Naya Jeevan

American Birthdays

Birthdays in America are very common and happy events. Birthday parties are celebrated on the day of the month a person was born. Most often birthdays are celebrated at home with family members and friends.

For larger birthday parties, invitations are sent to announce when and where the party will be. Every birthday party has a birthday cake with candles on it. The number of candles represents the age of the person who has the birthday. The candles are lit and everyone sings the song, "Happy Birthday." Then the person makes a wish (or sometimes three wishes) and then blows out all the candles with one breath so that the wishes will come true. Sometimes a friend will toast the birthday person.

Usually everyone who comes to a birthday party brings a gift and a birthday card for the birthday person. Sometimes flowers are a nice gift. So are books, clothing, music CDs or videos or perfume. For a child's birthday, toys are good gifts. It is good to ask the parents of the birthday child what kind of gifts are right for the child.

Children will wear birthday hats at a child's birthday party. Usually these children will receive a small souvenir from the birthday child. Sometimes a child's party will be celebrated at school with his friends. Cake, ice cream and candy are traditional for a child's party. Pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs are popular for birthday parties. Some parents will take their child to a special restaurant or reserve a special room in a restaurant to celebrate their child's birthday.

Some birthdays in America are special. When girls turn 16 years old, they will have a "Sweet Sixteen" birthday party. The eighteenth birthday is important because children become legal adults on that day. As adults they can vote, drive a car and conduct personal business for themselves. In the US the legal age to drink alcohol is different from state to state. In most states it is twenty-one, so the twenty-first birthday sometimes is another special celebration.

Some people who plan a birthday for someone don't want the birthday person to find out about it. This is called a "surprise party." A friend or family member takes the birthday person to where the party is, but they are not told the reason. When they arrive at the location, everyone is usually hiding. Then they all shout "SURPRISE!"

Birthday parties are a good way to tell people how special they are. It is a way to honor them. If you cannot attend a friend's birthday party, it is good to call them on the telephone and wish them "Happy Birthday," or mail them a birthday card or present.

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