“Happy birthday to you!” is not an empty cliche, but an honest wish that someone will experience only happiness on the day they commemorate the first day of their life. Our wish goes even deeper: We wish this special person won't have any troubles, just good luck that will last at least until their next birthday, at which time our best wishes can be renewed.
We even give presents to our beloveds on their birthday, knowing that gifts are powerful instigators of joy and happiness.
Delighting our relatives and friends on their birthdays and realizing their wishes are desires that are deeply rooted in our ability to love.
We even give presents to our beloveds on their birthday, knowing that gifts are powerful instigators of joy and happiness.
Delighting our relatives and friends on their birthdays and realizing their wishes are desires that are deeply rooted in our ability to love.
Since when do people celebrate birthdays?
Like almost all modern customs, birthday celebrations have historical connections with superstitions, magic and Paganism. Initially only the birthdays of kings, queens and heroes were notable and celebrated. The noise - cheers of good wishes and singing – was necessary to scare evil spirits away, while the light of many candles caught the attention of the gods who were supposed to realize people’s wishes.
In 1300 BCE birthday celebrations were banned by the Catholic Church. To sidestep the ban, the celebration of a "Name Day" became the norm – on the day when the birth of a particular saint was celebrated all persons with the same name as the saint were allowed to celebrate.
Exactly when the celebrations of birthdays squirmed out of organised religion is not clear. I believe Protestantism forced it out and people grabbed the opportunity to personalize it. Be that as it may, today we are free to celebrate birthdays in any way we want as long as we don’t violate the laws of our country.
Read more about traditional birthdays here...
In 1300 BCE birthday celebrations were banned by the Catholic Church. To sidestep the ban, the celebration of a "Name Day" became the norm – on the day when the birth of a particular saint was celebrated all persons with the same name as the saint were allowed to celebrate.
Exactly when the celebrations of birthdays squirmed out of organised religion is not clear. I believe Protestantism forced it out and people grabbed the opportunity to personalize it. Be that as it may, today we are free to celebrate birthdays in any way we want as long as we don’t violate the laws of our country.
Read more about traditional birthdays here...
Today is the birthday of a very special lady
Some fifty odd years ago on November 27th Maria Helen Theresa was born to Henry Francis Couchara and Sammie Hinton Couchara. Loved and adored by her parents and older siblings, Maria grew into a refined, sophisticated and wise adult with an ardent love for music and dogs. In her world dogs were never only pets, but adorable children, as she and her husband had decided not to bring children into this world.
After marrying Geoff Jordan she continued to pursue the success that was achievable in her nursing career. She specialized in psychiatric disorders and became the youngest Director of Nursing of a psychiatric hospital in the Philadelphia area.
In 1999 her life came to a standstill when she and a colleague were kept hostage for forty-six hours by a mentally ill member of her staff.
Surviving six gun shots - while her colleague died after a single shot - Maria rearranged her priorities and goals. Among others, she replaced her first priority of ‘being successful’ with ‘being grateful’.
Maria's perspectives on many issues, published in Hubpages, and her musings, published in Weebly, as well as several books and anthologies published in amazon.com, shed light on all the lessons she has learned while recovering from her physical and emotional wounds.
Do you believe in miracles? I once asked her. Her answer:
After marrying Geoff Jordan she continued to pursue the success that was achievable in her nursing career. She specialized in psychiatric disorders and became the youngest Director of Nursing of a psychiatric hospital in the Philadelphia area.
In 1999 her life came to a standstill when she and a colleague were kept hostage for forty-six hours by a mentally ill member of her staff.
Surviving six gun shots - while her colleague died after a single shot - Maria rearranged her priorities and goals. Among others, she replaced her first priority of ‘being successful’ with ‘being grateful’.
Maria's perspectives on many issues, published in Hubpages, and her musings, published in Weebly, as well as several books and anthologies published in amazon.com, shed light on all the lessons she has learned while recovering from her physical and emotional wounds.
Do you believe in miracles? I once asked her. Her answer:
“Without a shadow of a doubt, I believe in miracles. It is a miracle I am alive and life could not be more of a gift as a result.”
As a writer Maria joined Hubpages six years ago under the nom de plume ‘marcoujor’. She distinguished herself as an author and editor of high caliber and a pillar of strength to many of her fellow-writers. She has a unique way of crawling deep into the hearts of everybody she meets. As a relative or friend, a nurse or a teacher, a writer or a speaker, she opens minds and hearts and inspires others to use their inner courage and strength productively.
To me Maria is more than only an online friend. Thanks to modern technology she became my soul-sister, always with me in spirit, like the imaginary friend I have had in my childhood.
To me Maria is more than only an online friend. Thanks to modern technology she became my soul-sister, always with me in spirit, like the imaginary friend I have had in my childhood.
Happy birthday, dearest Maria!
From the bottom of my heart I wish Maria happiness, prosperity, joy, and lasting good luck. I feel at liberty to wish this also on behalf of all her fellow-writers.
Thank you so much, Mar, for being you ♥
Thank you so much, Mar, for being you ♥
Maria’s first message to me
Maria (marcoujor on HubPages) has sent you this message.
Hi Martie,
I've been thinking about you and wanted you to know I am always here if I can help with anything. I think we have much in common. I will be 50 in November and I think we are both amazingly resilient as survivors of our own stuff.
All my love & always here for you,
Maria (marcoujor is Maria Couchara Jordan by the way...)
Hi Martie,
I've been thinking about you and wanted you to know I am always here if I can help with anything. I think we have much in common. I will be 50 in November and I think we are both amazingly resilient as survivors of our own stuff.
All my love & always here for you,
Maria (marcoujor is Maria Couchara Jordan by the way...)
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