On Birthdays and Birthday Spanking

I celebrated my birthday yesterday over bottles of beer, lechon, grilled tuna “panga”, tuna sashimi, scallops, squid… and the loud laughter of friends. My buddy, Emerson called long-distance from Canada, and in a not so sober tone, informed me that he is celebrating my birthday too, over some brandy with a Scotsman. I’m not so sure if he could survive a drinking duel with a Scotch. But my best of luck to you buddy. Janet, my cousin, also greeted me from the States. She sounded alright but I could certainly hear the screaming envy in her voice when I told her what we were having on the table.
Jingo, a good friend of mine – a lawyer, newspaper columnist and boxing guru rolled into one, wrote a generous birthday greeting in his column for Sunstar newspaper yesterday. I was glad he did but I’m not sure if it was a perfectly good idea. Judging by the number of text messages containing sincere birthday greetings I got from people who found out it was my birthday from Jingo’s column, I found it a bit not too comforting that I couldn’t invite all of them.
What’s the fuss about birthdays anyway? Except for the beer and the realization that I am a year older, I couldn’t quite get the focal meaning in celebrating birthdays. Why do we celebrate birthdays? Who invented this animal? I thought it might do well if I make some quick research. Thanks to wikipedia. Here it is…

          It is thought that the large-scale celebration of birthdays began with the cult of Mithras, which originated in Persia but was spread by soldiers throughout the Roman Empire. Before this, such celebrations were not common; and, hence, practices from other contexts such as the Saturnalia were adapted for birthdays. Because many Roman soldiers took up Mithraism, it had a wide distribution and influence throughout the empire until it was supplanted by Christianity.
          Birthday celebrations were rare during the Middle Ages but saw a resurgence with the advent of the Reformation. During this period, they were seen as a good way to transfer customs from the saint's days to other dates not linked to the newly repudiated veneration of saints.
          Since every year of age can be seen as a minor transition, this can be accompanied by some traditional initiation rite such as a birthday spanking, after which the honoree may in some traditions receive a "pinch to grow an inch." It is also traditional in schools in some areas of Britain to 'bump' people on their birthday. This involves them being hoisted face up by arms and legs and allowed to fall; pulling on the limbs restrains the fall so that the victim does not quite hit the ground. This is repeated for the number of times equal to their birthday age. On one last hoist the celebrant is often allowed to fall to the ground with a bump. A less painful way is to be lifted in the air while sitting on a chair. Then the last lift is usually made higher than the others.
          A similar tradition in schools are 'birthday beats' or 'birthday bashings' in which the birthday child receives a number of punches on their arm that equals their age (e.g. 14 punches on the arm for a 14-year-old). Usually it is followed with a 'one for luck' punch which tends to be harder than the rest. Birthday beats are not often malicious but sometimes can be considered bullying and may ruin a child's special day. All hits must be done on the day of the birthday

          Whew!! I better stick to blowing candles then.