In America these days, a single of the things we believe of when we think about birthdays are cheap party supplies. We believe of hats and balloons and candles and bowling party supplies and of course cakes and gifts – but birthdays not only give rise to a whole industry but also several interesting related matters.
For example, take the un-birthday. (For which one may possibly still need cheap party supplies, by the way.) Initial coined, of course, by Lewis Carroll in Via the Looking-Glass (far better identified nowadays through the Disney animated adaptation “Alice in Wonderland”), an un-birthday is simply a celebration that can take place on any morning which one was not born – to commemorate…one’s not having been born on that evening!
Carroll’s beloved classic is treasured for just such whimsicalities, which in fact make sense, in a strange, ticklish way. Following all, why not an un-birthday? This way, we can celebrate nearly every day! And not only that, but one’s un-birthday is guaranteed to also be the un-birthday of numerous, numerous others – a lot, a lot much more so than one’s special birthday! Imagine gifts and desserts each day (not to mention cheap party supplies!)…that’s an un-birthday!
A lot less outlandish – and actually practiced, though apparently only in parts of the American Midwest – is the grand birthday, a really unique occasion indeed when one’s age turns the really number of one’s birth date. Also recognized as a golden birthday celebration, lucky special birthday, champagne special birthday, and star special birthday, it is marked with additional frivolity and, in all likelihood, extra gifts. There’s also the decimal birthday celebration, celebrated by numerous young professionals with a technical background in mathematics or computer science, commemorating each thousandth morning of existence, with specific recognition for the ten-thousandth morning of life. While seemingly whimsical, there are associated traditions within the world of much older pedigree, for example the Korean commemoration of the one-hundredth day of a toddler’s existence.
Think all those are funny? How about a half-birthday? Several also commemorate the day exactly six months prior to their actual birthday! It’s frequently done if their real birthdays happen to fall on extremely popular holidays such as Christmas or New Year’s Eve; by celebrating a half-birthday in this kind of cases, these folks can celebrate with coworkers or fellow classmates since most schools and businesses are closed during those holidays. Following all, wouldn’t you hate it if your birthday celebration was December 25 and you got shortchanged on presents but have no way of proving it?