Traditions are slow-moving. Something is handed down from one generation to the next, and that generation does the same thing, over time imbuing something previously innocuous with culture, life, and nostalgia. However, in the rapid, all-consuming culture of the 21st century, traditions spread quicker. What would Christmas now be without the John Lewis Christmas advert? Could we imagine a football season without the frenzied clamour of Transfer Deadline Day? And sure, we may have been giving birthday cakes out since the 17th century, but when did the British workplace unilaterally decide to choose Marks & Spencer’s Colin the Caterpillar as their cake of choice?
Colin the Caterpillar is as ubiquitous in our offices as oversized Sports Direct mugs, broken printers, and meetings that could have been emails. As well as that, he’s had a slew of celebrity endorsements over the past few years. Judi Dench rang in 83 years with Colin, as indicated by this truly terrifying YouTube video; David Beckham had one for his birthday this year, and according to the Independent, the much-less-good David, David Cameron, has a love affair with them. Which feels a bit much.
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