Reason We Celebrate Birthdays:

Birthday parties came about because in Europe many years ago, it was thought that evil spirits were attracted to people on their birthday, so people would bring them good wishes to keep them away.

In Islam

In Islam, some Sunni and Shia Muslim scholars oppose birthdays. This stance stems from the Hadith which forbids the adoption of festivities and occasions of other religions or paganism into Islam.

Other Muslim scholars^{[citation needed]}, however, do allow celebration of the birthday of the prophet Muhammad, although it is important to note there is no basis for this exception either, that is, no evidence in the Qur'an or Hadith.

Birthday Celebrations from Malaysia

In Malaysia all birthday celebrations family members and friends gather together to enjoy food. They may sing along together or play musical instruments. Friends or relatives who visit give presents to the person celebrating their birthday or they may give an ang-bao. This is a small red packet filled with money. If relatives do not know what to buy, the money is a good present.

At about 16 when teenagers start to invite boys and girls to their parties there is lots of dancing and games to help find a partner. They often make up their own games so that everyone eventually finds their own partner. The trick is always to have the same numbers of boys and girls! At 18 birthdays are celebrated with family members or people may go to the movies with their boy/girlfriend. At 21 people usually have a big party.

At all birthday celebrations people have birthday cake with candles and they sing the Happy Birthday song in English, Chinese or Malay.

How birthday cake were develop :

The birthday cake has been an integral part of the birthday celebrations in Western cultures since the middle of the 19th century. Certain rituals and traditions, such as singing of birthday songs, associated with birthday cakes are common to many Western cultures. The Western tradition of adding lit candles to the top of a birthday cake originates in 18^th century Germany. However, the intertwining of cakes and birthday celebrations stretch back to the Ancient Romans. The development of the birthday cake has followed the development of culinary and confectionery advancement. As this technology improved, decorations gained importance and the appearance of birthday cakes became as important as its taste.^[1] While throughout most of Western history, these elaborate cakes in general were the privilege of the wealthy, birthday cakes are nowadays common to most Western birthday celebrations. Around the world many variations on the birthday cake, or rather the birthday pastry or sweets, exist.



web link :
http://www.birthdaycelebrations.net/traditions.htm
http://www.internetfamilyfun.com/holidays/birthday/birthdayfacts.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_cake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday