Landmark birthdays – and what they mean

Birthdays are a must for celebrating. Don't let any of these marvellous milestones pass you by without having some fun

Birthdays have different significance for different people and cultures. Whether you choose to have a party or just a quiet celebration, here's how to make them memorable for all the right reasons!

First birthday

First birthday parties point to the future. Inscribe a copy of a favourite childhood book of yours, for him or her to enjoy in years to come.

Chinese babies play chua chou ('grabbing game') on their first birthday. Objects like books, jewellery and cutlery are put out. What they grab indicates their destiny -- so a pen grabber might become a writer.

16th birthday

For American females, sixteen is where it all really starts. Stateside, no girl would miss out on her Sweet Sixteen party, at once a wondrous celebration of youthful teenage-dom and a marking of the passage into womanhood.

To mark the Sweet Sixteen tradition, bring something suitably feminine and grown-up as a gift, and be prepared to get on down at the party. Or you could give her something sweet, to remind her that it's not just little girls who are made of 'sugar and spice and all things nice'.

18th birthday

Turning 18 officially marks the end of childhood. Now you're an adult, you can make your own decisions, you can vote - and you drink down the pub! Traditional gifts, such as keys and tankards, symbolise this new stage of life.

The passage into adulthood is important in many cultures, although it's celebrated on different birthdays. In Latin America, Quinceanera marks a girl's coming of age on her 15th birthday and is usually celebrated with presents and a family gathering.

21st birthday

Twenty-one was once the age of majority, and although this changed to 18 way back in 1969, the 21st is still the 'important' birthday for many people, as Prince William's much-publicised bash at Windsor Castle demonstrated. As a gift, buy the birthday boy or girl a copy of the newspaper for the day they were born.

To celebrate your induction into full adulthood, you could hold a smart dinner party. Use our setting suggestions for stylish tables to create a dinner table that's as smart and sophisticated as young adults should be!

In Japan, the Coming of Age festival, Seijin no hi, is celebrated in January. It's a public holiday and all the people who have or will turn 20 that year, take part in ceremonies to mark their passage into adulthood.

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