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.
In Vietnam the people do not know or acknowledge
the exact day they were born. Everyone’s birthday is celebrated on New Year’s Day,
or Tet. A baby turns one on Tet no matter when he/she was born that year. On
the first morning of Tet, adults congratulate children on becoming a year older
by presenting them with red envelopes that contain “lucky money.”
In Israel the child whose birthday it is wears a
crown made from leaves or flowers and sits in a chair decorated in streamers.
Guests dance around the chair singing. The parents lift the chair while the
child sits in it.
In Mexico there are two celebrations for a
birthday. The first one is a quiet party with relatives and close family
friends and a blessing from a priest. The second celebration includes lots of
friends. The piñata, a decorated bag or jug shaped like an animal and filled
with candles, toys, and coins, is hung from the ceiling. The blindfolded
birthday child hits it with a pole to release the contents for everyone to
enjoy.
In Germany the children are never given homework
or chores on their birthday. The house is decorated and the dining or kitchen
table has a special wooden birthday wreath with small holes for candles and a
place in the center for the tall “Life” candle. The Life candle is lit each
year on the child’s birthday until they reach the age of twelve.
Today’s gift was to support my friend, Marla,
who had asked us to help her celebrate the last day of her 50’s by joining her
for a Hospice run/walk. She asked for no presents, but just to join her in the
walk and then come to her house for birthday cake. I was unable to attend so I
made a donation to Klamath Falls Hospice in Marla’s honor. This is such a great
idea for a birthday that I may just do something like it for mine!
In Giving,
Robin
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