Birthday Gifts
Birthday gift giving traditions, history, and symbolism.
Yin-Yang
The yin-yang is a symbol that represents the two great opposite but complementary forces at work in the cosmos. Yin represents things that are female, cold, dark, passive power, earth, rain, soft, evil, black, small, even (numbers). Yang represents masculinity, light, and warmth, heaven, sunshine, hard, good, white, and large. Together the interplay of... »
Gift Certificates and Gift Cards
Today the idea of a gift certificate is nothing groundbreaking. However, in the 1930’s, the gift certificate was a revolutionary tool for consumers. It alleviated fears of getting the wrong gift, but avoided the impersonal stigma of giving cash. The process of obtaining the card has remained essentially unchanged. The giver would browse stores around... »
Birthday Customs – Thailand
Traditionally, birthday celebrations begin on the eve of the anniversary and a fortuneteller is enlisted to decide the exact time for the celebration to commence. Before the celebration begins, the house must be cleaned, offerings... »
Birthday Customs – Southern Vietnam
Traditionally, only the first month and first year of a child’s life are celebrated as birthdays. One month after a child is born, friends and family gather to meet the baby and offer prayers for... »
Birthday Customs – Japan
Instead of their own birthdays, children traditionally celebrated Boy’s and Girl’s Day. Girl’s traditionally celebrated the Girl’s Doll Festival on March 3rd, when they would dress up in their best kimonos, and display their special... »