Guide to.. green birthdays!

Yesterday was my birthday.. I turned the curve and now in a new decade (In lockdown, not ideal,, but hey, it could have been worse so I am not going to complain!) 
In honour of this, I  decided to have a lighter post (also a good distraction from the current situation) and  dedicate this post to all of you readers going to something similar and to birthday celebrations in general. 

How did birthdays begin being a thing, and why are we so fixated with it? 
Apparently (but I am not a historian, so please correct me if i am wrong) this is a pagan tradition. The ancient Greeks believed that each person had a spirit that attended his or her birth, and kept watch. That spirit “had a mystic relation with the God on whose birthday the individual was born,”' 

Surely, celebrating another successful year on this planet is a good thing (successful is relative measure, but I am a strong believer than even in hard times one can be 'successful' because there is always something to learn). And well, there are significant birthdays that mark for example adulthood from a legal perspective, or legal drinking age etc.. 

But how can we make this day really  meaningful? 

1) take it as a mindful day to really look back at the year gone by. Try a birthday meditation, and of course do some birthday yoga .  

2) do something that makes you feel really good. Take time for a warm bath, sing your favourite song out loud, 

3) make up a new tradition, or take one from when you were a kid. Even something silly as eating something special, or some ritual can give some meaning to the day


And now, to the green part
It won't apply much to others celebrating in covid-19 times, but hopefully we will be out of it sometimes in the near future and, well...  we will be able to party again! (and if we are still in covid-times you can maybe have a party at the window with some of the neighbours if you are lucky enough to know them, or have a video conference one with all of your friends, for someone who usually dislikes technology, I have to say that for once,  I am glad it existed.. ). 

First and foremost: party responsibly
this said, if you are throwing a party try to not use disposables and try to be mindful of what you are serving.
For example, avoid big brands (like Coca cola) and prefer instead homemade drinks and local brews. Go for glass bottles, and just make big pitches for your homemade stuff - you will save a large amount of plastic!  
For food (because you will need some),  why not make some snacks yourself in advance? or go to the local bakery and deli? The local economy will thank you and you will avoid extra packaging.Plus, chances are it will be much healthier... Maybe you can even keep it vegan, you may be surprised, but none will notice ;) 
if you can,  make it a 'no material presents' or 'less is more' - ask people to give you something meaningful rather than something expensive, it can be a framed photo or a letter or something to do together...  You can also fundraise for a charity... Options for green parties are endless

And if you are throwing a birthday for kids? 
10 great tips for a kid party here
 




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