Typical Birthday For a Boy From Glasgow

by Jonathan
(Milton, Ontario, Canada)

The one day a year I always looked forward to was my birthday as a boy in Glasgow. Growing up with 3 brothers and 2 sisters it was always hard to get one-on-one time with my Father. Besides 5 others to compete with, my father was always overseas for work.

Well, when our birthdays came around, my father always made sure that the Saturday of our birthday week was special one-on-one time. My birthday fell in soccer season, so it was always celebrated with my dad cheering on our team the Glasgow Celtic.

The day would start with a big family breaky and then off with my dad to the pub for a a few pints for him and a 1/2er for me. Wow!!!! I remember loving this, hanging out with just my dad and the real men of the neighbourhood. We would go onto the game and cheer and laugh together. After the game, back to the pub for a snack before picking up my favorite meal for the family. It was always fish and chips. Living in Canada now, I can tell you that is what I truly miss from Scotland...The fish and chips wrapped in newspaper.

We would have a nice dinner and pie for my birthday, then time for presents: One from my Mom and brothers and sisters and one from my dad. It was usually a gift from his recent business travels, and always special.

I know it seems like my dad did things separate, but with him away so much it seemed like he wanted to make it extra special.

When I was about 12, my Dad brought me home a Toronto Maple Leafs Jersey from his travels to Canada. I firmly believe that is why I moved to Toronto 8 years later. I loved that jersey and wore it everywhere. Got quite a few odd looks in soccer crazy Glasgow.

So like many Glaswegians, my birthday memories and traditions revolve around fond family memories, not sitting around eating haggis or other Scottish stereotypes.