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Dec 7, 2023 · The History of Giving Birthday Presents. The origin of birthday presents can be traced back to the dawn of human civilization, where the celebration of one's birth held varying degrees of importance across different cultures.
May 26, 2021 · The earliest mention of a tradition of birthday celebrations is around 3,000 BCE, with the Bible’s reference to a Pharaoh’s birthday. In ancient times, when a Pharaoh was crowned, they transformed into a God. Their coronation was way more significant than their birth date.
Dive into the fascinating history of birthday celebrations, from ancient rites to modern customs, and learn how BloomsyBox can add a touch of floral elegance
With modern traditions like these, it’s hard to believe this universally known tradition of the Birthday may theoretically have very historic beginnings. Below are several historical speculations on when and how the celebration of birthdays began.
- The Chinese Diaspora
- The Netherlands
- Japan
- Brazil
- Malaysia
- The United Kingdom
- Mexico
- Lithuania
- Finland
- Philippines
Birthday traditions vary quite a bit across the regions and countries with significant Chinese populations. In China’s southern Fujian province and in parts of Taiwan, for example, a person’s 16th birthday marks their passage into adulthood. This belief hearkens back to the Qing Dynasty and the age at which a labourer went from having a half-wage t...
The “circle party” is a typical birthday gathering in the Netherlands. The extended family gets together and sits in a circle to talk and eat cake, followed by drinks and a buffet-style dinner. It can be a lengthy process for anyone entering the room at these gatherings, says editor Paul Robert. “People congratulate not only the person whose birthd...
Celebrating a person’s birthday on the anniversary of the day they were actually born became a tradition only in the last century; in the past, everyone celebrated on the new year. In Japan, regardless of when birthdays took place, there have long been milestone celebrations, ranging from a first birthday to a 60th. When a child turns one in Japan,...
In South America’s biggest country, after blowing out the candles and making a wish, the guest of honour slices off a piece of cake and offers it to someone who is important to them—for children, that’s often a parent. But for adults, this time-honoured tradition can rate high on the awkward scale. Says editor Raquel Zampil, “It’s often uncomfortab...
Approximately 60 percent of Malaysians are adherents of Islam, a religion within which birthdays aren’t generally celebrated. However, some Malaysians do mark their birthdays with a family gathering over lunch or dinner the night before the big day and wrap up the celebration by taking stock of their blessings and thanking Allah for giving them lif...
Birthday parties are very popular in Britain and when children are involved there is almost always a game of “pass the parcel.” The rules: A birthday present that has been wrapped multiple times is passed in a circle from child to child until the music stops. When that happens, whoever is holding the parcel must unwrap a layer and complete whatever...
An emblematic Mexican birthday-party tradition—one that has spread across the globe—is the smashing of a piñata. Blindfolded, stick-wielding celebrants whack a brightly coloured container hanging from a string until it bursts open, raining down candy. Though now often made from papier mâché and in a range of forms that includes animals and celebrit...
“In my native country, it is customary for the person whose birthday it is to sit in a decorated chair that is then lifted up by the party guests,” says editor Eva Mackevic. “How many times the chair is raised will correspond with the age of the guest of honour.” Another frequently observed tradition: The person whose birthday it is will be respons...
“When a Finn turns 18, they can get their driver’s license and go to restaurants unaccompanied,” says editor Ilkka Virtanen. It is therefore common for 18-year-olds to mark their entry into adulthood by heading to a restaurant with friends or having a big, boozy party at home. This is the one birthday where attendees are expected to pay their own w...
For Filipinos, a birthday isn’t just a celebration of the day—it’s an occasion to spend time with family. Traditionally, anyone living within a day’s travel must be invited, or involved in the planning, and each guest is assigned a dish to bring. Central to the celebration are “longevity noodles” (symbolizing a long, healthy life), a cake ideally m...
Birthday cards and birthday presents are a long-standing cultural tradition but why? We were wondering about this ourselves and we started to investigate when, where and how the presentation of gifts on a birthday came from.
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Apr 1, 2021 · The History of Birthdays. Birthdays started around 3,000 years before the common era, conceptualised by our good old friends the Egyptians. But not necessarily in the sense that we celebrate them today. Despite the clues in the name, you know, birth-day, day of birth, this isn’t what the Egyptians actually celebrated.
