[Audio]

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

Hey, guys...

I know about how birthdays mean cake and presents and things like that, but... why, exactly? What is it that relates a birthday to a cake?

I'm asking you because my second birthday is in less than a week, and while I'm aware that's a milestone I don't really understand how people celebrate it.

Comments

[Video, because that's how she rolls]

[still-an-otaku.livejournal.com]

*does Roxas recognize the eight years older Kazumi appearing on his PDA screen?*

Why? I suppose it's something simply chalked up to tradition. Though, it is a Western tradition. Japan didn't celebrate it at all until sometime in the early 20th century.

We'll have to make sure to do something for you.

We have been Kazumi-rolled.

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

Tradition...?

...That always means there's something more behind it than actually makes sense.

[Wait a second. She... looks familiar.]

Never gonna give you up-

[still-an-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hn... I suppose so. I never looked up the reasoning behind it myself, but it shouldn't be too hard to research.

[an-mermaid.livejournal.com]

I dunno. Maybe we just like cake.

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

I've been told it's very nice. Is it... as nice as ice cream?

[former-endboss.livejournal.com]

If you're going to celebrate something, you need to celebrate properly. A fancy meal or dish is often part of a good celebration, because most people like eating their favorite things. Cake is almost universally popular, so it's a default choice.

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... Then what about the presents?

[former-endboss.livejournal.com]

Presents are a way to show your sincerity for the celebration, the depth of your emotion expressed in physical goods. A well-off person might give away presents at their birthday as 'party favors' to show how happy they are that everyone has come.

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

So... wait, is it better to get presents on your birthday, or to give them?

[former-endboss.livejournal.com]

That depends on your culture and how you feel about your guests and friends.

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

Hmm... maybe I should try giving for my birthday...

[wishedforbread.livejournal.com]

Why question an excuse to eat cake?

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

Because...

...Er...

[wishedforbread.livejournal.com]

Exactly!

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

Ex...actly?

[wishedforbread.livejournal.com]

As far as I know there isn't really any reason for cake, but cake is delicious so who cares?

[lethecamellia.livejournal.com]

[She's not sure herself, but she's still got this odd little compulsion to answer questions at least when they come from spiky-haired teenage boys and, after all, she's armed with the knowledge gleaned from that book on holidays. ...Not that it really gave enough detail for her to figure out everything, but it was a nice start.]

It's a 'tradition'.

[Way to be useless, Naminé. This would be about the time she starts making mental notes about certain birthdays.]

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

...But why is it a tradition?

[lethecamellia.livejournal.com]

[--Pause.]

...I'm not sure.

....

Maybe it's like chocolate? It's-- something nice to eat, so they make it part of special days without any other reason.

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

It's nice so they eat it?

...I guess there could be worse reasons.

[lethecamellia.livejournal.com]

If it makes people happy, and other people want them to have 'happy birthday', then....

[Speaking of chocolate and other sweet foods,]

...I have something for you, from Valentine's Day.

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

O-oh?

[She's got something for him...?]

[lethecamellia.livejournal.com]

Mm. It's-- 'traditional' to give people that you like chocolates on Valentine's Day, s-so I... I thought I should participate, and...! [A-a-a-awkwaaaaaard.]

[mach-n-roll.livejournal.com]

"It all comes down to the fact that most people have parties to have a good time with their friends, and everybody likes cake! Well, almost everybody. In the end, you don't need the party OR the cake or the presents or anything, just as long as you get to have a good time and do what you like to do!

"Though the party helps. And the presents. And the cake too, I guess."

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

Then why don't people throw parties every day? You'd think they'd want a good time with their friends constantly.

[mach-n-roll.livejournal.com]

"Nah. People have other things they need to do. You use a party to celebrate. Remember all the parties that were thrown after those really big battles around here? It's sort of like that. Only you're celebrating the anniversary of the day you were born."

Speaking of which...

"You know, I think I should know better than to ask this... but did you REALLY say this was your second birthday?"

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

Yes.

I'll be two years old.

[mach-n-roll.livejournal.com]

"...You look more like, I dunno, fourteen or fifteen. What gives?"

[ashadyguy.livejournal.com]

Wait... your second birthday?

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

...Yeah...

I'm two years old.

[ashadyguy.livejournal.com]

That's...

...Wow. I, uh. I thought you were older than that.

[lief-of-del.livejournal.com]

[Any comment he'd make about cakes died when he heard the other part.]

...'Second birthday'?

[runawayxiiith.livejournal.com]

That's right. Second birthday.

[lief-of-del.livejournal.com]

You...look like you are older.

[Around his age or so.]