This morning I was thinking about birthday corsages.
I am not sure if this was a Brooklyn thing..
An Italian thing....
A family thing...
Or just a fad of the time...but it lasted my growing up years during the 50's and 60's
Each birthday ..and I believe it had to start during a period when we were old enough not to choke on the parts .. or get stuck with the pearl-topped straight pin fastener... We girls got a birthday corsage... It was BEAUTIFUL! Sometimes it would contain a fresh pink rose bud..surrounded by ribbons and chiffon.. Sometimes there would be a small toy tucked in the ribbons. The corsage always contained candy held tight by pipe cleaners (DID THOSE THINGS ACTUALLY CLEAN PIPES???) that matched the number of our years. Birthday number 14 held small dog biscuits...to recognize the age of "puppy love." The corsages ended when we hit 16 --that glorious corsage was heavily laden with 16 sugar cubes. It was a rite of passage and the italian moms would shed a tear when that one was fastened. I can still see my very favorite corsage in my minds eye...brightly colored and heavily sugared gum drops...a silk yellow and black striped bumble bee...a flower..and a beautiful chiffon bow. I was likely 10 or 11. I am 63 now.....alas, the time for birthday corsages long gone...but I think I may resurrect the custom for my three granddaughters.
