
  • Some girls and a few boys in the United States have "sweet sixteen" birthday parties.
  • In the United Kingdom 18th and 21st are traditional coming of age birthdays.^{[citation needed]}
  • In many Asian countries, the 14th birthday is celebrated as the day one becomes a man, or a woman, in society.^{[citation needed]}
  • Many Filipino girls celebrate their 18th birthdays with a cotillion and debutante ball, commonly known as a debut.^{[citation needed]}
• The birthdays of historically significant people, like national heroes or founders, are often commemorated by an official holiday. Some saints are remembered by a liturgical feast (sometimes on a presumed birthday). By analogy, the Latin term Dies natalis is applied to the anniversary of an institution (such as a university).

Image File history File links Birthday File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Birthday File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about the human developmental stage. ... Vote redirects here. ... Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Shredded tobacco leaf for pipe smoking Tobacco can also be pressed into plugs and sliced into flakes Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. ... Conscription is a general term for forced labor demanded by some established authority, e. ... A lottery is a popular form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize. ... For other uses, see Coming of Age (disambiguation). ... When a Jewish child reaches the age of maturity (12 years and one day for girls, 13 years and one day for boys) that child becomes responsible for him/herself under Jewish law; at this point a boy is said to become Bar Mitzvah (בר מצווה, son of the commandment... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... When a Jewish child reaches the age of maturity (12 years and one day for girls, 13 years and one day for boys) that child becomes responsible for him/herself under Jewish law; at this point a boy is said to become Bar Mitzvah (בר מצווה, son of the commandment... Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... This article is about Conservative (Masorti) Judaism in the United States. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... confirmed redirects here. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... The Quinceañera or Quince años is, in some Spanish-speaking regions of the Americas, a young womans celebration of her fifteenth birthday, which is commemorated in a unique and different way from her other birthdays. ... For other uses of Sweet sixteen, see Sweet Sixteen. ... For other uses, see Cotillion (disambiguation). ... A debutante (or deb) (from the French débutante, female beginner) is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her debut or coming out. Originally... Vacation redirects here. ...

Official birthdays

Some notables, particularly monarchs, have an official birthday on a fixed day of the year, which may not necessarily match their actual birthday, but on which celebrations are held. Examples are: Louis XIV, king of France and Navarre (Painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud, 1701). ...

• The King's or Queen's Official Birthday in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom; in Canada this day is known as Victoria Day.
• Jesus of Nazareth's traditional birthday is celebrated as Christmas Day around the world: 25 December. As some Eastern churches use the Julian calendar, 25 December falls on 7 January in the Gregorian calendar every year until 2100.
• The Grand Duke's Official Birthday in Luxembourg: 23 June.
• The King's official birthday in Belgium: November 15 (on saint Leopold, liturgical feast of the dynasty's founder's patron saint).^{[citation needed]}
• The Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia celebrates his federal official birthday on the first Saturday of June.
• Koningsdag or Koninginnedag in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is fixed on 30 April (Queen's Day; celebration of the reigning Queen's accession). Queen Beatrix fixed it at the birthday of her mother, the previous Queen, to avoid the winter weather associated with her own birthday in January.

While it is uncommon to have an official holiday for a republican head of state's birthday, this can become a permanent posthumous honour, especially in the case of a so-called father of the fatherland, for example George Washington (best known as Presidents' Day; also celebrated in the US is Lincoln's Birthday.) In Jersey the Lieutenant-Governor hosts a reception for the public at Government House to mark the Queens Official Birthday, at which he announces the names of recipients of Birthday Honours The Queens Official Birthday (sometimes known as the Queens Birthday) is celebrated as a public holiday... Queen Elizabeth II in Canada for her official birthday, Victoria Day 2005, Edmonton, Alberta Victoria Day (French: Fête de la Reine) is a Canadian statutory holiday celebrated on the last Monday before or on May 24 in honour of both Queen Victorias birthday and the current reigning Canadian... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Hebrew (Natzrat or Natzeret) Arabic الناصرة (an-Nāṣira) Government City District North Population 64,800[1] Metropolitan Area: 185,000 (2006) Jurisdiction 14 200 dunams (14. ... Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Eastern Christianity refers collectively to the Christian traditions and churches which developed in Greece, Russia, Armenia, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, the Middle East, northeastern Africa and southern India over several centuries of religious antiquity. ... The Julian calendar was a reform of the Roman calendar which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and came into force in 45 BC (709 ab urbe condita). ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the calendar of religious holidays and periods, see liturgical year. ... 2100 can refer to either: The first year of the 2100s decade. ... The Grand Dukes Official Birthday is celebrated as the annual national holiday of Luxembourg. ... is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Flag of the Supreme Head of Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a Malay title usually translated as Supreme Ruler or Paramount Ruler, is the official title of the constitutional head of state of the federation of Malaysia. ... Koninginnedag in Amsterdam, 2000 A stall at the Vondelpark in Amsterdam Typical koninginnedag-humour in Amsterdam; the sign says overthrow the royal house, referring to the pictures of the royal famly on the pile of boxes one can throw balls at. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the comedy film of the same name, see Head of State (film). ... ... Presidents Day (also styled Presidents Day or Presidents Day) is the common name for the United States federal holiday officially designated as Washingtons Birthday. ... Presidents Day, officially known as Washingtons Birthday, is a national holiday in the United States of America celebrated on the third Monday of February. ...

Name day

In some Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries such as France, Hungary, or Greece, it is common to have a 'name day'/'Saint's day'.^{[citation needed]} This is celebrated in much the same way as a birthday, but is held on the official day of a saint with the same Christian name as the birthday person; the difference being that one may look up a person's name day in a calendar, or easily remember common name days (for example, John or Mary); however in pious traditions, the two were often made to concur by giving a newborn the name of a saint celebrated on its birthday, or even the name of a feast, for example, Noel or Pascal (French for Christmas and "of Easter"). In some countries^{[who?][original research?]}, name days are celebrated with much more elaborate festivities than birthdays; in the past, birthdays often were not celebrated at all in those countries. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... ... The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more saints, and referring to the day as the saints day of that saint. ...

Alternative birthdays

People born on February 29, which occurs only during leap years, often celebrate their birthday in other years on February 28, or March 1 (the first day they have, measured in whole years, a new age).^{[original research?]} is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The effects of ageing on a human face Elderly woman Ageing or aging is the process of systems deterioration with time. ...

In school, a half-birthday or other unbirthday is sometimes celebrated for those whose birthdays do not fall on a school day (especially for birthdays falling during holiday and vacation periods). (Several school websites deal with this problem, and there is a book "The Class with the Summer Birthdays" by Dian Curtis Regan.)^{[original research?]} A half-birthday is a day six months before or after the real anniversary of a persons birth. ... An Unbirthday is described as an event that is typically celebrated on any of the 364 days on which it is not the persons birthday. ...

Timezone issues

A person's birthday is usually recorded according to the time zone of the place of birth. Thus people born in Samoa at 11:30 PM will record their birthdate as one day before Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and those born in the Line Islands will record their birthdate one day after UTC. They will apparently be born two days apart, while some of the apparently older ones may be younger in hours. Those who live in different time zones from their birth often exclusively celebrate their birthdays at the local time zone. In addition, the intervention of Daylight Saving Time can result in a case where a baby born second being recorded as having been born up to an hour before their predecessor^[2]. UTC redirects here. ... The Line Islands are a group of eleven atolls and low coral islands in the central Pacific Ocean south of the Hawaiian Islands, eight of which belong to Kiribati, while three are United States territories that are grouped with the United States Minor Outlying Islands. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ...

See also

• Various birthdays are mentioned on the pages devoted to each day of the year, from January 1 to December 31
• Birthday paradox
• Birthday attack
• East Asian age reckoning - a different method of age reckoning to birthdays that is used in some Asian countries.
• Half-birthday
• Death anniversary
• Astrology
  • Natal chart
  • Horoscope
• Unbirthday
• Decimal Birthday
• Sashtiabdhapoorthi
• Zodiac stones

is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... In probability theory, the birthday paradox states that in a group of 23 (or more) randomly chosen people, there is more than 50% probability that some pair of them will have the same birthday. ... A birthday attack is a type of cryptographic attack which exploits the mathematics behind the birthday paradox, making use of a space-time tradeoff. ... East Asian age reckoning is a concept that originated in China and is used in East Asian countries. ... A half-birthday is a day six months before or after the real anniversary of a persons birth. ... Hand-coloured version of the anonymous Flammarion woodcut (1888). ... This natal chart, appearing in Ebenezer Siblys Astrology (1806), was drawn for the speculated birth date of Jesus Christ, midnight, December 25, year 45 in the Julian calendar. ... A horoscope calculated for January 1, 2000 at 12:01:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time in New York City, New York, USA (Longitude: 074W0023 - Latitude: 40N4251). In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the astrological aspects, and... An Unbirthday is described as an event that is typically celebrated on any of the 364 days on which it is not the persons birthday. ... A decimal birthday is celebrated using the decimal (base ten) numeral system. ... Sashtiabdhapoorthi is a Sanskrit name for a special ceremony on a persons sixtieth birthday. ...

References

Further reading

• Curtis Regan, Dian (March 1991). The Class With the Summer Birthdays. Henry Holth & Co. ISBN 978-0805016574. 

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