| Did you know that landmark birthdays differ from | | | | of 21, we tend to mark the passing of each decade |
| country to country and culture to culture? Gifts for | | | | by celebrating any birthday that ends in '0'. |
| landmark birthdays also differ depending on where | | | | Gifts tend to match the significance of the birthday, |
| you live and the religion you follow. | | | | with more thought and often expense lavished on |
| First birthdays | | | | these special birthdays. |
| While a first birthday is always an important | | | | In recent years, experience gifts and holidays are |
| celebration for proud parents, in China a child's first | | | | becoming more and more popular for landmark |
| birthday is particularly significant. Known as the 'zhua | | | | birthdays, as individuals use the excuse of a new |
| zhou' or the 'birthday grab' this milestone is | | | | decade in their lives to reinvent themselves or try |
| considered a 'coming of age' for Chinese babies and | | | | something new. Keepsake gifts, like photo albums |
| has been passed down from dynastic times. | | | | and jewellery are also popular. |
| It starts with a celebration feast and almost | | | | 60th birthdays |
| everything that happens has some form of | | | | After the first birthday, the next landmark birthday |
| symbolism. After the meal, a set of items are placed | | | | on the Chinese calendar is the 60th birthday. This |
| before the birthday child for him or her to choose | | | | marks the end of one cycle of a person's life and the |
| from. The first item the child picks and successfully | | | | start of another. As an individual is expected to have |
| gives to his or her parents may be an indication of | | | | a big family by the age of 60, it is considered a time |
| the child's future career, for example a stamp is used | | | | to celebrate this achievement. Traditional 60th |
| to donate a high-ranking official or person of power. | | | | Birthday gifts include eggs, long noodles, wine and |
| Coming of age birthdays | | | | money wrapped in red paper. |
| In the UK, coming of age was traditionally celebrated | | | | 65th birthday |
| on your 21st birthday. Known as being given the 'key | | | | Traditionally the time of retirement, many people |
| of the door' (immortalised in the seaside bingo call, | | | | have a big celebration for their 65th birthday. Gifts |
| 'Key of the door, 21'), individuals were (and often still | | | | related to this new chapter in their lives are |
| are) presented with a symbolic key to mark this | | | | particularly appropriate. DIY, gardening or cookery |
| important year. | | | | books may provide them with a new hobby or |
| When the age at which you are legally an adult | | | | interest. |
| dropped to 18 in the UK in 1969, people started to | | | | Alternatively, if they've always talked about getting |
| celebrate their 18th birthday instead of or as well as | | | | out and about more, walking boots and a book of |
| their 21st birthday - a custom that continues today. | | | | favourite walks might be a welcome gift. You could |
| In the USA however, 'sweet sixteen' birthday | | | | even make it extra special by including a weekend |
| celebrations are an incredibly popular way of marking | | | | break in the country. |
| an individual's coming of age. This is especially true of | | | | 100th birthday |
| girls in the US. | | | | Reaching 100 is an achievement that should be |
| It's not just different countries that have different | | | | celebrated in style, after all not many people live for |
| celebrations. Different cultures also mark coming of | | | | an entire century. In the UK, a message from the |
| age in different ways. Jewish boys have a bar | | | | Queen is traditionally sent to anyone reaching 100 |
| mitzvah on or around their 13th birthday, while Jewish | | | | years of age. |
| girls have a bat mitzvah on or around their 12th | | | | But what gift can you buy for someone celebrating |
| birthday, in some forms of Judaism. | | | | their 100th birthday? Flowers, chocolates or a 100th |
| Latin American countries celebrate Quinceanera, | | | | birthday balloon may be appreciated, but often time |
| which is a coming of age ceremony held on a girl's | | | | is the biggest gift you can give someone at this age. |
| fifteenth birthday. Gifts for this important birthday | | | | Whether it's your mother, father, grandmother or |
| are usually religious in nature, such as a Bible, a cross, | | | | great-grand father, put together a photo album of his |
| rosary or sceptre. | | | | or her life and spend the day reminiscing about their |
| Birthdays with an 'Oh'! | | | | achievements. |
| In the UK and many other countries, after the age | | | | |