A birthday party is a celebration of the person whose birthday it is. Hence it requires the consideration of the birthday girl or boy. In the party she or he alone should be the object of attention.
With birthday celebrations people strengthen their relationship with relatives, friends and various social circles.
In spite of the fact that our culture is becoming more and more individual-centred, many people still consider adults' birthday parties as foolish frivolity.
The round figures are being celebrated younger and younger. Traditionally the first big party has been organised when a person turns 50. After the 70th birthday, big parties are organised every five years.
Birthday celebrations in Finland commenced in urban gentrified families in the 18th century, in the rural areas only a couple of hundred years later.
It is probably fair to say that Finland has a stronger tradition of big celebrations for round-number birthdays than it has for wedding anniversaries - even if being married for twenty-five years might be more of an achievement than staying out of the grave for fifty.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 23.11.2009
