Just this morning, I told Tala that, as part of her birthday celebration, our family in the Philippines would gather together to have lunch. Even though they ordered the food themselves, it was me who sent the money so they could enjoy the feast.
Tala then asked, “But why do we have to treat them? Why do they have to celebrate my birthday when I’m not even there?”
I explained that it is part of our culture and tradition that the birthday celebrant treats their family and friends during their special day. In many Filipino celebrations, the person having the birthday shares food with loved ones as a way of celebrating another year of life.
But Tala kept thinking about it and replied, “But it’s my birthday. Shouldn’t they be the ones to treat me instead?”
Her question made me pause. I remembered that in some cultures, the birthday celebrant is actually the one who gets treated and pampered.
This reminded me of something that happened at school. The day before my birthday, I told Tina, our team leader, that I would treat the team to cheesecake because it was my birthday. But she quickly replied, “No, it’s your special day. We will treat you instead.”
When I told Tala this story, she became even more curious and asked, “So… why are we different?”
Such an IB-style question.
I didn’t want to leave her wondering, so I went to ask my good friends ChatGPT, and Mr. Google, for some assistance.
Why do some cultures treat the birthday celebrant, while in other cultures the celebrant treats family and friends instead?
The answer is that different cultures celebrate birthdays in different ways because they value different things.
In many Asian cultures, including Filipino culture, people value community and sharing blessings. A birthday is not only about one person, but also about the people who support and love them. Because of this, the birthday celebrant often gathers family and friends and shares food with them. It is a way of saying “thank you” for another year of life and for the people who are part of that life.
Sharing a meal together is also a way to spread happiness. When the celebrant treats others, it shows generosity and gratitude. It turns the birthday into a joyful event that everyone can enjoy together.
On the other hand, Western cultures often place special value on the individual. Birthdays are seen as a day to celebrate the person whose birthday it is. Because of this, friends and family usually plan the celebration for the celebrant.
They might surprise them with a party, buy them gifts, or take them out to eat. The celebrant is not expected to pay for anything. Instead, the guests chip in to make the birthday person feel special and appreciated.
After I explained this to Tala, she began to understand why our family in the Philippines was gathering to celebrate her birthday even though she was far away. For them, it was a way of sharing joy and celebrating her life together as a family.
In the end, Tala realized that both traditions are special in their own way. Despite the cultural differences, birthdays everywhere are really about the same thing—celebrating life, sharing happiness, and showing love to the people who matter most.
🎂
