Birthday Celebrations – EFLsuccess.com

EFL lesson about birthday cakes, virtual parties, and second birthdays ⇔

Holiday: Birthday Celebrations ~ Then and Now
© August 2020 Michael Krigline, MA

Underlined terms are explained in the vocabulary section below. Note to teachers: you can find an “easier” version of this lesson below, and a more detailed version at wp.krigline.com

Preview the vocabulary and then discuss this: What are your favorite birthday traditions? What is your favorite thing to do on a birthday?

When I was teaching in Beijing, I wanted to make a new friend and practice speaking Chinese. So, I walked into a “jiaozi” (Chinese fast food) eatery and sat next to a friendly stranger my own age whom I’ll call “Dan.” As we got to know each other, I said my birthday was coming up and asked when his birthday was. “Which one?” Dan asked. At first I thought I misunderstood, but he was serious! “I have two birthdays,” Dan said. “While I was born on Feb 15, I almost drowned on Sept 2 but someone saved my life, so I celebrate that as my Second Birthday.” To Dan’s surprise, I said I have two birthdays too! (I’ll explain in a moment.)

All over the world, people remember the day they were born with gifts, music, special food, flowers, and gatherings with friends and relatives.

The tradition of a birthday cake with candles dates back to 18th-century Germany. According to Readers Digest, “On the morning of a child’s birthday, he or she would receive a cake with lighted candles that added up to the kid’s age, plus one. This extra candle was called the ‘light of life,’ representing the hope of another full year lived.” The article said that the child made a secret wish and tried to blow out all the candles with one breath—a tradition that is still common nowadays. Today, the cake is normally presented with “the Birthday song”—the most frequently-sung English song in the world!

https://youtu.be/BSRbbXdkCXw

During COVID-19, many traditions have had to change. Unable to be with friends in person, some people have a virtual birthday party. Each participant plans ahead, sending a gift by mail to the “birthday boy/girl,” and preparing a cake or treat to enjoy during the party. Then, connected by smartphone, they can share stories, sing, and laugh as their friend opens their gifts. One advantage of a Pandemic Birthday Party is that you can even celebrate with friends on the other side of the globe!

Why do I have two birthdays? As I explained to Dan, during my first year in college, someone also saved my life. That year, I embraced “the light of life” and was baptized as a Christian on Dec 24 (Christmas Eve), so I celebrate that as my Second Birthday. Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV) I was “drowning” in a self-centered life with no real meaning; Jesus’ “light of life” gave me love, forgiveness, lasting friendships, and a new purpose: to invite others to know Him so they can have a “Second Birthday” too!

~Michael Krigline; EFLsuccess.com (410 words)

Discussion:

What are your favorite birthday traditions?
Tell us about the best birthday party you can remember.
Do you have one birthday or two? If “two,” please explain.
Christians say that they are “born again” or “born from above.” What do you think they mean by this?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a Pandemic Birthday Party as described?
Read John 8:12 again. What do you think he means by “darkness” and “light”? What are some examples of “walking in darkness”?
If you have time, watch the “Pandemic anthem” on YouTube (https://youtu.be/BSRbbXdkCXw), which includes pictures of a birthday party. What is your favorite part of the music video?*

Vocabulary: (underlined terms are defined here)

drown: to die by being under water too long
fast food: the kinds of food (e.g., hamburgers, instant noodles) that can be given to customers quickly, so they can eat in a short time or take them away
hope: a confident, positive expectation (not just wishful thinking)
in person: face-to-face, not virtually, in a photo, by letter, etc. A few years ago, I saw the Olympic Games in person.
jiaozi: Chinese dumplings; a boiled pastry shell with meat inside, and sometimes leftovers are fried.
pandemic: (technical) a disease that affects people over a very large area country or even the whole world.
smartphone: a mobile phone that is also a small computer, that can connect to the internet, take photos, run apps, etc.
tradition: [countable] a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time; [uncountable] all of these beliefs, customs, etc., in general. (传统)
virtual: (adj) seen or created on a computer or online instead of in the real world

Sources and resources:

(See an “easier” lesson below)

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Birthday Celebrations ~ Then and Now (lower level English)
© August 2020 Michael Krigline, MA

Underlined terms are explained in the vocabulary section below.

Preview the vocabulary and then discuss this: What is your favorite thing to do on a birthday?

All over the world, people remember the day they were born with gifts, special food, and gatherings with friends and relatives.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, friends unable to meet in person, sometimes have a virtual birthday party. People both near and far away connect by smartphones. They share stories, sing, and laugh together to honor their friend’s birth.

One day, a friend told me he had two birthdays! He explained that he almost drowned, but someone saved his life; he celebrates that as his Second Birthday. I told him that something similar happened to me. During my first year in college, someone also saved my life. That year, I embraced “the light of life” (John 8:12) and was baptized as a Christian on Dec 24, so I celebrate that as my Second Birthday. I was “drowning” in a self-centered life with no real meaning; Jesus gave me love, forgiveness, lasting friendships, and a new purpose: to invite others to know Him so they can have a “Second Birthday” too!

~Michael Krigline; EFLsuccess.com (250 words)

Discussion:

Tell us about the best birthday party you can remember.
Pretend that you will have a virtual birthday party, and describe what will happen.
Why did the author’s friend say he has two birthdays? Why did the author say he has two birthdays as well?
Do you have one birthday or two? If “two,” please explain.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a Pandemic Birthday Party as described?
If you have time, watch the “Pandemic anthem” on YouTube (https://youtu.be/BSRbbXdkCXw), which includes pictures of a birthday party. What is your favorite part of the music video?*

Vocabulary: (underlined terms are defined here)

drown: to die by being under water too long
hope: a confident, positive expectation (not just wishful thinking)
in person: face-to-face, not virtually, in a photo, by letter, etc. A few years ago, I saw the Olympic Games in person.
pandemic: (technical) a disease that affects people over a very large area country or even the whole world.
smartphone: a mobile phone that is also a small computer, that can connect to the internet, take photos, run apps, etc.
tradition: [countable] a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time; [uncountable] all of these beliefs, customs, etc., in general. (传统)
virtual: (adj) seen or created on a computer or online instead of in the real world

Sources and resources:

*Footnote: You can find the words to Christafari’s “Pandemic” at musixmatch.com/lyrics/Christafari/Pandemic-Covid-19-Quarantine-Anthem

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