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The title of this book is significant to the book because The Giver is giving memories to Jonas. He is giving him new experiences, and teaching him new things with memories. The Giver shares this opportunity with Jonas to show him important experiences he must learn.

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Jonas has never experienced many things in memories The Giver shows to him. In the first memory, Jonas experiences for the first time, snow, a hill, runners, and a sled. In the second memory Jonas experiences sunshine. Lastly, in the third memory he experiences sunburn.

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Jonas is surprised when The Giver turns off the speaker and locks the door because he does not have the opportunity to do that normally. He never locks the door and doesn't have on and off buttons to turn off in his house. I can infer that many citizens do not have privacy as they cannot lock their doors and cannot turn things on and off. This is also a very secure area, since the doors are not locked. People also must be careful about what they are doing in their homes, because someone could come in at any moment.

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"I thought there was only now" Chapter 10

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"I thought there was only now" Chapter 10

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This means that Jonas and the community have not learned about the past. They only know what has happened now and as long as they have been alive. Everything else is not mentioned or thought about. This is not a good way to live because people are being robbed of memories from long ago. No one in the community (except Jonas and the receiver) will ever be able to experience anything from the past, or even be told about it.

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The process of receiving memories includes the person who will receive the memory laying on the bed face down and closing their eyes. They relax as the person showing the memory touches their back and turns the speaker on. Slowly, the world around them will change, and they will be in the memory. The first memory Jonas receives is of snow and sledding down a hill.

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The Receiver's house is different than other houses because his door is locked, yet no other door in the community is locked. In addition, it is a very spacious room, with furniture that is unusual to the community. Everything inside the room is more luxurious than a normal home. Another difference is that there are hundreds of books lined across the walls, not just the usual 3 books that every other dwelling has. Lastly, there is a speaker that has an on and off button that no other house has. The reason for these differences are that the Receiver needs privacy, and holds a very special honor. He needs the books and the speaker to recieve memories, and do his job.

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The utopia that Jonas lives in forbids many things to try and create a "perfect" world. One thing that is forbidden is being late, if someone is late they must apologize. Another action that is forbidden is stealing, if you steal you must return what you stole and write an apology. In addition it is forbidden to have stirrings, and if you do, you must take a pill to get rid of them. It is also forbidden to disobey any of the rules and if someone does disobey them they may get a transgression.

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The symbolism of the apple in "The Giver" is that the society is supposed to be "perfect" however they throw out the core like they release people. They act as if their whole society is perfect and the best place to live, however it is not. For example, the birth mothers are treated well for the first three years, and then have to spend the rest of their lives being laborers. This is unfair and cruel. What seems to be a shiny, delicious apple, may show to be a rotten, and disgusting one.

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Comparing for Ch. 2: Birthdays and Ceremonies 

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Comparing for Ch. 2: Birthdays and Ceremonies 

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I noticed that the similarities between ceremonies and birthdays are that they are both celebrated at the same time and place, they are basically the same celebration. Birthdays in our world are ceremonies in their world. They are also organized by intervals (years) and you get something at the end in some way. For example, every year on our birthday we usually get a present, and the nines get a bike in "The Giver". Everywhere around the world there are different types of celebrations.

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Like any kid growing up, birthdays were a big deal to me. As an adult, I remember the exact moment when I realized that for some reason birthdays weren't as important as they used to be. Suddenly, the entire world didn't revolve around me for a day. Bummer. I also remember that when I was growing up in Russia, my birthdays were always celebrated the same way when I started school. I would walk up to the teacher the morning of my birthday, I would tell her what was up and then wait until her announcement. I would fidget in my seat, anticipating the moment where she would stop class and tell everyone that it was my birthday. That glorious moment was a highlight for me because everyone would instantly perk up.

The reason that this happened was not because I was universally well-liked or even loved by my fellow classmates - although, I won't stop you from thinking that. Everyone got excited because traditionally, Russian students had to bring everyone candy on their birthday. It seems counterintuitive that on your birthday you would bring gifts to other people, but that's what Russian people do. And honestly, looking back onto the country's political history, are you really surprised that on a day that is supposed to be good for one person, everyone is meant to feel special? I wonder if that tradition started because of communism? I have to make a phone call to my mother. Anyway, it's traditions like that that make me miss growing up in Russia. Below is a picture of me on my birthday, before people got candy.

I sat in the back because I was tall. The guy next to me had seven missing fingernails. His name was Sasha. (Hopefully he has those fingernails back by now.)

Thinking about my birthday growing up made me also think about other countries and their own birthday traditions. Here are some of the cool birthday traditions from around the world:

1. Norway

Above is the Norwegian birthday song. Totally different from ours. It even has a dance. Norwegians also traditionally eat chocolate cake on their birthdays. Sounds like a delicious tradition to me. They also pick a person in class to do a little dance with them. Having no friends in middle school would have come in handy!

2. Russia

Besides the gifts in school, one of my favorite birthday traditions is the clothesline birthday party tradition. Basically, adults hang up clotheslines with small gifts hanging off of them and kids pull one down as a party favor. I know I'm going to be doing this for my kids. (I also included the saddest birthday song in the world.)

3. Germany

On German kids' birthdays, they get candles, a cake, and presents. They also don't have to do any homework or chores. Pretty sweet, right? Well, for adults it's a little different. Turns out that if you are a man over 30 who is still single, you will be made to sweep the city hall stairs while your friends throw garbage at you. That way everyone will know you don't have a girlfriend. Wow.

4. Ecuador

Children in Ecuador celebrate their birthdays on the day that the Saint they were named after was born. On their actual birthdays they just get a card. That's kind of a bummer on one hand, but pretty cool on another. Two birthdays doesn't sound too shabby to me.

5. Vietnam

Vietnamese children, and Vietnamese adults, all celebrate their birthdays on one day of the year -irregardless of the actual day they were born. That day is called Tet, and it's known as the beginning of the New Year. Kids get money from their parents on that day, so #swag.

6. India

In India kids get to wear new clothes on their birthdays! They get up and put on a new outfit and later get a special meal. The kids also show their parents signs of respect by touching their feet. I totally agree with the concept of acknowledging your parents letting them know that they are appreciated.

7. Holland

Turns out that there are certain birthdays that are better than others in Holland. Just like we put more emphasis on ages 16, 18, and 21, people in Holland call special years the Crown Years. Crown years happen at age five, ten, 15, 20, and 21. On these days, kids receive big gifts and are treated with lemonade and hot chocolate. Is it too late to cash in on my Crown Years?

8. Australia

Apparently, Australian people get Fairy Bread on their birthdays. Spoiler alert: It's buttered bread with sprinkles.

9. Jamaica

People in Jamaica have wonderful senses of humor. That is the only way I can explain their tradition of throwing flour at the birthday boy or girl. A light dusting of flour never hurt anyone! Unless you are going for a job interview on the same day. Then you should not do that, at all. Also, it's considered bad luck to marry on the birthday of either the groom or bride.

10. Canada

Our brothers and sisters upstairs keep adding things that are different about them to our list. On Canadian birthdays, people are usually ambushed and have butter or grease smeared on their noses. You know, I heard that's really good for your skin.

11. Argentina

In Argentina, kids get their ears pulled. The amount depends how old they are. A pull for each year they were alive.
Images: Giphy (7); Pixabay

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11 Cool Birthday Traditions From Around The World

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Like any kid growing up, birthdays were a big deal to me. As an adult, I remember the exact moment when I realized that for some reason birthdays weren't as important as they used to be. Suddenly, the entire world didn't revolve around me for a day. ...