. In India there is a very nice tradition which is to share your good news and special occassions with friends and relatives.It is more about giving than receiving!
Religious festivals, promotions at work, a new job and good news are shared by GIVING. This usually takes the form of givng the very sugary, very soft boiled concoctions of sugar and nuts, decorated with thin sheets of silver. At festival times the well known sweetmakers sell thousands of boxes of their sweets by the kilogram. In the main it is the men who go to sweet makers, and without a queueing system it is quite a chaotic scene. The varieties of sweets are displayed in the glass cases and boxes are filled to order with the chosen assortment. I went to get some sweets as a 'thank you' for a friend and I was the only women in the melee of about 100 men!
At Brighter Future in India we encourage this giving tradition. When a child has a birthday. A cake, with his name on it, is ordered from the local bakers. Biscuits and wrapped sweets, or fruits, are bought to be distributed to all the children in the home.
Candles and the singing of Happy Birthday, with a second verse that says "and God Bless You", are followed by the cutting of the cake.
At this stage another custom is performed, namely the putting of the first piece of cake into you chosen friend's mouth! He then reciprocates. There is even the odd dabbing of icing cream on the face at times!
The cake, biscuits and other eatables are distributed and the children who have made cards for the birthday person or bought little gifts present them to the birthday child. This routine is usually followed by a little concert or when I am around by games for the little children like 'Wake up Mr Bear' and other party games.
Some sponsors send gifts or money and the birthday child can be taken to buy what they would like. Quite often this is a new dress or tee shirt and jeans - what is called 'civil dress' as opposed to school or hostel uniform.Some children choose toys or games.
Religious festivals, promotions at work, a new job and good news are shared by GIVING. This usually takes the form of givng the very sugary, very soft boiled concoctions of sugar and nuts, decorated with thin sheets of silver. At festival times the well known sweetmakers sell thousands of boxes of their sweets by the kilogram. In the main it is the men who go to sweet makers, and without a queueing system it is quite a chaotic scene. The varieties of sweets are displayed in the glass cases and boxes are filled to order with the chosen assortment. I went to get some sweets as a 'thank you' for a friend and I was the only women in the melee of about 100 men!
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| Yerrinaidu in his new tee shirt with cake, biscuits and sweets. |
At Brighter Future in India we encourage this giving tradition. When a child has a birthday. A cake, with his name on it, is ordered from the local bakers. Biscuits and wrapped sweets, or fruits, are bought to be distributed to all the children in the home.
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| Yerrinaidu chooses a friend to help cut the cake. |
Candles and the singing of Happy Birthday, with a second verse that says "and God Bless You", are followed by the cutting of the cake.
At this stage another custom is performed, namely the putting of the first piece of cake into you chosen friend's mouth! He then reciprocates. There is even the odd dabbing of icing cream on the face at times!
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| Satya giving out fruits on her birthday |
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| Candles galore! |
Some sponsors send gifts or money and the birthday child can be taken to buy what they would like. Quite often this is a new dress or tee shirt and jeans - what is called 'civil dress' as opposed to school or hostel uniform.Some children choose toys or games.
