Bir
thday Trivia: What You Might Not Know About the Celebration of Life
Birthdays are celebrated all around the world, but do you know why we celebrate them? Traditionally, birthdays were celebrated to ward off evil spirits and protect the individual from harm. However, as time went on, birthdays became more of a celebration of life, marking another year of existence on this earth. Let's take a closer look at some other interesting facts about birthdays that you might not know.
1. The most common birth date in the world is September 9th.
There are a number of theories that explain why September 9th is the most common birth date in the world. Some say it's because of the cold weather nine months earlier, while others believe it's because of holidays like New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day. Regardless of the reason, September 9th is definitely a popular day to be born. In fact, it's so popular that September 9th is celebrated as "National Birthdate Night" in the United States.
2. The birthday song is copyrighted.
Did you know that "Happy Birthday to You" is actually copyrighted? The tune was written by two sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill, in 1893, and it became popular as a birthday song. The copyright to the song was purchased by Warner/Chappell Music in 1988, and they charged a licensing fee for anyone who wanted to use the song in public. However, in 2016, a federal judge ruled that the copyright was no longer valid, and now the song is in the public domain.
3. Iceland doesn't celebrate birthdays.
It's hard to imagine a world without birthday celebrations, but in Iceland, they don't have a traditional "birthday" celebration. Instead, they celebrate Name Days, which is the feast day of the saint that their name is based on. For example, if your name is John, you would celebrate on Saint John's Day, which is on December 27th.
4. Celebrating your birthday is good for your health.
Studies have shown that celebrating your birthday can actually be good for your health. One study found that people who celebrated their birthday had a more positive outlook on life and had better mental health than those who didn't celebrate. Another study found that people who celebrated their birthday had a longer life expectancy than those who didn't.
5. The world's oldest person was 122 years old.
The oldest person ever recorded was Jeanne Calment from France, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old. She was born on February 21, 1875, and she passed away on August 4, 1997. Jeanne Calment attributed her longevity to plenty of sunshine, olive oil, and a diet rich in chocolate.
In conclusion, birthdays are a fun and important celebration of life. From Iceland's Name Days to the world's oldest person, there are so many interesting facts about birthdays that you might not have known. So the next time you blow out the candles on your cake, remember that you're celebrating another year of life on this amazing planet.
