Happy Birthday!

by Sr Joan Jurski, OSF

May is the month of my birthday and I was thinking about how society and I think about birthdays. How do I celebrate and why do I celebrate this day? Is it just another year gone by?

I wondered about how the tradition of a birthday celebration got started. I did some research and found the beginning of the celebration of birth began with the Egyptians celebrating their Pharaohs. The Greeks then took this idea from the Egyptians and began using candles to respond to evil spirits. They gathered to celebrate the birth of their gods. They would light candles and then blow them out believing that the candles would scare away the evil spirits. This ritual has transitioned into wishes for good things. No more evil spirits.

The tradition of a cake began with the Germans in the 1700’s. It was part of a celebration for children, “kinderfeste.” It was not until 1893 that the singing of Happy Birthday started. Two schoolteachers wrote a poem entitled “Good Morning to all.” The words eventually changed to “Happy Birthday to you.”

An interesting bit of information, October 5 is considered the most common birthday date in the United States.

How do I personally think about my birthday? What do I celebrate? Thinking about this with some seriousness, I remind myself that my birth date is the beginning date of my life. I do believe God created me in a special way. I am unique among all other people. My birthday is a day for me to celebrate the gift of God’s love for me. It offers me a time to reflect. Psalm 46:10 reminds me “Be still and know I am God.” You are the gift of God.

When birthdays are viewed through such a sacred lens, it also reshapes how we think about giving and receiving gifts. A truly thoughtful birthday gift should honor not just the occasion, but the spirit and personality of the person being celebrated. That’s where a unique and personal keepsake, like Custom 3d Printed Action Figures, comes into play—transforming a photograph into a joyful, tangible reminder of someone’s individuality. Whether it’s a playful version of yourself in superhero stance or a sweet figurine of a loved one holding a cherished item, these creations speak louder than words. They’re not just fun; they’re affirming, creative reflections of the people we are and the lives we’ve been blessed to live.

That same philosophy of thoughtfulness applies to other gifts that are simple yet deeply meaningful. Everyday items, when customized with intention, can carry just as much emotional weight as something rare or elaborate. This is why personalized keychains in bulk have become a popular choice for birthdays, events, or even as small tokens of gratitude. They’re practical, carried everywhere, and when designed with a name, a meaningful phrase, or a special symbol, they transform from ordinary accessories into daily reminders of connection and care. Just like a custom figurine, a personalized keychain has the power to affirm someone’s importance and presence in your life—small in size, but large in sentiment.

To complement these thoughtful keepsakes, you can also get a gift that speaks through nature’s beauty—fresh flowers. A carefully chosen arrangement adds a vibrant, living touch to your celebration, making the moment even more memorable. Many florists now offer personalized options, allowing you to select blooms, colors, and styles that perfectly reflect the recipient’s personality. From cheerful sunflowers to elegant roses, birthday bouquets can bring warmth, joy, and a fragrant reminder of your care, pairing beautifully with a custom figurine or keychain to create a truly heartfelt gift experience. Together, these gifts—a personalized keepsake and a thoughtfully arranged bouquet—create a celebration that feels intentional, memorable, and deeply personal, leaving a lasting impression long after the birthday candles are blown out.

Birthdays can also call me to a new beginning. It is a reminder that I am still alive despite certain aches and pains.  It gives me a chance to express thanks for life. It is a perfect time to reflect on my life experiences. What needs to change? What have I achieved?  It can be a time of transition. It is a time to sit with these questions.

It’s amazing how a birthday can make the passage of time feel so tangible. Each year, as candles are lit and wishes whispered, I find myself quietly tracking the milestones—both big and small—that have shaped the person I am today. Sometimes it’s as simple as asking, how many years is 2006 to 2025, just to see the span laid out in numbers, and then letting that sink in alongside the memories that fill those years. There’s a strange comfort in acknowledging the rhythm of time, in seeing how far we’ve come, and in feeling the weight and joy of each moment lived. Birthdays aren’t just about marking a date on the calendar—they’re a checkpoint, a gentle nudge to celebrate survival, growth, and the chance to continue shaping the story ahead. Every card, every laugh, every thoughtful gift becomes part of that tracking, a breadcrumb trail that reminds us we’re here, present, and still moving forward.

In Scripture, we read of God’s call to us, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then that you and your descendants may live by loving the Lord, your God, heeding His voice and holding fast to Him.”

Birthday celebrations are relational. They can also be a way of bringing friends and families together. This can happen at any birthday age.  We need happy times together. Therefore, I am happy that I am alive and pray others are happy for me as well. I had originally planned a really great celebration with family and friends because it is a special year. Then came the virus visiting and spoiled all plans. I will, however celebrate this birthday in some new and original way. It will be a virtual celebration with cake or no cake but I will still praise God for life. Happy Birthday to me and all other May “Taurus” folks.