James Thinks
writing is a kind of thinking
It occurred to me about a year ago that the English-speaking world is counting birthdays wrongly.
On the day that a person turns one year old, most of us are in the habit of saying that it's their first birthday.
This is wrong.
Surely their first birthday was when they were born and were only a few seconds old. If that isn't a birthday, I don't know what is. When my daughter turned one year old I didn't make a fuss if anyone calls it her first birthday, but I admit that when she was born I was pedantic enough to wish her happy birthday.
On the other hand, perhaps it's not our counting that is wrong but the word birthday. The French use Anniversaire, which, like a wedding anniversary, doesn't include the initial event.
Similar posts
No similar posts found, try the Miscellaneous category.
James Bradbury
I write about whatever is on my mind. I do so mostly to help me think more clearly. If other people find it interesting that's good too. :-)