I was not greedy. My desires were simple. I might have had one or two goals and the main one was…………..
To have my own Birthday Cake!
Way back in the dim and distant past… well it was more than half a century ago, long before Uncle Hallmark came along, birthdays were not the BIG deal that they are today. We did not do presents, but there was one card from all the family, and we had one of mammy’s cakes for tea with a candle in it.
‘Birthday Tea’ was often held on the nearest Sunday if the actual day fell in a busy week. The first four of our brood managed to have Birthdays in February or March, while the last two were in the bright summer months of long day light.
Dark days were good when it came to birthday teas! Once the meal was eaten (usually the second dinner of the day and the menu chosen, with the birthday person in mind), Mammy cleared the plates to the kitchen and set a freshly baked and decorated cake on a plate and added a candle. For the first five years of life the candles increased with the years, but after that, it reverted back to the one candle – it saved having to call the Fire Brigade! 😉
One non birthday person, tall enough to reach the light switch, was on duty to turn off the lights. Then Mammy came through by the light from the flickering candle on the cake, the singing of Happy Birthday began. The lights came on again and the cake was set down on the table in front of the birthday person. They made a silent wish and then cut the cake, just like the bride and groom at a wedding!
We were not into cameras back then so word pictures will have to do.
Eldest Brother and I had birthdays two days apart and the ‘Birthday Tea’ was held on the day in between or on the nearest Sunday. We shared the one cake and candle. Since I was the girl and younger, I got to blow out the candle first, then it was relit for my big brother, we sang again and he blew out what was left of it. He was always very patient with me.
Paddy & I
I finally had my ‘own’ birthday party when I reached twenty one. Mammy & I did the cooking and baking and I made my own cake. The table was pushed into the bay window and the food was served buffet style. This left plenty of room for my long legged brothers, cousins & friends.
My 21st Birthday
Daddy, Birthday Girl, my sister brings more goodies from the kitchen, while mammy is busy cutting and slicing.
Nowadays if we meet up in the week of our birthdays, Big brother and I will share a cake even if it is only cupcake size, sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candle.
So today, Big brother Paddy, may you have a very special 70th Birthday, no doubt we will catch up over the next few days to share and sing our birthday song!
Delirious chose the topic My childhood goals for my life this week and I thank her for the opportunity to recall simple happy memories. My cake is not baked yet, so I suggest you move along to see what the other active members are singing about this week: Delirious, Maxi, Maria/Gaelikaa, Maria SilverFox, Padmum, Ramana, Shackman speaks, The Old Fossil, Will Knott.
This is a sweet, heartwarming story,GM. Happy Birthday to you and Paddy. May the day be long and your heart be full.
blessings ~ maxi
Yes, birthdays were no big deals then. We never celebrated any of ours. One sweet dish was made on that day and it was announced that it was in honour of the birthday boy/girl and that was that.
It was also typical that if more than one sibling had birthdays close to each other’s a common date was chosen and I can relate to that feeling of wanting your own birthday cake!
I agree with Maxi – a very nice story and thanks for sharing.
Maxi – Thank you on behalf of Paddy and I. No doubt we will sing our celebrations over the next few days.
Ramana – This year I made my own cake and brought it with me! You never know, maybe George will have another one on the actual day!
shackman – My life is one long series of little stories.
And many many more birthday cakes, GM!!!
Best wishes agus la shona duit.
XO
WWW
Oh, that was marvelous and sooo Grannymar! I loved it.
Kids now always have birthday parties. I had one when I turned 10. We went to the Circus and I actually got to bring some other kids! Bliss!
I’ve not seen that photo before! Love your dress! Pity Nana has her back to the camera. Today was wonderful 🙂 Dad had a ball, and was blown away by my being there.
A sweet story. I always had a cake and I never had to share with anyone but my parents, since I am an only child. I always wanted an older brother, so you were lucky!
WWW – Thank you. Cakes are good, so long as there is someone to share it with.
Fossie – Since this topic arrived in time for cake, it would be a pity not to have a party and sing about it.
Judy – I was surrounded with brothers, I was in the middle of four, my sister was the baby of the family.
Barbara – My dress? 😆 Nice figure, eh? If you stood the dress on the ground it would still hold the shape. See my lovely arms…. they had as much shape as the rest of my body, back then! 😆
Glad your dad had a good day. His text came through to me while I was driving to Dublin. I hope to catch up later this morning. Are you still around, would love to catch up if you are?
Lovely memories, thanks for sharing…
Oh to be young and thin again…maybe in the next life? Dianne
The post made for wonderful reading. Wish you many, many more ‘Happy Birthdays’ to come. Simple memories, wonderful memories.
And I hope you will someday post more photographs from back then.
Maria G – Since it was ‘Birthday season’ I thought I would adapt it for LBC purposes.
Dianne – I have been thin all my life, but there is a downside – no insulation – so I feel the cold all the time. 🙁
Anil – I have hundreds of old photos, some from much further back, I really should write about the past more often.
Thanks for sharing your special day story and pictures. Wishing you many many more.
Brighid – This year the day, in fact the last six days were wonderful and I was hugged and pampered by all I met. Now I am home once more and back to normal routine.