Birthday 365a reference guide to birthdays and home celebrations

An independent reference guide to birthdays and home celebrations. We sell nothing and do not organise parties; check prices and terms of venues and services with them directly.

Reference

Reference

This section explains the terms, figures and customs that anyone preparing a party or choosing a gift comes across. It is divided into three topics: dates and traditions, etiquette, and safety. Traditions are described as customs, not as rules you must follow. Customs and the gift rule described here are Russian; they differ elsewhere.

The figures here come from the law, agency guidance and mathematics. Customs are customs: you can follow them, or sidestep them with a smile.

— Editor's note

Dates and traditions

The birthday paradox
In a group of 23 people, the probability that two share a birthday is over 50%; with 57 people it is over 99%. The calculation assumes all days of the year are equally likely and ignores 29 February.
The song “Happy Birthday to You”
The melody goes back to “Good Morning to All” by the sisters Mildred and Patty Hill, published in 1893. In 2015 a US federal court ruled that Warner/Chappell had not proved it owned the lyrics; in 2016, after a settlement, the song came to be treated as public domain in the United States.
Name day
In Russian tradition, the feast day of the saint a person is named after. It is distinct from a birthday and usually falls on a different date.
29 February
A birthday that comes round once every four years. In non-leap years it is usually celebrated on 28 February or 1 March.
Number of flowers
In Russia it is customary to give an odd number of flowers for a birthday; an even number is associated with funeral tradition.

Etiquette

Article 575 of the Russian Civil Code
Gifts to employees of educational, medical and social care organisations (and to certain public officials) in connection with their work are not permitted, except ordinary gifts worth no more than 3,000 roubles.
Gift superstitions
In Russia, common superstitions say you should not give watches, knives or an empty wallet (a wallet is given with a coin inside). These are customs, not rules; if in doubt, consider how the birthday person feels about them.
A greeting in your own words
A form of address, one specific detail about the person and one wish that fits them. Ready-made verses by someone else are no substitute for a few sentences of your own.

Safety

Balloons
According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warnings, children under 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Pieces of popped balloons should be picked up immediately; latex can cause allergies.
Birthday cake candles
Lit candles are never left unattended; children blow them out only with adults present.
The two-hour rule
Under USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service guidance, perishable food should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Food allergies
Ask parents about child guests' allergies in advance; allergen labelling appears on food packaging.

Materials on the topics in this section

  • Practical articles

    How to host a birthday party at home in two weeks, plus a catalogue of upcoming articles.

  • Questions and answers

    Short answers about parties, gifts, greetings and traditions.

  • Reading lists

    Reading paths: a first children's party, a relative's milestone birthday, a celebration at work.

  • Guide sections

    A map of the guide: planning, gifts and etiquette, greetings, children and safety.

Sources

  • Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Art. 575)
  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: balloon warnings
  • USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
  • Probability theory materials (the “birthday paradox”)
  • Court ruling in Marya v. Warner/Chappell (2015)

Information is current as of the date it was prepared. Venues, services and sellers change their rules, so check prices, booking and refund terms with them directly, and check legal rules against the current version of the law.