Personalised birthday gifts

The origins of birthday celebrations: where do birthday traditions come from?

The tradition of placing candles on a birthday cake dates back to ancient times. In Ancient Greece, people would visit the temple of Artemis on their birthday to honour the goddess of the hunt and the moon. They brought a round cake to symbolise the moon, decorated with candles to represent its glow. After kneeling before the cake and saying a prayer, the candles were blown out. Over time, this ritual evolved, and today it’s widely believed that you should make a wish before blowing out your birthday candles.

During the Middle Ages in Western Europe, however, birthday celebrations were viewed with suspicion and even considered bad luck. This belief stemmed from biblical references, where the only birthdays mentioned are associated with death. As a result, people preferred to celebrate their patron saint’s day — linked to their baptismal name — or the anniversary of death, which was seen as the day of resurrection.

Birthday celebrations gradually returned, partly encouraged by the Church as a way to redirect attention away from the excessive veneration of saints’ feast days. From the 19th century onwards, celebrating one’s actual date of birth became increasingly popular — first among the bourgeoisie, then more widely — eventually giving rise to the birthday traditions we know today: cake, candles, the “Happy Birthday” song and, of course, birthday presents.

A birthday gift for little ones and grown-ups alike!

Whether it’s a first, twentieth or seventieth birthday, age doesn’t matter — a birthday is always a meaningful occasion. For children, it’s a joyful milestone often celebrated with friends and party games. As we grow older, birthdays become more reflective moments, especially when marking milestone ages. Ultimately, what matters most is spending time with loved ones — perhaps sharing a good meal, a nice bottle of wine, and receiving thoughtful birthday gifts from those who care about us.

We offer birthday gift ideas for every age and style, organised by gender and age. Looking confirming lures for mum or dad? Explore our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gift selections. For younger recipients, browse our dedicated birthday gift ideas for babies and children.

Many of our gifts suit all ages — from a personalised jigsaw puzzle using your favourite photo to a custom cushion or personalised mug. Timeless ideas that are guaranteed to please. Risk factor: zero. Smiles guaranteed.

How to choose the perfect birthday gift?

Finding the perfect birthday gift means coming up with something truly original. That’s exactly why we created this Birthday Gift page — to help you browse a carefully curated selection of standout gift ideas suited to your recipient’s age and personality.

At Amikado, we believe the key to a memorable birthday gift is choosing something that reflects the recipient’s interests, tastes and character. A well-chosen present shows thought and attention — and that’s what makes it special. If you’re looking for something surprising, meaningful and genuinely one of a kind, a personalised gift is hard to beat.

Our collection focuses on two essentials: the uniqueness of the gift itself and the originality of its personalisation. Whether it’s a robe embroidered with a name or a classic item enhanced with an original design, personalisation adds that extra wow factor.

Whatever the age — baby, child, teenager, woman or man — the result is always the same: a gift that truly stands out.

Finding the perfect birthday gift for a woman

Struggling to come up with birthday gift ideas for a woman? You’re not alone. To help you out, we’ve put together a selection of thoughtful and original birthday gifts designed to suit every style and personality.

Our top 5 birthday gift ideas for women:

1 – A personalised embroidered bathrobe. The perfect gift for anyone who enjoys a moment of relaxation, customised in the colour and style of your choice.

2 – An engraved wine glass, ideal for wine lovers who enjoy savouring a drink in a beautifully personalised glass.

3 – A personalised multi-purpose pouch, available in a range of designs to suit mums, sisters, best friends, daughters or grandmothers.

4 – A personalised candle, customised with a name, age or message — and even more magical when lit.

5 – An engraved photo keyring, one of our bestsellers and a timeless everyday keepsake.

And what about birthday gifts for men?

Finding a birthday gift for a man can feel tricky — but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re shopping for your dad, partner, brother, son or best mate, we’ve selected a range of ideas to help you find the perfect birthday gift for a man.

Our top 5 birthday gift ideas for men:

1 – An engraved Laguiole knife, a popular choice for men of all ages.

2 – A rotating cheese board, perfect for food lovers who enjoy entertaining.

3 – A personalised leather car document holder, both practical and stylish.

4 – An embroidered kitchen apron, ideal for anyone who loves cooking.

5 – An engraved beer glass, personalised with a name, age or birth year.

Birthday gift ideas on a budget

You don’t need to spend a fortune to give a thoughtful birthday gift. If DIY isn’t your thing, here are a few affordable birthday gift ideas that still feel personal and special.

From personalised mugs and soaps to engraved Ecocubes, tote bags and whisky glasses, small budgets can still deliver big smiles.