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Why Birthdays Are Important?
Are you happy when it’s your birthday? Why do we celebrate birthdays and why is it so important to us?
Birthdays are celebrated everyday and everywhere. From China to North America, birthdays are milestones that are celebrated in everyone’s life. While the festivities are different, the events and reasons to celebrate them are the same across all cultures. A birthday carries many unspoken societal norms.
For example, in the U.S. when you turn 18, there is an expectation to start living on your own or go to college. In contrast, in Hispanic cultures 18th birthdays are not a big deal. If you are a Hispanic female at 15, you celebrate “Quinceanera”, and in the U.S. you have to wait one more year to celebrate your “Sweet Sixteen”.
Birthdays are the beginning and the end of personal rights and privileges. As you get older you gain the right to vote, to enlist in the military, to consume alcohol or to smoke. But as we continue to age, we start losing opportunities as well.
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Birthdays are a public declaration of a new phase in your life. From childhood to adulthood, every time we reach one of the milestones, the expected behavior from that individual changes. With age comes new roles and norms. These changes include how to behave in public, how to dress, and how to talk. How many times have you heard someone say, “Isn’t she is too old to wear that?”
Our birthdays are a validation of identity and existence. Directly or indirectly, we evaluate ourselves against our life plan. How many times have you said to yourself, “At this age I will be married” or “at this age I will be ready for retirement”. Birthdays make us think, who are we? and where am I in my life?
We only have a limited number of birthdays and we always celebrate them to the fullest so my question is:
Why you think we celebrate birthdays?
By the way if today is your birthday, Happy Birthday!
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About Me
Hi! My name is Roberto Montanez. I have always been curious about the way we do things and how we react to different situations. Even the most mundane things in our lives, I find interesting.
I have a M.S. in Psychology and have worked for a few years in the field of psychology and education. Working with people in the clinical setting and in the classroom has helped me gain a unique view about our world. More >>
Roberto,
Now that I am older I believe that Birthdays should be celebrated as a symbol of gratitude for living.
It’s not about cakes and gifts for me, but more about being thankful.
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Justin,
Excellent comment! I agree. Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment.
I think that birthdays are important because you advance in life and learn more when i turned 22 i got a surprise that i was pregnant an since i have gotten married we just keep getting blessed
Megan,
It is all in how you see things. If you think birthdays are bad, then you are going to be bitter. If they are a blessing then you will enjoy them.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi, Roberto
I think this is a good post. Even I’m not too care about my birthday. After read your post, suddenly I imagine that birthday is like a pitstop. A time where we can refuelling and adjusting ourself for a better life.
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