Birthday Present Facts and Information:
Did you know that birthdays were not always celebrated. In historic times there was no method for time keeping so no one knew if it was their birthday or not. When people began to celebrate birthdays, it was only the very prominent men of a country that would be honoured.
Birthday parties were "invented" by people who believed that life changes (including being another year older) brought about evil spirits and so they surrounded the birthday person with friends and family and good wishes to protect the birthday person; of course if the guests also brought presents it was even more protection.
In some countries when a child is baptised they are named after a saint who becomes the lifetime guardian of that child. The Saint's sacred day is then celebrated to show honour rather than celebrating the child's actual birthday. Many of these countries now celebrate both the Saint's day and the Birthday as two separate occasions. Celebrations for Saint's days and Birthdays are alike, there are presents and cakes and parties.
In the UK, Birthdays have become more and more important to people. Giving and receiving presents, cards and cakes is expected. Celebrating with parties for children and adults can become quite expensive.
Candles on Birthday cakes were "invented" by Germans who also decided that if the Birthday person could blow out all the candles in one breath it would bring good luck.
Thee song "Happy Birthday to You" was written by two Americans and around the same time in the UK (about 100 years ago) cards began to be made and given for Birthdays.
So many countries have influenced the Birthdays that we know of today.
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