That was a long time back when birthdays were the most important day in the entire year and you were the king or queen on that day.
But as you grow up, you realise that not everything can be perfect on this particular day. Furthermore, the importance of the day is lost as you have other things to do rather than just enjoy everybody’s attention. With time, the attitude of people towards birthdays changes and so do the circumstances. Metrolife talks to people in the City to find if they still believe birthdays to be special and what they like about that day.
As you start working, your priorities change. Most people actually spend this day working in the office or attending college or even alone in a new city. Does the day feel special even then? “As you grow up, you don’t really get any gifts except from your close friends but for me, one nice thing about the day is to be wished by all of my friends and family,” says Yajas, a student. For most, birthday still remains a day which starts with midnight phone calls from friends and getting attention from every nook and corner. “Birthdays are special because you receive care and attention from your loved ones,” says Ritesh Castelino, a professional. But now with the advent of Facebook and Twitter, the entire meaning of wishing someone on their birthday has changed to a considerable extent.
Says Chris Costa, another professional, “Now, birthday wishes have become more of an obligation. You get reminders of who celebrates their birthday and involuntarily tend to post a birthday wish on their walls. There is nothing special about sending messages on a public forum.”
As you grow older, celebrations are not the responsibility of your parents anymore. It is a whole different scenario as you do not get as many presents like your teenage years. Moreover, you end up spending quite a bit of money. Most say, at times, the number of gifts you get is directly proportional to the amount you spend. “These days, birthdays do mean enjoying the entire day with friends but the important thing is the amount of money you have to shell out to treat them,” says Pratheek Gnan, an IT professional.
While most people do consider it to be a significant day and celebrate it in one way or the other, there are some who feel otherwise. “There is nothing really special about this particular day. More often than not, you end up spending the day doing things that you would do on any other day too,” says Swati, an IT professional.
But there are some who beg to differ. According to many, it will always remain as one of the special days. “It is a gift because you have another year to look forward to in life. I strongly believe that a birthday brings a person closer to his family and friends and enjoying the day gives me immense pleasure,” says Ritesh. Birthdays, after all, are not just about one person but all the people around him or her. The day makes a huge difference only if you spend it with your friends or family.