Birthday

A birthday is the day when a person was born. In many places, on a person's birthday, he or she celebrates with friends and family at a party, where they eat cake or other foods, and get gifts. It is a common use to offer gifts in packages decorated for the occasion and accompanied by greeting cards.

 Customs 
Not everyone celebrates birthdays, including Jehovah's Witnesses.

In much of the English-speaking world people sing the song "Happy Birthday to You" to the person celebrating her or his birthday.  There are similar songs in other languages.

A birthday cake is usually decorated and covered with candles.  Sometimes the number of candles is the same as the age of the birthday person.

 Coming of age 
Children usually reach their age of majority on a birthday.

In Judaism, boys have a bar mitzvah around the time they become 13. Girls sometimes have a bat mitzvah around their 12th or 13th birthday.
In Latin America, a quinceañera party marks a girl's 15th birthday.

 Astrology 
A person's astrological sign is based on his or her birthday.

 Symbolism 
Birthstones
A birthstone symbolizes the month of birth. In 1912, the Jewelers of America agreed on a list of birthstones:
 Month Modern BirthstoneTimewell Corp. Website.Birthstones and Gemstones Color Alternate Traditional Birthstone January Garnet Rose Quartz Garnet February Amethyst Onyx Amethyst March Aquamarine Red Jasper (Bloodstone) Bloodstone, Jasper April Diamond Rock Crystal (Quartz) Diamond, Sapphire May Emerald Chrysoprase Emerald, Agate June Pearl (the only non-mineral), Moonstone Alexandrite Alexandrite, Emerald July Ruby Jade or Carnelian Ruby, Onyx August Peridot Aventurine, Sardonyx, or Sapphire Sardonyx, Carnelian September Sapphire Lapis lazuli Sapphire, Peridot October Opal Pink Tourmaline Tourmaline, Aquamarine November Yellow Topaz Citrine or Turquoise Citrine, Topaz December Turquoise, Blue Topaz Lapis Lazuli or Tanzanite Zircon, Ruby

 References