Birthday

Birthday and birthday party

A successful party is planned carefully and early. Will it be at home or somewhere else? What about food, drinks and the practical things – extra tables, crockery, cutlery, glasses – and who will serve the guests? The organiser – the birthday person or a friend planning a surprise – also has to decide who is invited, so that the birthday invitations can be sent out; as with any party, the invitation should arrive early. Perhaps games, performances or other activities need preparing too. At a children's birthday the classics – pin the tail, egg-and-spoon race, sack race – are still in demand, while milestone birthdays are often celebrated in a rented venue with a large crowd.

Origin and tradition

A birthday marks the anniversary of a person's birth. Celebrating it was already common in the Middle Ages. In Catholic regions it was customary until the 19th century to celebrate the name day instead, whereas the birthday was originally a pagan-protestant tradition of the 15th century. In Islam the birthday is regarded as a purely Christian custom, and celebrating it is often frowned upon.

Today it is usual to congratulate the birthday person and to give presents; greetings are frequently sent by phone or e-mail as well.

Special birthdays – coming of age, milestone birthdays – are honoured on a larger scale and celebrated with a bigger crowd, including acquaintances, colleagues and business partners.

Printable birthday invitations

Birthday invitation templates, including designs with the number for milestone birthdays. more