Birthday Gifting

Traditions and Modern Gift Ideas

Birthday cakes, cards, school, home, and office parties are staples in Great Britain, and traditions are traceable to the Victoria era, which is characteristic of a time of refinement and changes to the art of
celebration.

Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert brought birthdays, Christmas events, and the pleasure of baking. Ornate sponge cakes adorned with hand-piped icing and lavish decorations took centre stage at birthday tables, marking the beginning of a sweet tradition that continues to enchant today.

Online and brick-and-mortar retailers help Brits honour this timeless heritage by crafting joy into every celebration—because some traditions are simply too delicious to let go.

Birthday Modern Traditions

British schoolchildren and adults are fond of birthdays. Most people celebrate once a year unless they
are of royal birth like King Charles III, who has two birthdays—an official one in June and a private family event in November. However, some Brits may choose to have a half-birthday if their birth date is close to Christmas or wintertime.

Several important birthday milestones are recognizable, such as a person’s 1st birthday, 18th birthday, 21st birthday, and any birthday with a “0” in it. Birthday parties usually have special themes. Invitees coordinate their clothing if it is a dress-up party for kids. The decorations, cake, and games also focus around the central theme. Adults might consider a pub crawl, fancy dinner, or take an extended vacation.

Birthday Cakes

Cakes are the centerpiece of any birthday party. Cards and presents are widely acceptable throughout
the UK. Children may have parties at school with their mates, at home, or at a rented hall, but party
hosts send home a piece of cake with the kids wrapped in paper or serviette. This practice helps the
party last longer.

Adults might bring a cake or another confection to the office near the time of their birthday to share with the office. A typical birthday cake is a sponge cake with jam in the middle covered in fondant. Chocolate cake, lemon drizzle, and cheesecake are enjoyable but really any cake is enjoyed if it’s served with love.

Cards and presents are widely acceptable throughout Great Britain. Grandparents and grandchildren often exchange cards in person or through the Royal Mail. The UK is known for its love affair with greeting cards for various occasions. In fact, the British public buys more greeting cards per capita than any other nation worldwide. According to the annual GCA Market Report, the British purchased 800 million cards in 2024, a 4 percent increase from the previous year

Birthday Modern Gift Ideas for 2025

Gift-giving remains at the heart of a British birthday celebration. No birthday party discussion is
complete without looking into gift ideas. Let’s explore healthy options which include less sugar and
incredible flavour. Many Brits appreciate thoughtful gifts that strike the perfect balance between
indulgence and affordability.

Walnut Tree Gifts

Walnut Tree Gits of London is an online retailer of luxury edible dried fruit and nuts. Founded in 1997 by
Nick and Bev Crowne. These owners travel the world to find the finest produce for their unique, custom made packaging. Their brand can be found in stately homes, luxury stores, garden centres, palaces, delicatessens, and hamper companies. They also sell products online at www.walnut.gifts and have a very easily accessible shop on-line at Amazon.uk.

Walnut Tree’s award-winning pâte de fruits (fruit jellies) make fabulous cake toppers, and their award

winning oranges in dark chocolate are sweet with a hint of bitterness. Their offerings include hampers, jewel boxes, and small gift boxes which are made to order, packed with love in Great Britain, and are quick shipping.

Additionally, they provide nuts and individual dried fruits in bulk kilo bags, which are sure to be crowd pleasers for any birthday party at home, school, or work.

Edible Bouquets

Fresh edible fruit arrangements from Edible Bouquets offer a charming and tasteful way to add a touch
of elegance and sweetness to any birthday celebration. These artfully arranged displays—crafted from
ripe, juicy fruit—are visually stunning and naturally nourishing, making them a more wholesome
alternative to heavily processed confections. Bursting with vibrant colours and packed with natural
flavour, they serve as both a centerpiece and a treat.

Founded in 2006, Edible Bouquets is the UK’s longest-running edible bouquet company,. Whether one is planning an intimate gathering or a grand affair, their offerings provide a delightful twist on traditional gifting. An edible bouquet is a stylish and delicious choice for those looking to surprise a loved one with something memorable yet meaningful. Explore their full collection at ediblebouquets.co.uk.

British birthdays have their own style. These parties blend Victorian tradition with modern flairs,
featuring sponge cakes, cards, and thoughtful gifts. Today, celebrations range from themed children’s
parties to milestone events for adults, with sponge cakes, cards, and thoughtful gifts remaining central.

The UK leads the world in greeting card sales, reflecting the nation’s love for personal touches. Popular
healthy presents include Walnut Tree’s luxury dried fruits and nuts and Edible Bouquets’ elegant and
wholesome fresh fruit arrangements

About Walnut Tree- the finest edible gifts

Great Taste Awards

With Great Taste Awards for nougat, dried fruit, marron glacé, glacé fruit and pate de fruit. You’ll always be purchasing quality products from Walnut Tree.

Who we supply

Supplied under own brand or white label to prestigious stores, palaces, castles, stately homes, garden centres, delicatessens, farm shops, hamper companies, department stores and gift shops.

Why buy from us?

You’re buying directly from the source and will get excellent value for money. If you’re not happy with your purchase, we’ll refund or replace it. The website is open 24/7, orders despatched within 48 hours.

Our charitable contributions

Walnut Tree supports Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity with dried fruit for their care packages. www.futuredreams.org.uk

Local areas to our factory

British Birthday Traditions