Birthday (Baelethian Holiday)

In Baeleth, a peculiar holiday known only as Birthday is observed on the eve of the spring equinox. Although not formally recognized as a holiday by the ruling classes, it is widely celebrated among commoners. The day functions as a communal birthday, replacing the factual birthday of an individual as the marker for a year of life having passed.
Generally, the day is celebrated by the cooking and eating of a communal dinner and the distribution of small gifts, sweets or good-luck charms to the children. Adults are commonly not given gifts during the feasts, though in close relationships like spouses and siblings gifts may be exchanged in private in the evening, and instead celebrate through eating, drinking and dancing. 

History

The tradition originated in the farmer communities during the rule of Regent Anerrie II, who mandated that all farmers, hunters, fishers and anyone else involved in the production of food must register the birth of any children in the past year during tax season. At this time, the use of calendars was not widely spread and literacy was rare among the commoners, particularly in rural areas. Due to it being culturally associated with hope, growth and new life, the spring equinox quickly became a common option as a date to register in place of the actual, unknown one. 
As the custom of celebrating birthdays by the throwing of parties and the giving of gifts spread from the nobility into the populace at large, these rural communities began to celebrate all their children collectively on the spring equinox. In the spirit of fairness, even those few children in these communities whose actual date of birth was known were celebrated together with their peers. 

Social Significance

Although literacy and calendar awareness has increased in Baeleth to the point where most people would be able to note the birthdays of their children, the tradition of has not only remained strong but has become an important social marker. Celebrating one's own and one's children's birthday communally at one's local Birthday feast has become a way to signal one's identity as part of the commoner classes, whether you're a farmer, a tanner, a seamstress or simply scraping by in whatever way you can. It is a way to show that you value community, fellowship and equality, and that you consider yourself part of a whole rather than a whole onto yourself.
Meanwhile, the nobility, distinguished members of the clergy and military, the wealthier members of the merchant class and others who are part of, or have close ties with, the aristocracy commonly wish to distance themselves from this practice, which is considered gauche and common. This is true to such an extent that when a child in such a family is born on the spring equinox, their birth is often registered as having taken place the day before so as to not coincide with the communal Birthday. For those individuals who have ties to both social strata, such as artisans with high-end clients or clergymen in an upward career trajectory, the choice between celebrating the Birthday and celebrating one's personal birthday has become a way to signal group loyalty and belonging.