BIRTHDAY

In honor of OGR's DJ Glee's birthday, I thought I would look at some of the world-wide customs and traditions. So Mr. DJ, Happy Birthday, and let us know your celebration choice(s).

Thousands of years ago birthdays were considered a time when the bad spirits as opposed to the good spirits were able to harm you as this day changed a person's life. The only way to keep the bad spirits at bay was to have your friends and family around you so that their good wishes and present giving would keep them at bay.

And noisemakers were used at parties as a way of scaring away the evil spirits.

The custom of lighting candles originated with people believing that the gods lived in the sky and by lighting candles and torches they were sending a signal or prayer to the gods so they could be answered. When you blow out the candles and make a wish this is another way of sending a signal and a message.

Birthday Cakes
One theory originated with the Greeks, who baked round cakes representing the full moon for their moon goddess, Artemis; placed candles on the cake to make it glow, like the moon.

The Germans are also credited with the first cakes and candles. They used a sweet, layered cake and they put a large candle in the center of the cake to represent "the light of life." Some people believe the smoke from extinguished candles carries their birthday wishes up to heaven.

How the World Celebrates:
Argentinians pull on the earlobes of the birthday boy or girl for each year of their birthday.

If you live in Bulgaria and have a historical or Biblical name, you get a second, much bigger celebration on your name day in addition to a celebration on your birthday.

In China everyone celebrates their birthday on New Year even if it is not the official date of their birthday. They turn another year older on this day.
They believe that the baby is born one year old.

In Denmark a flag is flown outside a window to designate that someone who lives in this house is having a birthday.

In England there are cakes known as Fortune Telling Cakes which are made for the birthday.
Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being prepared.
If your piece of cake has a coin in it, then you will be rich.

In some parts of Europe they have a birthday tree planted when the new child is born. This was done as they believed that if the tree grew to be healthy and strong, the child would also.

In Germany the children are never given homework or chores on their birthday. This celebration of a birthday started hundreds of years ago in Germany and has spread throughout the world.
On a child's birthday the house is decorated, the dining table or kitchen has a special wooden birthday wreath placed in it. The wreath contains small holes for candles and a holder in the denter for the lifecandle. This a taller candle and is beautifully decorated. This candle is lit each year of a child's birthday until they reach the age of twelve.

Hindu children only celebrate their birthdays once they have reached the age 16 years. Until then, however, they do not go to school on their birthdays. Instead, a birthday is observed with a religious ceremony where a priest blesses the child. On a Hindu child's first birthday, his or her head is shaved while being held by a special fire. Removal of the hair cleanses the child of any evil in past lives, symbolizing a renewal of the soul.

In Hong Kong communities, special noodles are served for lunch in honor of the birthday child. The noodles are extra-long to symbolize a long life.

In Ireland the birthday child is lifted upside down and "bumped" on the floor for good luck.
The number of bumps given is the age of the child plus one for extra good luck.

Being given the key to the house is still considered an important sign of coming of age in Wales. This takes place when someone turns the age of twenty-one. The young man who was given the key to the house is said to be given permission to come and go as he pleases and to stay out as late as he liked.

In Norway most birthday parties consist of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and dishes of red gelatin covered with vanilla sauce. The house is decorated in long, thin colored streamers and candy decorating the table.
At the birthday parties guests may go fishing, but not for fish. They play a game known as Fishing for Ice Cream, where everyone pulls up a frozen treat attached to a piece of string.

Ciao for now! "See ya on the radio."