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A few months ago, a friend told me one of the funniest stories I’ve heard.

The short version is that she and her partner went to a birthday party at a house in America where she didn’t know many people. It turned out to be a much smaller gathering than expected, so she was a little quiet and reserved. When it came time to have the birthday cake, she thought, this is it. My time to be a bit louder, join in and show everyone that I’m a normal human (and someone you should keep inviting to parties).

The cake and candles were set down, and everyone sang “Happy Birthday”. Everything was normal so far. As the final “to youuuuuuuuuu” was sung, she heard her partner quietly make the famous “Hip-Hip!” – and she answered that call enthusiastically. “HOORAYYYYY!” she bellowed, waving her arms and gesticulating for emphasis (to prove she is fun). It was only then, looking at a group of people looking back at her with concerned faces, she learned they do not do the “Hip-Hip Hooray!” part of the “Happy Birthday” song in America. To everyone at this party, it looked like this quiet woman none of them knew had suddenly screamed “HOORAYYYY!” at them for no reason.

Without a doubt the best part of Happy Birthday comes at the end.

I’ve thought about this story often since she told me, and I have come to realise that not only is it an incredibly funny story but it holds an important lesson. We have never appreciated “Hip-Hip Hooray” enough. I believe “Hip-Hip Hooray”(HHH) has gone too long without getting its proper dues. HHH is, unquestionably, the best part of singing “Happy Birthday”.

Imagine a world where you sing “Happy Birthday”, which we do hundreds of times in our lives, and everyone just sort of trails off at the end with “happy birthday to youuuuuUUuuuu”? Boring, and borderline offensive. HHH is indisputably the most fun part of the song for participants. It allows us to shout “Hip-Hip” or “Hooray!” or “Hip-Hip” AND “Hooray” (unorthodox), THREE times! This is the rare permission to shout and yell as adults but in a positive way. We are literally being asked by society to shout, and usually in places we wouldn’t dare (at the office, in the face of toddlers). It’s freeing, and it’s beautiful.

Not only is HHH the most fun part of the song, but it is also necessary to the entire proceedings. Firstly, it ties everything together at the end of the song when everything has gone loosey-goosey. There’s no trailing off with individuals not knowing how long to continue singing until it devolves into unpleasant mumbling. With HHH, when the inevitable trailing off is sensed, someone in the room comes to the rescue with the first perky “Hip-Hip!”

This process itself is wonderful, too. There is no pre-assigned Hipper. It is all worked out in the moment, right there on the floor. Sometimes it’s the loudest man in the room who loves the sound of his own voice, sometimes it’s the sweetest person who is most keen to see the birthday person happy and excited. Sometimes there are multiple Hippers, where it sounds as though someone has thrown their voice, or there’s a second Hipper on a grassy knoll. There is always someone, and it doesn’t matter who they are, or why they decide to take on that role. Anyone can be a Hipper. All that matters is that when the final line of the song is sung, and the trailing begins, they are ready to shine. The Hipper shouts the two special words, to which the chorus of people around respond with an enthusiastic “Hooray!” – voices all blending again as though magic.

When the second round of “Hip-Hip!” and “Hooray!” rings out, more in sync and louder than the first, you can feel that you are building to something great. Then, after warming up with two go-rounds, everyone is ready for the big finale. The vital third and final “Hip Hip!” and the exuberant “HOORAYYYYY!!!!” comes crashing in, the room echoing with warmth and well-wishes.

Unlike how they evidently do things at American birthdays, HHH ends proceedings with a huge dramatic finish. What kind of birthday celebration is it, if the biggest celebratory moment – the cutting of the cake and the birthday song – trails off on a terrible note (literally), and just fades away? When was the last time you went to a gig or a musical where they didn’t end on a huge moment? It doesn’t happen because it’s disappointing and sad. It’s the same in this scenario.

We are lucky. For HHH people celebrating their birthday, we have the privilege of being sent off onto our next year of life on a high note. We get to have the huge hoorah, the big finish. We should appreciate it more. So, here I am, sending out a little “Hip-Hip Hooray” to “Hip-Hip Hooray” herself, for once. See you on my birthday.

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