On Not Combining Birthdays

An apology…

Ricardo: Sorry I couldn’t make it back in time to celebrate. My birthday! The trip was unavoidable, couldn't reschedule.

Antonio: Of course. Life has its own plans sometimes. Don't worry about it. But I was thinking, since Maria is turning eighty next week, we could celebrate your birthday together with hers. What do you think?

Ricardo: Great idea. It would be nice to have a joint celebration with Maria. But I'm not sure if she would appreciate it. Turning eighty is a milestone.

Antonio: Yeah. Maria's eightieth birthday is a special occasion. Wouldn't want to take the spotlight off her. And worse, custom dictates that if we celebrate your birthday with Maria's, you would also become eighty years old. Some silly superstition.  Leaping from 65 to 80 would hardly be the best birthday present one could wish for, would it. 

Ricardo: Ha, ha. Nope, aging as rapidly as that I’ll pass on. 

Antonio: Maybe after the heat of summer in October. Nights are cooler then.

_________

Voice-over

Not clear where the superstition comes from, but when two people celebrate their birthdays on the same day, it is said they both become one year older than their actual age. A playful belief. Superstitions often lack a logical or scientific basis and are based  more on cultural traditions and beliefs. They can also be influenced by personal anecdotes or stories passed down within families or communities. Over time, such beliefs become ingrained in the collective consciousness.