Today is mine! I love birthdays — how can anyone not? Gifts, cake. . .and more cake. 
And sharing it with you all on the blog is just more added fun. I had my birthday party last Saturday, and dear hubby outdid himself — a home made spaghetti and meatballs dinner with bread and a cake, all made from scratch. I received some lovely gifts from family and friends, and a Wii Fit ahead of time from hubby (much fun, after you get past the trauma of the chubby Mii, LOL), who also says he has some extra surprises in store. But as much as I enjoy the goodies, I am just so thankful for all the wonderful people and things in my life as I enter this new year. Those are the real gifts.
Anyhoo, I was doing some research on birthday lore for a book a while ago, and found out some really interesting things about our own personal holidays. Such as that ancient people used to celebrate death days more than birthdays, as your death signified your return to God. (I’m really glad we turned this one around!) Birthdays as we know them are pagan in origin, as are so many of our holidays and traditions. (And as everyone knows, pagans know how to par-tay).
Greek celebrations, specifically, were tributes to Artemis. The Greeks would make honey cakes for her each month, lighting them with candles to make them look like the moon. Traditionally only men were celebrated on their birthdays, until in Germany they started doing so for children, and the tradition grew. In many countries, birthdays are still considered mainly a religious ceremony. Hindus don’t celebrate their birthdays until they are sixteen years old, but on their first birthdays, however, Hindu babies have their heads shaved to rid them of any evil spirits, which is also the idea behind singing, spanking, or making of loud noises. Wishing someone Happy Birthday is a wish for bad luck to stay away from them in the year coming.
So, that’s a little folklore lesson on b’days. Kind of neat, I think.
As a gift to YOU, if you will tell a b’day story or share a tradition or go out and find a piece of birthday folklore and share it in the comments, I will choose a winner at the end of the day to receive a copy of my March Blazing Bedtime Stories w/Kimberly Raye (mine is “I Wish He Might” a story about a tabloid reporter who meets a sexy genie), AND a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate (US Residents Only). Three other winners (everyone eligible) will receive signed copies of the Bedtime Stories book.
I hope a lot of you will come by to celebrate my special day with me. I may be out and about, but I will pop in to comment as I can…
Sam
Entries (RSS)
A tradition in Ireland is to lift the birthday child upside down and have them be gently “bumped” on the floor for good luck. The number of bumps given is the age of the child plus one for extra good luck.
A saying: Beautiful young people are acts of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
And finally, an Irish blessing:
May flowers always line your path
And sunshine light your day
May songbirds serenade you
Every step along the way
May a rainbow run beside you
In a sky that’s always blue
And may happiness fill your heart
Each day your whole life through
May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks
May your heart be as light as a song
May each day bring you bright, happy hours
That stay with you all the year long
Happy Birthday Sam!
Thanks Brenda.
I probably shouldn’t publicly admit to slacking today, but… *G*
Lou, you sweetie — that was nice.
I just hope no one tries to pick me up and turn me over to bump me on the floor — that would be hard on everyone, LOL!
Off to slack… I’ll be thinking about writing, though, amid food and shopping, etc, I promise…
Sam
Happy Birthday to you! I always celebrate mine with friends and family at my favorite mexican restaurant drinking margueritas!
Happy Birthday Sam!!! I have to say my favorite birthday tradition growing up in a large Cuban family is the Quinceanera. When a girl turns 15 she has a big coming of age party. Big dresses, waltzing and lots of fun. I loved mine and I cant wait till my daughter turns 15. Of course just the thought of my white boy husband waltzing with my daughter can make me laugh, I cant wait, lol! A new tradition we have started with my kids is the cakes. I make cakes, and now for every birthday my kids want me to make it bigger and better then last years cake. Its fun and challenging. Well have a wonderful day and I cant wait to read next months book!
Sam, Happy Birthday! You are one of my favorite people and I hope this year is a blessed one for you. I too am looking forward to those March books!
My last couple of birthdays haven’t been so great. Crazy stuff always seems to happen. But my favorite birthday story happened when I turned 16. My family had arranged a big dinner at my favorite restaurant. We went outside to get in the car and our driveway was blocked. I was fuming mad and getting ready to yell at the neighbors. But my dad put a hand on my shoulder and said, “It’s your car.” In an instant my entire mood changed and I was ecstatic. It was a little stick shift Chevette that was baby poo green. LOL. But I loved it! It was a stick shift, but my dad is such a great driver that he taught me how to drive it in one night.
Sometime when we are having dinner together at RWA or something, get me to tell you about my 29th b-day.
Woot!! Happy, happy birthday, Sam!!!
In Chinese tradition, we always have to remember to eat noodles on our birthdays (for longevity) and we’d get a chicken drumstick (mainly because my parents grew up without a lot, and it was a big deal to get a piece of meat, much less the *drumstick*).
Hope you’re celebrating muchly, and may your day and year be spectacular!!
(Wow, Candace! What a dad!!)
Happy Birthday, Sam. I hope you have a wonderful day.
I found some birthday folklore about Birtthday Spankings. This tradition started in Roman times in the Spring where young girls would be hit with switches to ensure fertility and a long life.
Having extensively searched the interwebs…okay I Googled birthday lore and got this
:
“Birthday greetings and wishes for happiness are an intrinsic part of this holiday. . . . originally the idea was rooted in magic. The working of spells for good and evil is the chief usage of witchcraft. One is especially susceptible to such spells on his birthday, as one’s personal spirits are about at the time. . . . Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day.”
So really we should always send good thoughts to people on their birthdays!
*Sending good thoughts to Sam*
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Sam!
Our family doesn’t really have a birthday tradition (well, my Mom would decorate the house and bake a cake when I was younger, but not since I was a teenager). I will share a couple birthday stories though!
My best friend and I have birthdays 5 days apart (Feb 5 & 10), so growing up we usually had celebrations together. Two of the most memorable were our 16th and 18th birthdays. For our 16th birthdays, our parents took us and a couple of our friends to the city (STL) to celebrate. They rented a limo that took us out for the afternoon to Ted Drewe’s for Frozen Custard, then it took us to a hotel downtown where we were staying the night. We went out to dinner at Planet Hollywood and had a fantastic time together. For our 18th birthdays, we went low key and just went out to dinner together with our families to TGI Fridays, where the waitress tied balloons in our hair and sang to us (totally humiliating!).
My 5th birthday was also pretty memorable. We were living in California at the time and my Mom’s family flew in to visit (from the Netherlands). My parents had planned a 3 day trip to Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo, and Knottsbury Farm. Day 1 was Disneyland and it poured rain so hard and so much that they shut down the park. I only got to go on 1 ride! Luckily the rain slowed down the next day and we could enjoy the zoo pretty well in between bouts of rain, but I’ll never forget that weekend!
Oh! Last one, I promise!
My 21st birthday was also pretty great, but not in the way Americans usually celebrate their birthdays (i.e. no drunkeness). I turned 21 the semester I studied abroad in Germany and went out with some friends (two of which were coming down with colds – it being February and all) the night before my actual birthday. My mom’s family lives in the Netherlands, so the next day I got up and took the train to visit them for the weekend. It was one of those weekends where nothing goes as planned. First the lackluster celebration with friends, then my train ran late [in Germany!!! - Country known for being on time!], causing me to miss my connecting train and taking the next slower one. I didn’t have a cell phone, so I couldn’t let my Aunt know (luckily she waited around). My aunt had champagne for me at her house to toast before going out to dinner. Unfortunately, we never made it to the car because my Opa (grandpa) tripped on the front step and busted his chin on the pavement (luckily no major damage). So we ended up getting food from the Frite Stand (which is amazing anyway, so no big deal). Thankfully, that was the last of the mishaps! The next day went great! My aunt, cousin and I went shopping, then met my uncle, cousin, and Opa for dinner (which went off without a hitch). It ended up being a fantastic weekend (and no hangover!). Plus I got to spend it with family.
Anyway…sorry for the life story! I didn’t intend to write that much. I hope you have a wonderful day with your husband! Slacking on your birthday SO does NOT count, so have a great time!
Happy Birthday! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Hartelijk Gefeliciteerd!
Teresa, THAT sounds like a party.
We usually have a dinner with family and friends, and my mother used to make me whatever I wanted for food/cake, and now hubby does it. I do the same for him, and ds.
Alina, how cool! I think I have have heard of that. We had “sweet 16″ and my parents did have a party, but a lot less formal.
Candace! Awww…what a terrific story!!! And I love the bit with your Dad putting his hand on your shoulder and telling you it was yours – how sweet. I have to call mine today — he is 90, and his memory isn’t great, so I call him to let him know. I definitely have to hear that 29th story! I’m so sorry your last few years have not been great. I hope you found some small joys to celebrate, and I think we all have those roug years where a b’day is just another year older, but hopefully we have good ones to make up for them.
Fedora, I think I did know that about noodles — and I think the chicken makes sense because b’days are when we can have those little luxuries we don’t have other times (for me, it’s potato skins with dinner tonight — it’s probably been years since I’ve had one, because of the calories and cheese…)
Tammy, OMG, yes, the spankings. That’s one I happily live without.
Danielle, thanks for searching and coming up with that bit of folklore — and I appreciate each and every good thought!
Now, off to walk dogs and then to lunch with hubby… I’ll be back around later…
Sam
Happy Birthday, Sam!!!!!
Happy Happy B-Day Sam!!!
With my family, our tradition is simple, the one celebrating gets to choose their cake whether bought or made… the place they would love to have their b-day dinner… and presents and cards waiting at the breakfast table in the morning…
Many warm wishes sent your way!!!
Happy Birthday, Sam! A lovely tradition in my life . . . 2 of my very first co-workers and myself go out to dinner to celebrate our birthdays. We’ve been doing it for over 25 years and we still make time for it. As luck would have it, our birthdays are fairly evenly spaced apart so there’s always someone’s special day to look forward to. Thanks for letting all of us share in YOUR special day.
And how interesting is that birthday info! You say you were researching? For what book? Did I miss it?
My father was a petroleum geologist and as a result we moved a lot when I was a child so frequently I did not have a birthday party except with family because making friends was hard for me since I knew I wouldn’t have them long. Then in one of the places we lived I found out that his secretary had the same birthday as I did and I insisted she be asked to celebrate with me and that my father ask her to the family celebration. And even though that was ???? years ago she and I still send cards to each other on our birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM
This year I have a milestone birthday approaching! I’m making plans to celebrate the way I want!! That want is a trip that I’ve wanted to take for a long time. It is to early in the year to see if it will happen.
I’m looking forward to your book next month. Glad I dropped by today so I could wish you a “Happy Day”!
It has been fun reading about birthday traditions and celebrations.
Thanks for the great blog and posts. Most especially, Happy Birthday! What a great way to spend your day!
I celebrated my 40th birthday the same year my husband celebrated his 50th birthday, so we chose a summer date in-between and had a 90th birthday celebration. We hired a DJ and told everyone to dress comfortably; their presence was their present, yada yada yada. Family brought snacks and kept bowls filled on tables; they also supplied a late meal/snack with coffee. It was great! I danced the night away in my slippers. People still talk about it with smiles.
Last year was our 110th, but we weren’t able to celebrate it. We hope to celebrate our 112th this summer instead!
You’re right. Family and friends are the real gifts. I hope you are blessed with them for years and years to come.
Happy B’day, Sam!!
I have to say that every year we all get together have eat. LOL. The love to take me out to eat, have a big cake, and just have a great time laughing together. I love my handmade cards from them and whatever else I get surprised with. But I have to agree just being with everyone whom I love so much is enough. I’m thankful for each year I get to spend with them.
Oops, maybe one day I’ll learn to reread what I have written and catch typo’s. HAHA!
Happy Birthday, Samantha. I always have a Carvel ice cream cake on my birthday and I also get lucky money from my parents for good luck.
Happy Birthday Samantha. I don’t have a birthday story to share, but I loved reading everyone’s comments. Thanks for the history lesson too. I hope that you had a blast with you and yours.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Happy birthday, Sam! I know the winners of your book will be thrilled.
Oh, and I don’t know any birthday folklore (though what you shared was very interesting!) but my birthday is on St. Nicholas’s Feast day, LOL
Happy Birthday Sam!
And kudos to your husband on his culinary skills.
I just celebrated a birthday myself ten days ago and ended up just going out to lunch with my mom, my best friend, and her mom (at a place that I really liked, but liked even more since they sent me a coupon for a free birthday meal).
And an interesting birthday item I found was that it will bring bad luck to marry on your birthday. Not exactly a chipper item, but interesting nonetheless.
i had a 5th birday party with all my family and freinds and i love the gifts and food my mom made. that was teh last time all our family was there in one place so that was speical she makes the best food .
happy birthday Samantha, Live it up
Happy Birthday!
Well, no really big traditions or anything, but if I don’t get my ice cream cake (even if it’s the end of December, but who cares LOL), I do tend to pout. LOL Even if it’s a nice and disgustingly thoroughly chocolate cake that I would love normally, I want my ice cream cake for my birthday. And luckily, I usually get it. LOL 
So I’m happy like I was two months ago. 
But the only other thing I have is a birthday after high school was when I got my first rubber duckie. 
Yes, rubber duckie; always loved Ernie from Sesame Street, and since that birthday (or could have been Christmas present too, since they are two days apart, hard to keep up sometimes), my collection has grown. 
Lois
Happy b-day, Sam! We have a musical cake plate that belonged to my hubby’s great-aunt. It plays “Happy Birthday” and the speed and pitch depend on how heavy the cake is!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, dear Sam!
Happy birthday to you!
And many, many more!
I hope you’ve had a great day. My birthday was last Wednesday, and I believe the book I won from your blog arrived right on my birthday or maybe the day before. In any case, it was a great birthday surprise for me.
I hope you’ve had lots of wonderful surprises!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! I think the best birthday I ever had was the year we went to Disneyland for 3 days and one of them was my birthday. I was young enough to enjoy it then.
Our only birthday tradition is chocolate angel food cake with chocolate whipped cream frosting. The secret recipe was given out to my mom by her aunt Tressie. She was not supposed to tell any one but I convinced her to let it out to me when I was in college and I turned 21. My mom would not use an electric mixer and actually beat all of those egg whites with a mesh whisk. I use an electric hand mixer!
My in laws are of Hungarian ancestry. They make Kuchloup. (? spelling) A traditional Hungarian wedding cake.
Okay, back to wrap this up — was a great b’day, but back to work today!
JV, belated Happy Birthday.
Hey Donna — good to see you here too.
I hope you get your b’day trip.
Laney, what a cute way to celebrate your b’days! we said we’d do something like that when we turn fifty, since we both turn the same age in the same year, but I am in Feb, and he’s Dec — so maybe we’ll have combined July b’day that year.
Misty, no worries on typos.
And eating… yeah, did a little too much of that this year, LOL.
Hi Paula, kh, and Cari — I had to go look up St. Nicholas’s Feast Day.
Lois, we have a few members who like ice cream cakes, too (like Jane’s Carvell) but I am lactose intolerant, so we didn’t even have ice cream at mine, LOL. The rubber duckie thing is cute.
Heather, that’s so cute! I never heard of a plate like that. I received several phone calls with people singing yesterday — cracks me up.
Linda and Laurie, thanks for coming by. I’m with you — I love my electric mixer.
So… to winners! I have had dh pick numbers 1-30 at random, and he chose #8 for the Book and GC — that would be TAMMY Y!
Three more #s… 13, 4, and 25 for a signed copy of our Blazing Bedtime Stories to: COLLEEN, TERESA, AND KH!
So everyone email me at samhunter@samanthahunter.com, and I’ll send out your prizes asap. Thanks to everyone for coming by and sharing my b’day with me.
Sam
Happy belated birthday, Samantha–hope you had a fabulous day! xox
Wow thanks for picking lucky 13… Once again Happy B-day!! Hope it was a blast!
Congrats also to Tammy Y, Teresa, & KH!
Thanks for celebrating with us, Sam, and happy reading, Tammy Y, Colleen, Teresa, and KH! Woot!
Hooray, I won! Thanks so much, Sam and thanks to your hubby too for picking # 8. Congrats to Colleen, Teresa and KH. It was so sweet of you to give us a present on your birthday. You are the best!
thank very much