| Birthday celebrations often call for a birthday | | | | avoid anything that might awaken sad memories. |
| speech. It’s a moment when everyone | | | | 6. Don’t try to be too funny. Comedians are |
| around expects to hear a nice and well crafted | | | | professionally skilled persons possessing excellent |
| speech. Often small mistakes ruin not only the | | | | training and timing. Most of us are unable to write |
| speech but also the mood of the celebration. | | | | and deliver witty speeches. It’s always better |
| Here are some things to keep in mind when you | | | | to be light-hearted and genuine rather than trying |
| are about to deliver your birthday speech. | | | | to be a jester and spoil the fun. |
| 1. Your birthday speech should be clear, upbeat, | | | | 7. Make sure that your birthday speech |
| optimistic and easily understandable by everyone | | | | doesn’t offend anyone. Some things might |
| around. | | | | seem obvious like friends flocking in only for a |
| 2. Don’t mention age of the celebrant in your | | | | free drink or something but you should never |
| birthday speech unless it’s a special milestone | | | | ever insult any of the guests. |
| birthday like 21st or 50th. Some people like to | | | | 8. Never talk about deceased family members or |
| celebrate every birthday but don’t like to | | | | friends unless the guest of honor does so or it is |
| disclose their real age. | | | | appropriate to say that the departed is surely |
| 3. Don’t say something that might embarrass | | | | there in spirit. Sometimes the bereavement is still |
| the celebrant or the guests. The celebrant might | | | | fresh and it is always better to avoid saying such |
| not like the guests to know that he/ she has a | | | | things than mentioning it and upsetting everyone |
| snoring or a drinking problem. So be careful not to | | | | at the party. |
| raise such issues in your speech. | | | | 9. Never call the celebrant by his/ her pet name. |
| 4. Never tell a harsh and rude story of the | | | | A husband might not like all his office colleagues to |
| celebrant. Birthdays are usually family events and | | | | know what he calls his wife by. Or a teenager |
| the senior family members might not like | | | | might be thoroughly embarrassed to be called a |
| whatever about the birthday boy or girl. | | | | mama’s boy. It’s okay of course to call |
| 5. Refrain yourself from talking about sad | | | | him Jeff instead of Jefferson. |
| moments or events. Birthdays are special | | | | 10. Avoid writing reams. The birthday guests are |
| celebrations of fun and joy and the mention of a | | | | there to party, not to listen to you half-an-hour |
| sad moment will most likely kill the merriment. | | | | long speech. It would bore the hell out of them. A |
| However there may be exceptions, but unless | | | | three to five minute speech is good enough. |
| you are totally sure it’s always better to | | | | |