Column | Another year, another cake
A reflective column on the evolution of birthday traditions and the author's changing relationship with the celebration over time. The piece touches on cultural shifts in how birthdays are marked, from childhood nostalgia to modern social media fatigue.
Why it matters
It captures the intersection of personal identity, cultural tradition, and the impact of digital connectivity on social rituals.
As a child, I loved my birthday. It was one of the few times in the year my family indulged in a cake from Flurys, then the ritziest patisserie in Kolkata. I always chose the same one though: a zoo-themed cake with little marzipan animals. My friends came over and we played Pin the Tail on the Donkey with gusto. Some years, we had a piñata, which I whacked with even more gusto. Before mobile phones, only special occasions were deemed worthy of photographs: vacations, graduations, birthdays. The timeline of my childhood can be measured through pictures of birthday parties.
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