Birthday
A birthday is the day when a person was born. In many places, on a person's birthday, he or she celebrates with friends and family at a party, where they eat cake or other foods, and get gifts. It is a common use to offer gifts in packages decorated for the occasion and accompanied by greeting cards.
Customs
[change | change source]Not everyone celebrates birthdays, including Jehovah's Witnesses.
In much of the English-speaking world people sing the song "Happy Birthday to You" to the person celebrating her or his birthday. There are similar songs in other languages.
A birthday cake is usually decorated and covered with candles. Usually the number of candles is the same as the age of the birthday person.
Coming of age
[change | change source]Children usually reach their age of majority on a birthday.
In the United States of America and also in many other countries a person can vote and become a legal adult at age 18.A mixed fruit birthday cake - In Judaism, boys have a bar mitzvah around the time they become 13. Girls sometimes have a bat mitzvah around their 12th or 13th birthday.
- In Latin America, a quinceañera party marks a girl's 15th birthday.
Astrology
[change | change source]A person's astrological sign is based on his or her birthday.
Symbolism
[change | change source]Birthstones
[change | change source]A birthstone symbolizes the month of birth. In 1912, the Jewelers of America agreed on a list of birthstones:
Month | Modern Birthstone[1] | Alternate | Traditional Birthstone[1] |
---|---|---|---|
January | Garnet | Rose Quartz | Garnet |
February | Amethyst | Onyx | Amethyst |
March | Aquamarine | Red Jasper (Bloodstone) | Bloodstone, Jasper |
April | Diamond | Rock Crystal (Quartz) | Diamond, Sapphire |
May | Emerald | Chrysoprase | Emerald, Agate |
June | Pearl (the only non-mineral), Moonstone | Alexandrite | Alexandrite, Emerald |
July | Ruby | Jade or Carnelian | Ruby, Onyx |
August | Peridot | Aventurine, Sardonyx, or Sapphire | Sardonyx, Carnelian |
September | Sapphire | Lapis lazuli | Sapphire, Peridot |
October | Opal | Pink Tourmaline | Tourmaline, Aquamarine |
November | Yellow Topaz | Citrine or Turquoise | Citrine, Topaz |
December | Turquoise, Blue Topaz | Lapis Lazuli or Tanzanite | Zircon, Ruby |
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Timewell Corp. Website.Birthstones and Gemstones Color