Birthday Traditions In Afghanistan: A Cultural Perspective

Birthdays are not widely celebrated in Afghanistan, and many Afghans do not know their exact birthday. This is due to a combination of factors, including a lack of birth registration during periods of war and institutional upheaval, the use of different calendars, and cultural norms that do not place a high value on birthday celebrations.

During the protracted wars in the 1980s and 1990s, the Afghan government did not have a system in place to register births. Identification cards and driver's licenses were not standard, so families saw no need to record exact birth dates. As a result, many Afghans only have a vague sense of their birthday, knowing perhaps the year or the season in which they were born.

Since the American invasion in 2001, the need for specific birth dates on job applications, visa applications, and social media accounts has led many Afghans to adopt January 1st as a de facto birthday. This date is easy to remember and has become a kind of collective birthday for thousands of Afghans, particularly young people, who send each other messages to celebrate.

Many Afghans don't know their exact birthday

During the wars in the 1980s and 1990s, the Afghan government did not have a system in place to register births. Identification cards and driver's licenses were not standard, so families saw no need to record exact birth dates. Government paperwork only asked for an approximate birthday on the Islamic calendar. As a result, many Afghans only have a vague sense of their birthday, knowing perhaps the season or month but not the exact date.

The lack of official birth registration has serious implications. Birth registration is essential for safeguarding human rights, reuniting families after conflicts, and helping children apply for refugee status. It also makes it difficult to conduct an accurate census.

Additionally, cultural norms in Afghanistan may play a role in the lack of birthday celebrations. In some Muslim countries, including Afghanistan, birthday celebrations are not common or are considered heresy. Afghans tend to have only one big celebration in their lifetime, the "cradle celebration," which marks a baby's new bed. After that, there are typically no parties until the wedding.

With the US invasion in 2001, however, things began to change. Afghans now needed to provide specific birth dates for job applications, visa applications, and online registrations. As a result, many Afghans who didn't know their exact birth date chose January 1st as their birthday, making it a kind of unofficial holiday. This date is easy to remember and is also used by refugees from other war-torn countries, including Vietnam, Somalia, and Sudan.

Afghans who don't know their birthday often select 1 January as their birthday

However, when the US and its NATO allies arrived, they brought with them job opportunities, visa applications, and websites that all required a specific birthday on the Roman calendar. As a result, many Afghans who didn't know their exact birth date chose 1 January as their birthday. This date was easy to remember and became a kind of unofficial holiday, with young Afghans in particular coalescing around it to celebrate a mass birthday that also acknowledged their country's troubles.

In addition to practicality, some Afghans choose 1 January to avoid the hassle of converting their birthday from the Solar Hijri, an Islamic calendar used only in Afghanistan and Iran, to the Roman calendar. Even the official identity card, or Tazkira, held by most Afghans offers little official clarity, with a person's age "determined based on physical appearance".

While Afghanistan isn't the only war-torn nation whose citizens have chosen 1 January as a makeshift birthday, the date has become a common choice and an inside joke among Afghans, especially those living outside of the country.

Afghans don't tend to carry formal ID

The lack of formal identification has had significant implications for Afghans, particularly when it comes to applying for jobs, visas, and refugee status. Many Afghans have resorted to choosing January 1st as their birthday, as it is an easy date to remember and is often required for various registrations. This date has become a kind of collective birthday for thousands of Afghans, serving as an acknowledgment of their country's troubled past.

The issue of identification is further complicated by the fact that Afghanistan has used different calendars throughout its history, including the Islamic solar calendar and the Islamic lunar calendar. This can make it difficult to determine a person's exact age, especially when important events may have occurred during the transition between calendars.

Furthermore, Afghanistan's current population estimates are based on census surveys conducted four decades ago, and the country has struggled to conduct accurate censuses due to insecurity, a lack of resources, and political instability. As a result, it is estimated that one-third of Afghanistan's population lacks any form of identification documents.

Despite these challenges, there are efforts to improve the situation. For example, many Afghans now carry a handwritten ID card called a Tazkara, which serves as a vital identity and legal document. However, the process of obtaining these IDs can be challenging, and many Afghans still lack access to formal identification.

Afghans don't celebrate birthdays, but they do have cradle celebrations

Afghanistan has been ravaged by war and conflict for decades, and this has had a profound impact on the country's ability to keep official records. As a result, many Afghans do not know their exact date of birth and, therefore, do not celebrate birthdays in the same way that people in other countries do. However, this does not mean that Afghans do not have any celebrations or traditions surrounding birth and childhood. One such tradition is the "cradle celebration," where Afghans invite friends and family, mostly women, to celebrate a baby's new bed. This is often the only real party that a person will have in their life, aside from their wedding.

The lack of official birth records in Afghanistan can be attributed to several factors. During the protracted wars in the 1980s and 1990s, the government did not have a system in place to register births. Identification cards and driver's licenses were not standard, so families saw no need to record the exact dates. Additionally, government paperwork only asked for an approximate birthday on the Islamic calendar.

The situation changed somewhat after the American invasion in 2001. The U.S. and its NATO allies brought with them job opportunities, visa applications, and websites that all required a specific birthday on the Roman calendar. As a result, many Afghans chose January 1 as their birthday, as it was easy to remember and fell in line with the Roman calendar. This date has become a kind of unofficial holiday in Afghanistan, with young Afghans sending each other messages to celebrate.

While Afghans may not celebrate birthdays in the traditional sense, they do have other important celebrations and festivals throughout the year. These include religious holidays such as Ramadan, Eid e Fitr, Eid e Qurban, and Mawleed al Nabi, as well as national holidays like Independence Day and Labor Day. These occasions are marked by visiting friends and family, preparing lavish meals, attending special prayers, and in some cases, participating in traditional sports or cultural events.

Birthdays are considered a heresy in some Muslim countries

In Islam, birthdays are not considered a festival ('eid) like Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-ul-Adha. They are viewed as a matter of culture, and while some Muslims choose to commemorate their birthday, it is not considered an important occasion. According to some scholars, the celebration of birthdays is seen as bid'ah (innovation in religion), which has no basis in the Quran or Sunnah. It is also believed to be an imitation of Jewish and Christian traditions.

However, there is no consensus among scholars, and some argue that it is permissible to celebrate birthdays as long as it does not include anything that may displease Allah. The Prophet Muhammad is said to have fasted on the day of his birth as an act of rejoicing and gratitude, which some scholars interpret as evidence of the permissibility of celebrating birthdays.

In Afghanistan, the lack of official birth records has led to thousands of Afghans selecting January 1st as their birthday when applying for visas, jobs, or registering online. This date has become an unofficial holiday, particularly for younger Afghans, who see it as an acknowledgment of their country's troubles.

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