ABOUT a month ago, I celebrated my 21st birthday with all the usual traditions, parties and congratulations. All the fuss and trouble led me to wonder why, exactly, turning 21 is such a big deal?
I mean, it's just another birthday isn't it? It's not the big 3-0 or the big 5-0 or even the big 1-0, when you finally reach double numbers. It seems such an arbitrary number to celebrate.
And, what's with the tradition of key-shaped cards and cakes? The keys to what?
According to Western tradition it's to do with taking on adult responsibility - gaining a set of keys to the family home or business. But for the 'latch key' kids of today, those who've been letting themselves in from the ages of 10 or sometimes even younger, having a set of house keys is no big deal.
If you're American or living in the US, the age of 21 means you're finally able to legally get plastered - but if you live in the rest of the world you've been doing this for a couple of years already as the most popular legal drinking age is 18.
Places like Germany and Denmark actually allow kids of 16 to drink non-distilled alcoholic beverages (beer) from the age of 16. Sixteen is also the age of sexual consent in most countries including Singapore.
Turning 21 is also linked to gaining legal rights and responsibilities like voting in Singapore - although it's generally the age of 18 in many other countries.
But how many young Singaporeans really care about being able to vote? A straw poll among friends found that many didn't really care that much at all.
The age of 21 as a milestone becomes even more redundant in Singapore when most young men have already completed their National Service - an experience much more likely to instill maturity and adulthood than a simple birthday.
It seems that the choice of 21 as the age of responsibility and as a universal milestone is completely arbitrary and not relevant in this day and age, particularly here in Singpore.
So why waste money celebrating just another birthday? Coleen Rooney, Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney's wife, reportedly spent 500,000 pounds to celebrate her 21st birthday two years ago and I have friends who are spending, not as lavishly, but still substantially large amounts on their 21st birthday parties.
During this current financial crisis wouldn't that money be better spent elsewhere?
Do you think 21st birthdays are still important for young Singaporeans to celebrate? Leave your comments below.