Birthdays

Vocabulary

1. Bestow (verb): tặng cho
/bɪˈstoʊ/: to give someone something that is valuable or important
Ex: The award is the highest honor that the institution can bestow.

2. Leap year (n): năm nhuận
/liːp jiːr/ : a year containing one additional day
Ex: I always wondered why leap years exist.

3. Merriment (n): sự vui vẻ
/ˈmerimənt/: high-spirited and happy; fun
Ex: A birthday is a time for joy and merriment.

Reading

A birthday is an occasion when a person, an institution, or a company celebrates the anniversary of their birth or founding.

In most cultures, an individual’s birthday is celebrated amongst friends and relatives. The birthday cake, which usually contains the exact number of candles that symbolize the person’s age, is an essential part of this celebration. Gifts are commonly bestowed upon the individual by the guests attending the party.

In the Gregorian calendar, every four years there is a leap year, which lasts 366 days. In a leap year, February has 29 days, and the people born on that day only celebrate their birthday once every four years. These individuals are sometimes called “leapers”.

Attitudes towards celebrating one’s birthday often shift as people grow older. However, for most people, it is an exciting time of year when they can rejoice in the gifts they have received and share their cheerfulness and merriment with their loved ones.


1. What else besides an individual’s date of birth can be celebrated as a birthday?

2. What is the usual way of celebrating a birthday?

3. What is a leap year?

 Discussion

1. How are birthday celebrated in your country ?

2. What is the best birthday memory you have?

3. What is the best birthday gift you have ever received?

4. Would you celebrate your birthday every year if you were born on February 29th?

5. Do you think spending a lot of money on a birthday party is a waste of money?