Most of us take birthdays for granted, whether it's a kid's party or a big 50th, they are part of everyday life, but where does the idea of a birthday come from, and why do cultures around the world celebrate them? Ancient Beginnings The earliest recorded birthday celebrations date back to ancient Egypt, when pharaohs would celebrate their coronation as a ‘birth into divinity.’ This isn't exactly a birthday as we know it today, but the Pharaohs apparently had some grand parties. In (slightly) more modern times, the Romans celebrated birthdays in a similar fashion to what we do today. Known as dies natales, there were actually two types of Roman birthday: public and private. Public birthdays were celebrated to honour gods or cities, like the birth of Rome or Natale di Roma on April 21st each year, luckily, the Romans also invented the modern calendar, so you can go and celebrate this auspicious occasion this year at the same time that the people of Rome have been for ove 2000 years. Ancient Romans are known for loving a party, and private birthdays were a great excuse for the wealthy citizens to throw banquets. They were also a chance for family gatherings, to give offerings to household gods, and to mark personal milestones. Friends and relatives would bring birthday gift hampers, offer blessings, and share food and wine. While only men originally had their birthdays officially recognised, over time, women’s birthdays were celebrated too, though usually with less grandeur. Religious and Cultural Influences Early Christians did not celebrate birthdays as they found it to be a form of sin, but they did celebrate the birthday of Jesus, of course. In 336 AD, Pope Julius I declared December 25th as Jesus' birthdate, although in reality, no one knows exactly when he was born. This was during the reign of Constantine the 1st, so these Christians were essentially still Romans. In Jewish culture, birthdays are celebrated at specific points, often tied to religious milestones rather than yearly observance. The most well-known are the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, marking a boy’s 13th and a girl’s 12th birthday, respectively—symbolising their coming of age and responsibility under Jewish law. Traditionally, birthdays were not widely observed, as emphasis was placed more on the day of one’s death and their legacy. However, in modern times, birthday celebrations have become more common, blending secular customs with spiritual reflections, and sometimes including acts of charity or study as a way to mark the occasion meaningfully. The Evolution Through the Middle Ages In the Middle Ages, birthdays were not widely celebrated in the West; maybe this is why they are referred to as the Dark Ages. There are accounts of birthday feasts and celebrations, but only for wealthy nobles. In the East, lunar birthdays held more cultural significance. In China, for example, birthdays were traditionally calculated using the lunar calendar and were celebrated with longevity noodles, symbolising a long life. Children’s birthdays were especially important, with rituals to ward off evil spirits. In Korea, a child’s first birthday, or Doljanchi, was a major event. The Rise of Modern Birthday Traditions In the 18th and 19th centuries, European birthdays began to really take off. The German Kinderfeste began in the late 1700s Germans began celebrating what is now pointed to as the first children's birthday parties. These Kinderfeste were deeply symbolic events that reflected cultural beliefs about childhood and protection. Each child’s age was marked by a candle placed on a cake, with an extra candle added to represent hope for the future. These candles were kept burning throughout the day, as it was believed that children were vulnerable to evil spirits on their birthdays. Families would gather to offer blessings, sing songs, and share food, creating a sense of community and care. This tradition laid the foundation for the modern birthday party, blending ritual with celebration in a meaningful way. Over in England, parties really kicked off with the Victorians, who loved a good cake. Unlike some of the more wild Victorian parties, children's birthdays were a more intimate family affair with a few friends who were not expected to bring any gifts, although this became a norm later on. The Key Traditions Cakes and Candles actually predate the German Kinderfeste, with ancient Greeks placing candles on a cake to honour the goddess Artemis, although I doubt their cakes were very sweet. Funnily enough, the ‘happy birthday song’ we all know and love comes from ‘Good Morning to All,’ composed in 1893 by Mildred and Patty Hill. Supposedly, the happy birthday lyrics were added in 1912 before the catchy tune became popularised and translated into many languages, each with their own variations. The Modern Birthdays Today, birthdays are celebrated around the world by people of a wide range of religions, cultures and backgrounds, but not everyone does. Orthodox jews do not celebrate Birthdays, and neither do Jehovah's Witnesses, nor many muslims. For those of us who do, birthdays are really no different to what the ancient Romans celebrated; they are an excuse to get the family together, party, and celebrate the passing of life and make memories together.
