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Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you.. A song of celebration that typically precedes the arrival of a cake bearing some colourful candles. Or when the candles surpass the area of the cake, numbers often adorn the top as a reminder of the the milestone that has arrived. Birthday cakes have been around forever and everyone from the Greeks to the Germans have been credited with the introduction of candles to the celebration. Though the significance of these is uncertain, there are many theories trying to explain the ritual, from honouring  a Greek goddess's birth on the sixth day of every lunar month,  to the mystic significance of fire. One thing we can be sure about is that the undertones of superstition carry through to today.  While it was never a problem in my youth, when I hit middle age and became concerned about keeping an eye on my girlish figure, I was duly warned by many 'old wives' that shunning a piece of birthday cake is verboten. Extremely bad lu

"The way I see it, you should live every day like it's your birthday." Now I've never suspected Paris Hilton of erudition, but she certainly got it right with that comment.  The anniversary of our birth is typically a day for celebration, not just of the person we are, but of the person we have been.  How could there be any better way to approach every day of life? Perennial favourite Opray Winfrey,  who has certainly a greater penchant for profundity than Paris, reminds us that the more we praise and celebrate our lives, the more there is in life to celebrate.  So then, what better time to do so than on a birthday, the perfect excuse to throw a party? Thinking back to these celebrations in my past, my mind fills with images of fun and laughter, of food and liveliness. There are games to be played and gifts to be opened. These are pictures of happiness and vitality. The faces of friends and family can only be described as animated as they enjoy the company of lo

Having celebrated the birthdays of three of our grandchildren in the past three months,  I can't help thinking back to similar parties I hosted over the years.  As a mother of four there were many. That I made a big deal about them, was I believe, as a statement against my own childhood. Being a bit of an anomaly for the time, my mother was a working woman.  What that translated to for me, was a fairly limited number of birthday parties over the years, and essentially just the basics when it came to family parties.  No fuss, no muss was the axiom for the big day. As a parent then I made rather a big deal out of my kids' birthdays. There was always a party with friends, followed on the weekend by a gathering with grandparents and godparents.  I did everything I could to ensure my kids knew how special their birthday was to me.  I always hoped they got the message.  And if the birthday parties they've thrown for their little ones are any indication,  they did.  I coul

When it comes to throwing a party, our elder daughter and her husband don't believe in going small. The tradition began when their little girl turned one  and the idea of a pig roast took shape. With almost 25 acres of property to roam,  the notion of inviting 50 or so people to mark this momentous occasion seemed to make sense. It was a great deal of fun, of course. And a lot of work. The decision was made that only the first year would be celebrated in this manner so while it was repeated for our granddaughter's baby brother in May, it was intended that would be the end of this type of extravaganza.  A quiet chat between Mom and Dad one night early this summer turned that around, however. Our Little Missy can be a sensitive soul, and the idea of taking her to a Canada Day fireworks display in July, brought up the idea that it might be wiser to try a few at home first.  After a short discussion,  this notion had burgeoned into a full-on display to be held at as part