Birthdays... When an Idea Becomes a Burden

**Birthdays... When an Idea Becomes a Burden**

Many people treat birthdays as a harmless social habit—words of congratulations, perhaps a small gift, and then life moves on. However, quiet reflection reveals that the matter is not quite that simple.

The historical origins of this occasion do not trace back to universal human traditions, nor to our social culture. Rather, they stem from ancient rituals born in pagan civilizations that linked a person’s day of birth to their fortune and destiny, surrounding that day with specific ceremonies and celebrations. Not so long ago—just a few decades back—human and jinn devils began reviving these practices until they settled into people's daily lives as if they were a natural norm whose origins are never questioned.

Yet, the real problem does not stop at the origin of the idea, but lies in what it has evolved into in our daily lives.

If a person considers just their immediate family circle, they find themselves facing an endless stream of "holidays." In my personal experience, for instance: I have six children, each with a spouse, and around twenty grandchildren. Then there are my ten siblings, along with their spouses, not to mention relatives, friends, and colleagues. In fact, for several years now, the family of just one of my sisters has grown to over fifty people.

This means the entire year turns into a calendar overcrowded with occasions; hardly a week passes without a "birthday." With this constant repetition, the occasion loses its meaning and turns into an exhausting obligation from every angle.

The simple question that naturally arises here is:
Does affection between people really need a specific date on the calendar to be shown?

Genuine relationships are not built on imported rituals or recurring annual dates; they are built on sincere affection, honest care, and a heartfelt presence whenever loved ones need it.

Perhaps wisdom dictates that affection should remain present every day, rather than being reduced to a single day each year or weighing down hearts with rituals that have no origin and serve no purpose.