birthday

Birthday is the anniversary of the birth of a person, observed annually as a personal milestone in many cultures. The term originates from the combination of birth and day in English; usage is documented from the early modern period and is widely used in many languages with local equivalents.

Celebrations vary by culture and individual preference but commonly serve social and personal purposes: acknowledging life, reinforcing social ties, and marking the passage of time.

Typical traditions in many regions include gatherings with family and friends, the giving of gifts, and the blowing out of candles on a cake while a birthday song is sung.

In some cultures, religious rites accompany or substitute secular celebrations, and in others the day is kept private.

Differences include the timing and nature of festivities. Some communities celebrate a person’s name day or other life milestones instead of or in addition to the birthday.

In many countries, birthdays also correspond to legal or administrative milestones that confer special rights or responsibilities, such as reaching voting age or obtaining a license. In the modern era, birthdays are often celebrated with social media greetings and other digital communications, extending the reach beyond close circles. Regardless of form, the birthday is generally seen as a reminder of a person’s existence and of the relationships surrounding them.