An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year, and may also refer to the commemoration or celebration of that event. The word was first used for Catholic feasts to commemorate saints .
91-441: A birthday is the anniversary of the birth of a person, or figuratively of an institution . Birthdays of people are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with birthday gifts , birthday cards , a birthday party , or a rite of passage . Many religions celebrate the birth of their founders or religious figures with special holidays (e.g. Christmas , Mawlid , Buddha's Birthday , Krishna Janmashtami , and Gurpurb ). There
182-474: A leap year has 29 days instead of the usual 28, so the year lasts 366 days instead of the usual 365. A person born on February 29 may be called a " leapling " or a "leaper". In common years, they usually celebrate their birthdays on February 28. In some situations, March 1 is used as the birthday in a non-leap year since it is the day following February 28. Technically, a leapling will have fewer birthday anniversaries than their age in years. This phenomenon
273-492: A pagan custom. Saint's days were typically celebrated on the anniversary of their martyrdom or death, considered the occasion of or preparation for their entrance into Heaven or the New Jerusalem . Ordinary folk celebrated their saint's day (the saint they were named after), but nobility celebrated the anniversary of their birth. The "Squire's Tale", one of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales , opens as King Cambuskan proclaims
364-624: A sacrament . The sacrament is called chrismation in Eastern Christianity . In the East it takes place immediately after baptism ; in the West , when a child reaches the age of reason or early adolescence, or in the case of adult baptism immediately afterwards in the same ceremony. Among those Christians who practise teenage confirmation, the practice may be perceived, secondarily, as a coming of age rite . In many Protestant denominations, such as
455-706: A 16.9% decrease in Caesarean births on Halloween , compared to dates occurring within one week before and one week after the October holiday. In contrast, on Valentine's Day there is a 3.6% increase in spontaneous births and a 12.1% increase in Caesarean births. In Sweden 9.3% of the population is born in March and 7.3% in November when a uniform distribution would give 8.3%. In the Gregorian calendar (a common solar calendar ), February in
546-414: A common term, adopted in many languages, especially in intellectual and institutional circles, for the anniversary of the founding ("legal or statutory birth") of an institution, such as an alma mater (college or other school). In ancient Rome, the [dies] Aquilae natalis was the "birthday of the eagle", the anniversary of the official founding of a legion. Anniversaries of nations are usually marked by
637-502: A feast to celebrate his birthday. The Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox Church and Protestantism , i.e. the three main branches of Christianity , as well as almost all Christian religious denominations, consider celebrating birthdays acceptable or at most a choice of the individual. An exception are Jehovah's Witnesses , who do not celebrate them for various reasons: in their interpretation this feast has pagan origins,
728-399: A highly formal, ritualized manner. They treat Buddha's statue as if it was Buddha himself, as if he were alive; bathing, and "feeding" him. Hindus celebrate the birth anniversary day every year when the day that corresponds to the lunar month or solar month (Sun Signs Nirayana System – Sourava Mana Masa) of birth and has the same asterism (Star/Nakshatra) as that of the date of birth. That age
819-560: A laying on of hands for the imparting of the Spirit – performed after the water-bath and as a complement to this bath – existed already in the earliest apostolic times. These texts are Acts 8:4–20 and 19:1–7, and Hebrews 6:1–6. In the Acts of the Apostles 8:14–17, different ministers are named for the two actions. It is not deacon Philip , the baptiser, but only the apostles who were able to impart
910-451: A life-threatening emergency) by any baptized member of the church; however, only a priest or bishop may perform the mystery of chrismation. If someone who has been baptized in extremis survives, the priest then performs the chrismation. The Catholic Church does not confirm converts to Catholicism who have been chrismated in a non-Catholic Eastern church, considering that the sacrament has been validly conferred and may not be repeated . In
1001-542: A procession, circling three times around the Gospel Book , while the choir chants each time: "As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia" (Galatians 3:27). The reason the Eastern Churches perform chrismation immediately after baptism is so that the newly baptized may receive Holy Communion, which is commonly given to infants as well as adults. An individual may be baptized in extremis (in
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#17328551391181092-415: A quarter" ( de means "from"; quadrans means "quarter"). Thus for the example of 175 years, the term is a quarter century less than the next whole (bi)century or 175 = (−25 + 200). In Latin, it seems that this rule did not apply precisely for 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 . While secundus is Latin for "second", and bis for "twice", these terms are not used such as in sesqui-secundus. Instead sesqui (or ses )
1183-544: A theme for some gifts or decorations. Because of the importance attached to the influence of these stars in ancient China and throughout the Sinosphere , East Asian age reckoning previously began with one at birth and then added years at each Chinese New Year, so that it formed a record of the suì one had lived through rather than of the exact amount of time from one's birth. This method—which can differ by as much as two years of age from other systems—is increasingly uncommon and
1274-488: A thirteen-day period, between September 22 and October 4. The ten least common birthdays (other than February 29) are December 24–27, January 1–2, February 6 , March 22, April 1 and April 25 . This is based on all live births registered in New Zealand between 1980 and 2017. Positive and negative associations with culturally significant dates may influence birth rates. The study shows a 5.3% decrease in spontaneous births and
1365-472: A vessel of oil, bestowing the Holy Spirit upon it, which was then distributed to all of the presbyters (priests) for their use when they baptized. The same chrism is in use to this day, never being completely depleted but newly consecrated chrism only being added to it as needed (this consecration traditionally is performed only by the primates of certain autocephalous churches on Great Thursday ) and it
1456-623: Is a holiday season nine months before (the human gestation period is about nine months), or because the longest nights of the year also occur in the Northern Hemisphere nine months before. However, it appears the holidays have more of an effect on birth rates than the winter: New Zealand , a Southern Hemisphere country, has the same September and October peak with no corresponding peak in March and April. The least common birthdays tend to fall around public holidays, such as Christmas , New Year's Day and fixed-date holidays such as July 4 in
1547-601: Is a distinction between birth day and birth date (also known as date of birth): the former, except for February 29 , occurs each year (e.g. January 15), while the latter is the complete date when a person was born (e.g. January 15, 2001). In most legal systems, one becomes a legal adult on a particular birthday when they reach the age of majority (usually between 12 and 21), and reaching age-specific milestones confers particular rights and responsibilities. At certain ages, one may become eligible to leave full-time education , become subject to military conscription or to enlist in
1638-440: Is believed that chrism in use today contains some small amount of the original chrism made by the apostles. When Catholics and traditional Protestants, such as Lutherans, Anglicans and Methodists, convert to Orthodoxy, they are often admitted by chrismation, without baptism; but, since this is a matter of local episcopal discretion , a bishop may require all converts to be admitted by baptism if he deems it necessary. Depending upon
1729-429: Is conferred by another bishop. In addition, the law itself confers the same faculty on the following: [W]ithin the confines of their jurisdiction, those who in law are equivalent to a diocesan Bishop (for example, a vicar apostolic ); in respect of the person to be confirmed, the priest who by virtue of his office or by mandate of the diocesan Bishop baptises an adult or admits a baptised adult into full communion with
1820-501: Is entirely different from the usual word for "year(s)" ( 年 , nián ), reflecting the former importance of Chinese astrology and the belief that one's fate was bound to the stars imagined to be in opposition to the planet Jupiter at the time of one's birth. The importance of this duodecennial orbital cycle only survives in popular culture as the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac , which change each Chinese New Year and may be used as
1911-720: Is exploited when a person claims to be only a quarter of their actual age, by counting their leap-year birthday anniversaries only. In Gilbert and Sullivan 's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance , Frederic the pirate apprentice discovers that he is bound to serve the pirates until his 21st birthday rather than until his 21st year. For legal purposes, legal birthdays depend on how local laws count time intervals. Some studies show people are more likely to die on their birthdays, with explanations including excessive drinking, suicide, cardiovascular events due to high stress or happiness, efforts to postpone death for major social events, and death certificate paperwork errors. In Judaism ,
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#17328551391182002-626: Is known as Gurpurb . According to Herodotus (5th century BC), of all the days in the year, the one which the Persians celebrate most is their birthday. It was customary to have the board furnished on that day with an ampler supply than common: the richer people eat wholly baked cow, horse, camel, or donkey (Greek: ὄνον ), while the poorer classes use instead the smaller kinds of cattle. The Romans enthusiastically celebrated birthdays with hedonistic parties and generous presents. The Chinese word for "year(s) old" ( t 歲 , s 岁 , suì )
2093-465: Is normally on infants . The sacred tradition of the Orthodox Church teaches that the Apostles themselves established the practice of anointing with chrism (consecrated oil) in place of the laying on of hands when bestowing the sacrament. As the numbers of converts grew, it became physically impossible for the apostles to lay hands upon each of the newly baptized. So the Apostles laid hands upon
2184-521: Is not used for official purposes in the PRC or on Taiwan , although the word suì is still used for describing age. Traditionally, Chinese birthdays—when celebrated—were reckoned using the lunisolar calendar , which varies from the Gregorian calendar by as much as a month forward or backward depending on the year. Celebrating the lunisolar birthday remains common on Taiwan while growing increasingly uncommon on
2275-461: Is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ for the conferral of sanctifying grace and the strengthening of the union between the individual and God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraphs 1302–1303, states: It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on
2366-402: Is received into the church, whether by baptism or chrismation, they will often take the name of a saint, who will become their patron saint . Thenceforward, the feast day of that saint will be celebrated as the convert's name day , which in traditional Orthodox cultures is celebrated in lieu of one's birthday. The Orthodox rite of chrismation takes place immediately after baptism and clothing
2457-405: Is reckoned whenever Janma Nakshatra of the same month passes. Hindus regard death to be more auspicious than birth, since the person is liberated from the bondages of material society. Also, traditionally, rituals & prayers for the departed are observed on 5th and 11th day with many relatives gathering. Sikhs celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak and other Sikh Gurus which
2548-530: Is sacramental. Church ordinances are understood as administering grace and must be conducted by properly ordained clergy members through apostolic succession reaching back through Peter to Christ, although the line of authority differs from Catholics and Eastern Orthodox. Baptism by water is understood as representing the death of the old person and their resurrection from that death into a new life in Christ. Through baptism by water, sin, and guilt are washed away as
2639-495: Is taken is henceforth considered to be a patron saint . The Eastern Orthodox , Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches refer to this sacrament (or, more properly, Sacred Mystery ) as chrismation, a term which western rite Catholics also use; for instance, in Italian the term is cresima . Eastern Christians link chrismation closely with the sacred mystery of baptism, conferring it immediately after baptism, which
2730-418: Is typically sung by the guests at some point in the proceedings. In some countries, a piñata takes the place of a cake. In some historically Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries, it is common to have a ' name day ', otherwise known as a 'Saint's day'. It is celebrated in much the same way as a birthday, but it is held on the official day of a saint with the same Christian name as the birthday person;
2821-590: Is used by itself. Many anniversaries have special names. Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home by Emily Post , published in 1922, contained suggestions for wedding anniversary gifts for 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, and 75 years. Wedding anniversary gift suggestions for other years were added in later editions and publications; they now comprise what is referred to as the "traditional" list. Generally speaking,
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2912-705: The American occupation that followed World War II . Children's birthday parties are the most important, typically celebrated with a cake, candles, and singing. Adults often just celebrate with their partner. In North Korea , the Day of the Sun , Kim Il Sung 's birthday, is the most important public holiday of the country, and Kim Jong Il 's birthday is celebrated as the Day of the Shining Star . North Koreans are not permitted to celebrate birthdays on July 8 and December 17 because these were
3003-472: The Anglican , Lutheran , Methodist and Reformed traditions, confirmation is a rite that often includes a profession of faith by an already baptized person. Confirmation is required by Lutherans, Anglicans and other traditional Protestant denominations for full membership in the respective church. In Catholic theology, by contrast, it is the sacrament of baptism that confers membership, while "reception of
3094-590: The Catechism of the Catholic Church also mentions, as an effect of confirmation, that "it renders our bond with the Church more perfect". This mention stresses the importance of participation in the Christian community. The "soldier of Christ" imagery was used, as far back as 350, by St Cyril of Jerusalem. In this connection, the touch on the cheek that the bishop gave while saying " Pax tecum " ( ' Peace be with you ' ) to
3185-410: The Eastern Orthodox Church the sacrament may be conferred more than once and it is customary to receive returning or repentant apostates by repeating chrismation. When discussing confirmation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) uses the term ordinance owing to their origins in a Protestant environment, but the actual doctrine describing their ordinances and their effects
3276-540: The Fourth Lateran Council , Communion, which continued to be given only after confirmation, was to be administered only on reaching the age of reason. Some time after the 13th century, the age of confirmation and Communion began to be delayed further, from seven, to twelve and to fifteen. In the 18th century, in France the sequence of sacraments of initiation was changed. Bishops started to impart confirmation only after
3367-613: The Gift of the Holy Ghost , granting the individual the permanent companionship of the Holy Ghost as long as the person does not wilfully drive him away through sin. The ceremony is significantly simpler than in Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches and is performed by an ordained clergyman as follows: Other actions typically associated with confirmation in Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy, such as
3458-594: The Gregorian New Year , "year ages" that start with 0 at birth and otherwise increase the same way, and "actual ages" that start with 0 at birth and increase each birthday. First birthday celebrations were heavily celebrated, despite usually having little to do with the child's age. In June 2023, all Korean ages were set back at least one year and official ages henceforth are reckoned only by birthdays. Anniversary Most countries celebrate national anniversaries, typically called national days . These could be
3549-467: The United States and Europe celebrate birthdays as customary especially for children, while some abstain. There is also much controversy regarding the permissibility of celebrating Mawlid , (the anniversary of the birth of Muhammad ), as some Muslims judge the custom as an unacceptable practice according to Islamic tradition. Many monasteries celebrate the anniversary of Buddha's birth, usually in
3640-470: The canonical age for confirmation in the Latin Church Catholic Church, the present 1983 Code of Canon Law , which maintains unaltered the rule in the 1917 Code, lays down that the sacrament is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion (generally taken to be about 7), unless the episcopal conference has decided on a different age, or there is a danger of death or, in
3731-451: The date of independence of the nation or the adoption of a new constitution or form of government. There is no definite method for determining the date of establishment of an institution, and it is generally decided within the institution by convention . The important dates in a sitting monarch's reign may also be commemorated, an event often referred to as a "jubilee". The Latin phrase dies natalis (literally "birth day") has become
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3822-532: The pneuma through the laying on of hands: Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John , who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit. Further on in
3913-589: The rabbis are divided about celebrating this custom, although it is accepted by the majority of the faithful. In the Torah the only mention that is made of the birthday, refers to the celebration of Pharaoh's birthday in Egypt, as recorded in Genesis (Parashat Vaieshev) 40:20. Origen in his commentary "On Levites" wrote that Christians should not only refrain from celebrating their birthdays, but should look on them with disgust as
4004-515: The red 100 RMB notes —are the usual gift from relatives and close family friends for most children. Gifts for adults on their birthday are much less common, although the birthday for each decade is a larger occasion that might prompt a large dinner and celebration. The Japanese reckoned their birthdays by the Chinese system until the Meiji Reforms . Celebrations remained uncommon or muted until after
4095-506: The "newly illumined" (i.e., newly baptized) in their baptismal robe . The priest makes the sign of the cross with the chrism (also referred to as myrrh ) on the brow, eyes, nostrils, lips, both ears, breast, hands and feet of the newly illumined, saying with each anointing : "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit . Amen." Then the priest will place his epitrachelion (stole) over the newly illumined and leads them and their sponsors in
4186-509: The 16th-century Thirty-nine Articles lists confirmation among those rites "commonly called Sacraments" which are "not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel" (a term referring to the dominical sacraments, i.e. baptism and the Holy Eucharist ), because they were not directly instituted by Christ with a specific matter and form, and they are not generally necessary to salvation. The language of
4277-500: The Catholic Church. One of the effects of the sacrament is that "it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross". This effect was described by the Council of Trent as making the confirmed person "a soldier of Christ". The same passage of
4368-447: The Catholic Church; in respect of those in danger of death, the parish priest or indeed any priest. "According to the ancient practice maintained in the Roman liturgy, an adult is not to be baptized unless he receives Confirmation immediately afterward, provided no serious obstacles exist." Administration of the two sacraments, one immediately after the other, to adults is normally done by
4459-505: The Church of the New Testament . In the Gospel of John chapter 14, Christ speaks of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (John 14:15–26). Later, after his Resurrection , Jesus breathed upon them and they received the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), a process completed on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4). In Christianity, this Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit was held as the sign of
4550-495: The English words inch and ounce ) and from 9 ⁄ 12 to 11 ⁄ 12 they were expressed as multiple twelfths less than the next whole unit—i.e. a whole unit less 3 ⁄ 12 , 2 ⁄ 12 or 1 ⁄ 12 respectively. There were also special terms for quarter ( quadrans ), half ( semis ), and three-quarters ( dodrans ). Dodrans is a Latin contraction of de-quadrans which means "a whole unit less
4641-562: The LDS Church occurs shortly following baptism, which is not considered complete or fully efficacious until confirmation is received. There is an analogous ceremony also called confirmation in Reform Judaism . Various secular organizations also offer secular coming-of-age ceremonies as an alternative to Christian confirmation, while Unitarian Universalists have a similar Coming of Age ceremony . The roots of confirmation are found in
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#17328551391184732-456: The Latin word(s) for the respective number of years. When anniversaries relate to fractions of centuries (125, 150, 175, 225, 250, 275 years—i.e. 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.25, 2.5, and 2.75 centuries), the situation is not as simple. Roman fractions were based on a duodecimal system . From 1 ⁄ 12 to 8 ⁄ 12 they were expressed as multiples of twelfths ( uncia "twelfth"; the source of
4823-550: The Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts. In the Roman Catholic Church, the sacrament is customarily conferred only on persons old enough to understand it, and the ordinary minister of confirmation is a bishop . "If necessity so requires", the diocesan bishop may grant specified priests the faculty to administer the sacrament, although normally he is to administer it himself or ensure that it
4914-582: The Northern Hemisphere and August 1 in the Southern Hemisphere. In certain parts of the world, an individual's birthday is celebrated by a party featuring a specially made cake . It may be decorated with lettering and the person's age, or studded with the same number of lit candles as the age of the individual. The celebrated individual may make a silent wish and attempt to blow out the candles in one breath; if successful, superstition holds that
5005-542: The US. In the United States between 1973 and 1999, September 16 is the most common birthday in the United States and December 25 the least common birthday (other than February 29, because of leap years). In 2011, October 5 and 6 were reported as the most frequently occurring birthdays. In New Zealand, the most common birthday is September 29, and the least common birthday is December 25. The ten most common birthdays all fall within
5096-471: The action of baptising to others. However, Acts 19:6 then expressly states that it was Apostle Paul who laid his hands upon the newly baptised. Hebrews 6:1–6 distinguishes "the teaching about baptisms" from the teaching about "the laying on of hands". The difference may be understood in the light of the two passages in Acts 8 and 19. In the teaching of the Catholic Church, confirmation, known also as chrismation ,
5187-507: The bishop of the diocese (generally at the Easter Vigil ) since "the baptism of adults, at least of those who have completed their fourteenth year, is to be referred to the Bishop, so that he himself may confer it if he judges this appropriate" However, if the bishop does not confer the baptism, then it devolves on the priest whose office it then is to confer both sacraments, since, "in addition to
5278-435: The bishop, the law gives the faculty to confirm to the following, ... priests who, in virtue of an office which they lawfully hold, baptize an adult or a child old enough for catechesis or receive a validly baptized adult into full communion with the Church." In Eastern Catholic Churches , the usual minister of this sacrament is the parish priest, using olive oil consecrated by a bishop (i.e. chrism ) and administering
5369-529: The dates of the deaths of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il , respectively. More than 100,000 North Koreans celebrate displaced birthdays on July 9 and December 18 instead to avoid these dates. A person born on July 8 before 1994 may change their birthday, with official recognition. South Korea was one of the last countries to use a form of East Asian age reckoning for many official purposes. Prior to June 2023, three systems were used together—"Korean ages" that start with 1 at birth and increase every January 1st with
5460-505: The day of Pentecost . From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God's presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ
5551-446: The day of the week, month, or astrological sign corresponding to the recipient's birthday . Confirmation In Christian denominations that practice infant baptism , confirmation is seen as the sealing of the covenant created in baptism. Those being confirmed are known as confirmands . For adults, it is an affirmation of belief . The ceremony typically involves laying on of hands . Catholicism views confirmation as
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#17328551391185642-507: The difference being that one may look up a person's name day in a calendar, or easily remember common name days (for example, John or Mary ); however in pious traditions, the two were often made to concur by giving a newborn the name of a saint celebrated on its day of confirmation , more seldom one's birthday. Some are given the name of the religious feast of their christening's day or birthday, for example, Noel or Pascal (French for Christmas and "of Easter"); as another example, Togliatti
5733-568: The easy access to the Eucharist for children, in his Letter Quam Singulari lowered the age of first communion to seven. That was the origin of the widespread custom in parishes to organise the First Communion for children at 2nd grade and confirmation in middle or high school . The 1917 Code of Canon Law, while recommending that confirmation be delayed until about seven years of age, allowed it be given at an earlier age. Only on 30 June 1932
5824-457: The faith on the part of someone approaching adulthood. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1308) warns: "Although Confirmation is sometimes called the 'sacrament of Christian maturity,' we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need 'ratification' to become effective." On
5915-648: The faith which "marks the completion of the congregation's program of confirmation ministry". The German language also uses for Lutheran confirmation a different word ( Konfirmation ) from the word used for the sacramental rite of the Catholic Church ( Firmung ). Lutheran churches do not treat confirmation as a dominical sacrament of the Gospel, considering that only Baptism , Eucharist and Confession and Absolution can be regarded as such. Some popular Sundays for this to occur are Palm Sunday , Pentecost and Reformation Sunday (last Sunday in October). Article 25 of
6006-400: The first Eucharistic communion. The reason was no longer the busy calendar of the bishop, but the bishop's will to give adequate instruction to the youth. The practice lasted until Pope Leo XIII in 1897 asked to restore the primary order and to celebrate confirmation back at the age of reason, a change that lasted less than two decades. In 1910, his successor, Pope Pius X , showing concern for
6097-454: The form of the original baptism, some Protestants must be baptized upon conversion to Orthodoxy. A common practice is that those persons who have been previously baptized by triple immersion in the name of the Trinity do not need to be baptized. However, requirements will differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and some traditional Orthodox jurisdictions prefer to baptize all converts. When a person
6188-552: The judgement of the minister , a grave reason suggests otherwise (canon 891 of the Code of Canon Law). The Code prescribes the age of discretion also for the sacraments of Reconciliation and first Holy Communion. In some places the setting of a later age, e.g. mid-teens in the United States, 11 or 12 in Ireland and early teens in Britain, has been abandoned in recent decades in favor of restoring
6279-507: The legal control and legal responsibilities of their parents or guardians over and for them. Most countries set the age of majority at 18, though it varies by jurisdiction. Many cultures have one or more coming of age birthdays: The birthdays of historically significant people, such as national heroes or founders, are often commemorated by an official holiday marking the anniversary of their birth. An individual's Beddian birthday, named in tribute to firefighter Bobby Beddia, occurs during
6370-413: The longer the period, the more precious or durable the material associated with it. There are variations according to some national traditions. There exist numerous partially overlapping, partially contradictory lists of anniversary gifts (such as wedding stones), separate from the "traditional" names. The concepts of a person's birthday stone and zodiac stone, by contrast, are fixed for life according to
6461-574: The mainland. Birthday traditions reflected the culture's deep-seated focus on longevity and wordplay. From the homophony in some dialects between 酒 (" rice wine ") and 久 (meaning "long" in the sense of time passing), osmanthus and other rice wines are traditional gifts for birthdays in China . Longevity noodles are another traditional food consumed on the day, although western-style birthday cakes are increasingly common among urban Chinese. Hongbaos —red envelopes stuffed with money, now especially
6552-464: The messianic age foretold by the prophets (cf. Ezekiel 36:25–27; Joel 3:1–2). Its arrival was proclaimed by the Apostle Peter . Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles began to proclaim "the mighty works of God" (Acts 2:11; Cf. 2:17–18). After this point, the New Testament records the apostles bestowing the Holy Spirit upon others through the laying on of hands. Three texts make it certain that
6643-459: The military, to consent to sexual intercourse , to marry with parental consent , to marry without parental consent, to vote , to run for elected office, to legally purchase (or consume) alcohol and tobacco products, to purchase lottery tickets, or to obtain a driver's licence . The age of majority is the age when minors cease to legally be considered children and assume control over their persons, actions, and decisions, thereby terminating
6734-412: The number of years elapsed, expressed with Latin words or Roman numerals . Latin terms for anniversaries are mostly straightforward, particularly those relating to the first thirty years (1–30), or multiples of ten years (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 etc.), or multiples of centuries or millenniums (100, 200, 300, 1000, 2000, 3000, etc.). In these instances, the name of the anniversary is generally derived from
6825-399: The old sinner dies and the new child of Christ emerges. Confirmation is understood as being the baptism by fire wherein the Holy Spirit enters into the individual, purges them of the effects of the sin from their previous life (the guilt and culpability of which were already washed away), and introduces them into the church as a new person in Christ. Through confirmation, the individual receives
6916-580: The person he had just confirmed was interpreted in the Roman Pontifical as a slap, a reminder to be brave in spreading and defending the faith: " Deinde leviter eum in maxilla caedit, dicens: Pax tecum " ( ' Then he strikes him lightly on the cheek, saying: Peace be with you ' ). When, in application of the Second Vatican Council 's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the confirmation rite
7007-415: The priests and deacons and, where they existed, by deaconesses for women's baptism. The post-baptismal chrismation in particular was reserved to the bishop. When adults no longer formed the majority of those being baptized, this chrismation was delayed until the bishop could confer it. Until the 12th century, priests often continued to confer confirmation before giving Communion to very young children. After
7098-457: The reception of a Christian name, anointing of body parts with chrism, and the clothing of the confirmant in a white garment or chiton are conducted separately as part of a ceremony called the Initiatory . Lutheran confirmation is a public profession of faith prepared for by long and careful instruction. In English, it is called "affirmation of baptism", and is a mature and public profession of
7189-434: The recipient permanently , making it impossible to receive the sacrament twice. It accepts as valid a confirmation conferred within churches, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church , whose Holy Orders it sees as valid through the apostolic succession of their bishops. But it considers it necessary to administer the sacrament of confirmation, in its view for the only time, to Protestants who are admitted to full communion with
7280-412: The rite of confirmation, 17, which indicates that the episcopal conference may decide "to introduce a different manner for the minister to give the sign of peace after the anointing, either to each individual or to all the newly confirmed together". In some regions it is customary for the person being confirmed to choose the name of a saint, which they adopt as their confirmation name. The saint whose name
7371-558: The sacrament immediately after baptism. This corresponds exactly to the practice of the early Church, when at first those receiving baptism were mainly adults, and of the non-Latin Catholic Eastern Churches. The practice of the Eastern Churches gives greater emphasis to the unity of Christian initiation. That of the Latin Church more clearly expresses the communion of the new Christian with the bishop as guarantor and servant of
7462-775: The sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace ". The Catholic and Methodist denominations teach that in confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens a baptized individual for their faith journey. Confirmation is not practised in Baptist , Anabaptist and other groups that teach believer's baptism . Thus, the sacrament or rite of confirmation is administered to those being received from those aforementioned groups, in addition to those converts from non-Christian religions. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) does not practise infant baptism, but individuals can be baptized after they reach 8 years old (the age of accountability ). Confirmation in
7553-524: The text, connection between the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gesture of laying on of hands appears even more clearly. Acts 8:18–19 introduces the request of Simon the Magician in the following way: "When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands". In Acts 19, baptism of the disciples is mentioned in quite general terms, without the minister being identified. Referring to 1 Corinthians 1:17, it can be presumed that Paul left
7644-426: The traditional order of the three sacraments of Christian initiation. Even where a later age has been set, a bishop may not refuse to confer the sacrament on younger children who request it, provided they are baptized, have the use of reason, are suitably instructed and are properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises. The Catholic Church Anglo-Catholics teach that, like baptism, confirmation marks
7735-539: The unity, catholicity and apostolicity of his Church, and hence the connection with the apostolic origins of Christ's Church. The main reason why the West separated the sacrament of confirmation from that of baptism was to re-establish direct contact between the person being initiated with the bishops. In the Early Church, the bishop administered all three sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and Eucharist), assisted by
7826-505: The wish will be granted. In many cultures, the wish must be kept secret or it will not "come true". Presents are bestowed on the individual by the guests appropriate to their age. Other birthday activities may include entertainment (sometimes by a hired professional, i.e. a clown, magician, or musician), and a special toast or speech by the birthday celebrant. The last stanza of Patty Hill 's and Mildred Hill 's famous song, "Good Morning to You" (unofficially titled " Happy Birthday to You ")
7917-444: The year that their age matches the last two digits of the year they were born. In many cultures and jurisdictions, if a person's real birthday is not known (for example, if they are an orphan), then their birthday may be adopted or assigned to a specific day of the year, such as January 1. The birthday of Jesus is celebrated at Christmas . Racehorses are reckoned to become one year old in the year following their birth on January 1 in
8008-522: Was given Palmiro as his first name because he was born on Palm Sunday . Some notables, particularly monarchs, have an official birthday on a fixed day of the year, which may not necessarily match the day of their birth, but on which celebrations are held. Examples are: Birthdays are fairly evenly distributed through the year, with some seasonal effects. In the United States, there tend to be more births in September and October. This may be because there
8099-496: Was not celebrated by early Christians, is negatively expounded in the Holy Scriptures and has customs linked to superstition and magic . The birthday does not reflect Islamic tradition, and because of this, the majority of Muslims refrain from celebrating it. Others do not object, as long as it is not accompanied by behavior contrary to Islamic tradition. A good portion of Muslims (and Arab Christians ) who have emigrated to
8190-571: Was official permission given to change the traditional order of the three sacraments of Christian initiation: the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments then allowed, where necessary, that confirmation be administered after first Holy Communion . This novelty, originally seen as exceptional, became more and more the accepted practice. Thus, in the mid-20th century, confirmation began to be seen as an occasion for professing personal commitment to
8281-506: Was revised in 1971, mention of this gesture was omitted. However, the French and Italian translations, indicating that the bishop should accompany the words "Peace be with you" with "a friendly gesture" (French text) or "the sign of peace" (Italian text), explicitly allow a gesture such as the touch on the cheek, to which they restore its original meaning. This is in accord with the Introduction to
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