Birthdays are a beloved tradition celebrated all over the world. From blowing out candles on a cake to opening presents, birthdays are filled with fun customs and quirky facts. Read on for 25 fascinating tidbits about birthdays that may surprise you!
Birthdays have been celebrated for thousands of years, but many common traditions are relatively new. For example, the first recorded account of a birthday celebration is for the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II in 1312 BC. However, birthday parties as we know them today only became popular during the 19th century.
25 Fun Facts About Birthdays
- The first birthday celebration on record was for Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II in 1312 BC. He ruled Egypt for over 60 years, making him one of the longest ruling pharaohs in history.
- The song “Happy Birthday to You” is recognized as the most commonly sung song in the English language. It’s estimated to be sung over 50 million times every year!
- The most popular birthday month is July, followed closely by June. September and January tie for third place. The least common birthday month is February due to its shorter length.
- Giving money as a birthday gift is the most popular option according to polls. Gift cards come in second place. Ironically, getting cash is often rated one of the least appreciated gifts.
- The average person spends over $100 on birthday presents every year, totaling billions of dollars annually. Women reportedly spend almost twice as much as men on gifts.
- The world’s most massive birthday cake weighed over 100,000 pounds! It was 23 feet long, 12 feet wide and 8 feet tall. The Australian cake was baked in 1992 to celebrate the city of Brisbane’s 200th anniversary.
- When it comes to birthday cake flavor, chocolate takes the top spot as the most popular. Vanilla follows as a close second with red velvet cake coming in third place.
- Blowing out candles on a birthday cake started in 18th century Germany where the smoke was said to carry wishes up to heaven. The number of flames represented each year of life and had to be extinguished to avoid bad luck.
- Today, the tradition brings luck in the form of having birthday wishes come true! Just be sure to keep your wish a secret or it won’t come to fruition.
- The song “Happy Birthday” is estimated to be sung over 50 million times every day, making it the most recognized song in the English language.
- July’s birthstone, the ruby, signifies love and passion. Ancient Hindus called the ruby the “king of gems” believing it would bring good fortune to those who wore it.
- The most popular birthday party theme is a character party featuring popular fictional characters like superheroes or princesses. Superhero themes are most common for boys while princess themes lead for girls.
- Pizza is the most popular food item on children’s party menus with chicken nuggets and hot dogs following behind respectively. Cupcakes and cake also make the list of top party treats.
- Small toys and candy remain the most popular birthday party favors handed out at the end of celebrations. Stickers, bubbles, and custom items like bracelets are also common giveaways.
- Blue is the most popular birthday color used for party décor and custom items. It’s followed closely by pink and purple shades. Red, green, yellow and gold party colors are also very common.
- Lucky number 7 and multiples of 5 like 10 and 15 are considered the most popular “milestone” birthdays to celebrate. Quinceañeras at 15 and Sweet Sixteens are two popular examples.
- Over 2 billion birthday cards are sent each year, making them one of the most widely used greeting cards. Christmas cards are the only category to exceed that number.
- More babies are born on Tuesdays than any other day of the week in the United States. The least common birthday is Friday the 13th with mothers apparently eager to avoid the superstitious date.
- According to statistics, you share a birthday with over 19 million people around the world. The odds are much better for people born on February 29th though with only about 5 million leaplings.
- The most popular birthday destination is Disneyland, followed by Disney World. Hawaii, Las Vegas and Mexico are also popular adult party places while Great Wolf Lodge ranked high for kid birthday trips.
- Attending parties and dining out are the top two birthday activities people enjoy on their special day. Getting together with friends and family is the most cherished part of many people’s celebrations.
- Black Forest cake originated in Germany and is one of the most traditional birthday cake choices thanks to its long history. Ice cream cakes also have vintage roots starting in the late 1800s.
- The biggest birthday extravaganza recorded featured 1,500 people celebrating together in Bangladesh in 2017. The party made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for its enormous guest list.
- The tradition of celebrating a first birthday started in Chinese culture where elaborately decorated eggs were given as gifts to symbolize fertility and the circle of life.
- Some of history’s biggest names share July birthdays including Julius Caesar, Nelson Mandela, Ernest Hemingway and J.K. Rowling. Famous June babies include Marilyn Monroe and Prince William.
Why Birthdays Are Important
While the facts above offer some fun trivia, they also show why birthdays should be celebrated! They represent the joy of life and time with loved ones. Over the decades, parties have evolved into a chance for people to feel special and gather with those they care about most.
Gifts, cakes, candles and cards are symbolic – it’s the memories made that matter most. Birthdays give us an excuse to celebrate life’s everyday blessings with those we cherish. That’s something certainly worth commemorating year after year!
