Happy Birthday EU

EU leaders struggle to write a common birthday message – or the Berlin Declaration marking the half-century since the signing of the founding Treaty of Rome on March 25, 1957.

50 Years together

German Chancellor wants a short final statement to the citizens of Europe free of the usual jargon that characterizes many EU statements.  Finding common highlights and future ambitions has proven to be more difficult than perhaps first expected.  The Euro and Schengen era of visa-free travel pertains to less than half the EU states.  Basic values or benefits of further enlargements couldn’t be agreed upon.  European Parliament president Hans-Gert Poettering suggested that the Union's common origins should be acknowledged, wanting "to find some form of words ... some way of describing our roots, Greek philosophy, Roman law, Judeo-Christian heritage".  Poettering's suggestion wasn't well received.

But as at other birthdays, there will be lots of music and talk, including an EU Youth summit,  European music concerts across the continent , and an informal EU summit in Berlin on 24 and 25 March.

History of Birthdays and Namedays
It is believed that celebration of birthdays in Europe began with the Mithras cult from Persia that was spread by soldiers throughout the Roman Empire.  With the later spreading of Christianity, birthday celebrations became rare and replaced with namedays.  The advent of the reformation in the 16th century meant that customs related to saint’s days or namedays were transferred to the celebration of birthdays.  Even today birthday celebrations are not universal.  In Catholic Poland or Greek Orthodox Greece nameday celebrations are more widespread than birthday celebrations. 

Judicial Implications
Birthdays also signify that one becomes a legal adult gaining different rights and responsibilities such as voting, alcohol, purchasing of tobacco, eligibility for military draft, driving and so on.

Famous birthdays
The most famous birthday party is Jesus of Nazareth’s official birthday celebrated Christmas Day around the world.  Besides this global birthday celebration, we also celebrate Mozart, Carl Linné, Lord Baden-Powell and many other national and international heroes.

Happy Birthday Europe!