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A birthday is the day when a person was born. In many places, on a person's birthday, he or she celebrates with friends and family at a party, where they eat cake or other foods, and get gifts. It is a common use to offer gifts in packages decorated for the occasion and accompanied by greeting cards.
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Not everyone celebrates birthdays, including Jehovah's Witnesses.
In much of the English-speaking world people sing the song "Happy Birthday to You" to the person celebrating her or his birthday. There are similar songs in other languages.
A birthday cake is usually decorated and covered with candles. Usually the number of candles is the same as the age of the birthday person.
Children usually reach their age of majority on a birthday.
A mixed fruit birthday cake - In Judaism, boys have a bar mitzvah around the time they become 13. Girls sometimes have a bat mitzvah around their 12th or 13th birthday.
- In Latin America, a quinceañera party marks a girl's 15th birthday.
A person's astrological sign is based on his or her birthday.
Birthstones
A birthstone symbolizes the month of birth. In 1912, the Jewelers of America agreed on a list of birthstones:
| Month | Modern Birthstone[1] | Alternate | Traditional Birthstone[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Rose Quartz | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst | Onyx | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine | Red Jasper (Bloodstone) | Bloodstone, Jasper |
| April | Diamond | Rock Crystal (Quartz) | Diamond, Sapphire |
| May | Emerald | Chrysoprase | Emerald, Agate |
| June | Pearl (the only non-mineral), Moonstone | Alexandrite | Alexandrite, Emerald |
| July | Ruby | Jade or Carnelian | Ruby, Onyx |
| August | Peridot | Aventurine, Sardonyx, or Sapphire | Sardonyx, Carnelian |
| September | Sapphire | Lapis lazuli | Sapphire, Peridot |
| October | Opal | Pink Tourmaline | Tourmaline, Aquamarine |
| November | Yellow Topaz | Citrine or Turquoise | Citrine, Topaz |
| December | Turquoise, Blue Topaz | Lapis Lazuli or Tanzanite | Zircon, Ruby |
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