Happy Birthday, Jerng!

The celebration of birthdays seems to be more of a western idea. We celebrate in Thailand, but we sing "Happy Birthday" in English (with a thick Thai accent) and the celebration isn't as big as it is in the West.

My friends say that as children someone might say "Happy Birthday" or give them a piece of fruit, but it wasn't an important day. No balloons, streamers, or pile of presents. Sometimes there was a cake or special treat, but usually it was just another regular day.

All these facts combined make celebrating the birthdays of the university students I live with a lot of fun. The pressure is off for throwing a specific kind of party, and doing anything special is considered a good way to celebrate.

One change I do like is that the Thai Christians I know have a tradition of praying before blowing out the candles (instead of making a wish, as I grew up doing.) It's a good reminder of where our blessings are coming from.