HISTORY OF BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Egyptians started the party. When pharaohs were crowned in ancient Egypt they
were considered gods...
When pharaohs were crowned in ancient Egypt they were considered to have
transformed into gods. This divine promotion made their coronation date much more
important than their birth into the world. Scholars have pointed to the Bible’s reference
of a Pharaoh’s birthday as the earliest known mention of a birthday celebration (around
3,000 B.C.E.), but Egyptologist Dr. James Hoffmeier believes this is referencing the
subject’s coronation date, since that would have been the Pharaoh’s “birth” as a god.
Greeks added candles to cakes. The Greeks offered moon-shaped cakes as a
form of pagan celebration...
The Greeks offered moon-shaped cakes to Artemis as a form of tribute to the lunar
goddess. To recreate the radiance of the moon and her perceived beauty, Greeks lit
candles and put them on cakes for a glowing effect. The Greeks most likely took the
idea of birthday celebration from the Egyptians, since just like the celebration of the
pharaohs as “gods,” the Greeks were celebrating their gods and goddesses.
Ancient Romans were the first to celebrate birthdays for the common man (but
just the men).
The prevailing opinion seems to be that the Romans were the first civilization to
celebrate birthdays for non-religious figures. Romans would celebrate birthdays for
friends and families, while the government created public holidays to observe the
birthdays of more famous citizens. Those celebrating a 50th birthday party would
receive a special cake made of wheat flour, olive oil, honey and grated cheese. All of
this said, female birthdays still weren’t celebrated until around the 12th century.
Every one of these cultures denied the Lord God Almighty. The God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. The Christian God.
Due to its belief that humans are born with “original sin” and the fact that early
birthdays were tied to “pagan” gods, the Christian Church considered birthday
celebrations evil for the first few hundred years of its existence. Around the 4th century,
Christians changed their minds and began to celebrate the birthday of Jesus as the
holiday of Christmas. This new celebration was accepted into the church partly in hopes
of recruiting those already celebrating the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. The pagan
practices have caused division within many congregations. Christians who love the
Lord KNOW that Satan is the author of confusion and every evil work and therefore
avoid any appearance of evil.
Birthdays have an ancient origin stemming from magic and paganism, similar
to the origins of Christmas and Halloween. These are some references about the
origin of Birthday celebrations and the customs associated with them.
1
Genesis 40:20 and Matthew 14:6 are the only Scriptures in the Bible that use the word
"birthday." Other texts, such as Job 1:4, allude to an event similar to a modern
birthday.
Chapter 40 of the book of Genesis describes Joseph, an Israelite slave, interpreting the
dreams of an imprisoned baker. Joseph predicts Pharaoh's execution of the baker within
three days. Verses 20 through 22 explain that Pharaoh's birthday was the occasion for
the baker's death.
Chapter 14 of the book of Matthew discusses King Herod and his hatred for John the
Baptist, who was imprisoned by the king as a result. Verses 6 through 11 explain that
a birthday party was the setting for the beheading of John the Baptist, at the request
of Herod's daughter.
The fourth verse of the first chapter of Job mentions that Job's sons "feasted in their
houses, every one his day." This expression possibly alludes to a birthday celebration.
Verse 5 adds the detail that Job was worried his sons had "sinned, and cursed God in
their hearts."
Since the only Scriptures that mention birthdays cast the occasions in a negative light,
some Christian denominations interpret the Bible as condemning birthdays. Other
Christians take the stance that none of these Scriptures explicitly prohibit celebrating
birthdays, so it can be considered a matter of personal preference.
Christians initially considered birthdays to be a pagan ritual. Due to its belief that
humans are born with “original sin” and the fact that early birthdays were tied to
“pagan” gods, the Christian Church considered birthday celebrations evil for the first
few hundred years of its existence.
The Christian who recognizes that they are called to not be of the world but to come
out of the world avoids paganism at all costs. Even to the point of offending family and
friends who are not followers of Jesus the Savior. We are of a different Kingdom. The
birth a Christian should be celebrating is the day they were “born-again.” That is the
birthday to celebrate, not your birth into a sinful world. Celebrate the day your name
was entered into the Book of Life!
