Signs of Spring and Birthday Musings - Barbara Baker

 

This year, the official first day of spring happens on March 19^th when the Earth's axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

Albertans experienced a taste of spring during the last two weeks of January and then again, the last two weeks of February when temperatures broke records and people ran around in shorts. Leslie Horton, meteorologist on Calgary Global News, coined the phrase of those phenomena as fake spring. Yup, Mother Nature loves to play Guess What Season It Is.

My first true signs of spring appeared on March 6th. Fuzzy pussy willows. A robin singing from the top of a spruce tree. But I'm still waiting to spot my favourite, the first crocus bloom.  

     

My birthday follows the arrival of spring, and I typically spend it on the ski hill. But this year, the snowfall has been dismal so it’s hard to say what Old Mother Nature will have in store for me.

 

2022 Spring Ski Day in Fernie 

Thinking about my birthday made me wonder when birthdays came to be such a big deal. Down the Google rabbit hole I go.

• Birthdays started with the Egyptians. Scholars state the earliest mention of a birthday was around 3,000 B.C.E. and was in reference to a Pharaoh's birthday. Further study implies this was not the day they were born, but rather the day they became a god or goddess. I’m not a goddess, but that will not stop me from enjoying my day.

• In 100 BC ancient Romans celebrated birthdays for male friends and male family members. It was acknowledged as the birth of the common ‘man’ and enthusiastic festivities marked the occasion. But for men only.

 

• To mark the momentous occasion of a Roman man making it to 50 years old, a special cake was baked from wheat flour, olive oil, grated cheese, and honey. Blech.

• Female birthdays were not acknowledged until the 12th century – 1200 years later. And it’s about time. 

• The tradition of celebrating birthdays with sweet, elaborate, multi-layered (and covered with icing) cakes originated in Germany in the 1400s. Thank goodness they made cake for both men and women by then. And with sugar and icing.

 

When I was a kid, I thought people who were older than sixty were ancient - like they had one foot in the grave already. Now that I’m in that ancient category I decided to ask AI what it thought of people my age.

AI stated that people who are now in their 60s are considered to be in their "mid-life". Apparently, this is because people are living longer and healthier lives. What was once considered "old" is now seen as middle age – how cool is that? Maybe AI isn’t as awful as we think it is … given the context.

So here I am, continuing to bask in the warmth of the season and ready to eat sugary cupcakes on my birthday. Fortunately, my new mid-life status doesn’t rob me of my senior’s discounts. But I possibly need to look into getting a cooler, faster, prettier mid-life crisis car. 

Have a fabulous day. And let me know if you find a crocus because I'm still looking.

St. Patrick's Day Contest at Books We Love, Ltd.

Win a basket of Digital books plus this gift basket!

Link to Enter Contest: https://www.bookswelove.net/contest-entry-from/

 

 

Baker, Barbara - BWL Publishing Inc. (bookswelove.net) 

bbaker.write@gmail.com