Holiday Memories - Birthday

We were fairly convinced that our birthdays were "National Holidays" and in our world they were! My Grandad Kalis always used to say the day before someone birthday that the next day was a national holiday and we were going to hang out the flag. We bought it! :-)
The birthday child was not allowed out of their bedroom until all was ready - homemade blueberry muffins with candles in them and family all assembled. When all was ready the birthday child was called in to the room and Mom and Dad banged with silverware on cups and glasses as the family sang lustily a number of different renditions of "Happy Birthday" candles were blown out and the birthday officially began! Gifts were given etc.

Depending on the day (school or weekend) Grandparents visited or we visited them and the birthday child got to choose the dinner menu. Many times "Uncle" Gordon and "Aunt" Caroline would appear on our birhtdays to celebrate and pray for us. It was always a special and sacred time. If they did not come then they would call and sing Happy Birthday to us over the phone.

I was born on my Aunt Gerda's birthday so she was always a huge part of my celebration. Most of my birthdays until I was 30 were celebrated at Pilgrim Camp. I remember a party prepared for me when I was somewhere betwen 6-8 and the G's were there. I remember my parents sending my gifts to Aunt Gerda who was the camp secretary and going to her room before breakfast to open presents. Almost always my parents would make the 4 and a half hour trip prior to breakfast (bringing blueberry muffins, etc.) to spend the day with me and somehow manage to keep it a surprise. At the camp in the morning worship - the birthday got to pick their favorite song and after a "birthday testimony" was prayed for. This was surely a highlight for me over the years. At the noon meal a special table was often set up for family and friends to celebrate complete with birthday cake and decorations etc. One of the memorable ones to me was the last year of CG's life when she made me a beautiful garland of flowers for my hair!

Another childhood memory is of my Grandmother inviting the entire church family over to her house for her birthdays to what she called "Shendigs". They were unforgettably good times of fun, food and fellowship. So for my 50th I repeated the "Shendig" the church family came over and we had a truly memorable and completely enjoyable time of fun, fellowship and food!

We still do the breakfast blueberry muffin type celebration and generally make a lot of commotion and enjoy our celebrations to the full! Celelbration just seems to run in my blood! :-)