A birthday is usually a happy occasion, but at one time in history, it was believed to be most dangerous moment in a person's life      31      that

a person had to be very careful,      32      during this time of change, the bad spirits      33       the most damage.

     34      the bad spirits, a man would surround timself with his friends and family on his birthday, making a party for himself to scare off the bad spirits      35      close enough to harm him.      36      because they were thought to help the work of the good spirits and bring good fortune in life       37     .

from age-old superstitions. One custom called for common objects such as coins, rings and thimbles  

     39      the cake. When the cake was cut, each person who found one of these objects in his or her piece of cake would learn what the future held. Finding a coin meant wealth,

a button      40     , a ring signified marriage, and a thimble foretold a single life.