When a special someone celebrates a birthday, what are the usual practices in the United States? As it is already known, birthday parties are one of the most common ways to celebrate a birthday, whether it is for a family member or a friend. Americans also enjoy baking birthday cakes on these special occasions.

Here is a little bit of information on the well-loved birthday cake that is present in almost every birthday celebration. It has been said about 200 years ago, Germany was the source of the very first sweet cakes made for birthdays.

In other European cultures, coins and small pieces of jewellery were baked into these cakes, and if a guest receives a slice with the prize in it, it means good luck. Furthermore, candle blowing was a practice that is related to the ancient beliefs of smoke as a message to the gods. So whenever the celebrator blows out the candles, he sends a message to help

his wishes come true.

Now, what about birthday cards? The very first birthday cards were said to have been sent 100 years ago in England, and they came in the form of hand painted greetings that are delivered in person. Today, sending out greeting cards, especially birthday cards, is a popular practice in America.

As a matter of fact, statistics show that each year, about 7 billion birthday cards circulate across the country. That translates to about $7.5 billion in retail sales of birthday cards alone. The Greeting Card Association even estimates that the average person may receive about 6 to 7 birthday cards per year. Of the types of everyday cards sold in America, 60% are for birthdays, while others are for Get Well Soon wishes, sympathy, and anniversaries.

Statistics show that the average price of a birthday card is less than $3 in most stores. Extra special birthday cards, like those with pop-ups, glitters, embossed designs, and even music, may be $4 or more.

Today buying birthday cards from on line web sites is a growing and expanding market. People are able to select a real greeting card on line. They can then choose to have the greeting card hand written and sent out directly to the recipient. They can also choose greetings cards on line and have them sent back to themselves. They can then write the card themselves and give it to their loved one. The on line greetings cards web sites are the fastest growing sector of the greeting card market.

It is estimated that in the next few years the on line sales of greetings cards will overtake the sales of cards in shops. People find buying greetings cards on line far more convenient and they can buy the cards more cheaply than in traditional stores.