Day: March 22, 2025

A birthday is the anniversary of the day when a person was born, typically celebrated by the giving of gifts or having a party. Some people may not celebrate their birthdays, but for those who do, it is a special occasion. People are often referred to as “Birthday Boys and Girls” or by their age: “My aunt is celebrating her 90th birthday next week.” The term can also be used to refer to the yearly celebration of a country, group, or building: “That new art museum has its fiftieth birthday coming up next year.”

A common tradition involves cake: a decorated dessert eaten at a celebratory event. Traditionally, the number of candles on the cake matched the person’s age. Birthdays are also marked by a speech from the honoree, and the singing of traditional or contemporary songs such as “Happy Birthday to You.”

The birthday is one of the few holidays that almost everyone celebrates. However, there are a few groups of people who do not celebrate their birthdays: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, and some Hindus.

For many children, a birthday party is a special occasion and an excuse to receive presents from family members and friends. Adults also celebrate their birthdays with a party or dinner with friends and colleagues. During this time, it is common to exchange gifts that are specifically tailored to the individual’s taste.

Many cultures celebrate birthdays in some way, but it is difficult to know exactly when the practice began. The ancient Greeks celebrated the birthday of a god, and the modern practice of sending cards was introduced in England around 100 years ago.

Some scholars believe that the first birthday celebrations were pagan. Pagans believed that days of transition such as birth and death were particularly vulnerable to evil spirits, and gathering with loved ones and exchanging gifts offered protection. The lighting of candles was an obvious visual symbol for the gift-givers to ward off evil spirits and welcomed the good spirit of the birthday person into their lives.

In the United States, the majority of people celebrate their birthdays with friends and family by having a party or dinner and giving gifts. Presents are usually given in the form of money, books, electronics, clothing, and food. People also often make resolutions for the upcoming year at their birthday parties.

A common way to wish someone a happy birthday is by writing a message on a card or texting them. These messages range in tone from sweet and sentimental to lighthearted and funny, and can be customized for each relationship. For example, a coworker’s birthday is an opportunity to express appreciation for their work and dedication, while maintaining a professional tone. Whether you are crafting a birthday wish for a friend or family member, these short and sweet greetings are sure to bring a smile to their face. The most important thing is that you let them know how much they mean to you.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC) regularly collaborates with other institutions to bring new historical stories to the public. While these projects vary in size, scope and duration, they all focus on bringing new voices and perspectives to our museum visitors. Whether it is an exhibit on the impact of the 1918 flu pandemic, a display examining racial justice in the Commonwealth or a project exploring how museums intersect with communities of color, we strive to bring the most relevant historical topics to our community.

While most exhibitions provide a window into the dense research required when composing a history, a successful exhibition is more than a book on a wall. It is a visual narrative, often including an element of imagination or creative poetry that allows the viewer to see how ideas and objects interact. It can take the form of re-created environments, artfully placed dioramas or an interactive table that enables the visitor to place themselves within the context of the story being told.

The ability of a museum to communicate information about the past is unique. Exhibitions present historical knowledge in a format that is accessible to a broad range of people with varying degrees of interest, cultural backgrounds and educational levels. Unlike books, they can encourage informed discussion, even when their content or approach is controversial. They celebrate common events and occasionally memorialize tragedies or injustices, while also reflecting the broader social, political and cultural conditions that shape historical significance.

In the twenty-first century, museums must demonstrate that they deserve their tax-exempt status by serving as a bridge to connect their visitors to their own local history and enabling them to explore the larger issues that shape the world we live in. This requires a deep commitment to research into new sources, reaching out to the community and finding ways to bring new stories to our visitors.

VMHC is proud to be part of the Intersecting History coalition of museums that are seeking to tell more inclusive and diverse histories in a time when our national dialogue has become so polarized. This is a vital effort to show that museums are not only places where old histories can be preserved but that they can serve as spaces that intersect the many stories of our collective past in order to create a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.

The purpose of this column is to examine the research, writing and design of historic exhibitions that have been published in scholarly journals. We hope to contribute to the development of a literature about historical exhibitions that can be used as an important resource for scholars and museum professionals alike. By examining exhibitions in this way, we can ensure that they do not disappear into the archives as the works that created them. Rather, exhibition reviews help create a record that will be useful after the exhibitions have closed and as a means for encouraging conversation and debate between academic historians and museum professionals about the work that is being done in these unique and challenging venues.