December 10, 2011 Birthday Celebrations! Year One

I've gathered from reading, through the years, that there are significant birthdays in various cultures. Year one is big because in many cultures infant mortality is high so the baby is celebrated for having survived. I'm thinking age 7 is big because that has been considered the "age of reason", when a child becomes able to discern right from wrong and basic theology. Age 18 is big in many cultures because the child becomes an eligible (marriageable) adult. If anyone knows more or different I'd like to hear about it.
Anyway, here all three ages are significant and are celebrated specially. The child's birthday's in between are marked with a special merienda such as pansit or spaghetti.  Sometimes parents will send these snack foods to school to share with the whole class and the teachers.
It is the person having the birthday who provides the treat for friends. So instead of expecting others to take me to lunch, for instance, I will bring merienda for everyone to enjoy, and presents are not in evidence. This, of course, varies throughout the country, but this is the general and my experience. As anywhere, money influences the extent of the festivities. Sometimes sponsors will help pay for celebrations.  Sometimes families choose to celebrate quietly. Here is a one year birthday:

Little Miss Birthday Girl is the daughter of a teacher so much of our team left school and walked through town to attend. We stayed about an hour and then returned. 

The traditional delicacies. Pig's head and fruit salads and cake, along with others. Extended family helps pay for and prepare the feasts.

Great Grandma.

It was a Friday, judging by the uniform.

At my HF in Colo, our one year old, Mary May, had, along with the pig's head, a raw head of cabbage with skewers stuck all over in it on which were pieces of hot dog and little marshmallows. I've seen that several times. There are usually games for the children and lots of little packets of prizes, like toys that the children get. These parties last for many hours with people coming and going throughout the day.