I woke up this morning like every other morning but with a new curiosity deep inside my eyes asking myself why is today my birthday? that single question forces me to grab my laptop and then spending straight two hours to search a little on history of birthday celebrations and the facts were so overwhelmingly strange, and amazing. I thought of it that moment to put it into my blog!
The first Question I came-up with when I found that its my birthday was something like this: Why do we celebrate birthdays? and throw birthday parties? without knowing why? following the trend, oh! yes? just because everybody else is doing it. you will surely agree to this point.
I even heard some people say why to celebrate the day when you know you’re getting older each year and its getting you closer to death.
But as my ‘motto” is to question everything! So I didn’t conform but investigate As why on this day we invite friends and families. To have great time together. Cutting the cakes, receiving gifts and making wishes while preparing delicious recipes.
The concept gain popularity in west and now through movies and pop-culture it has gained worldwide popularity, a kind of norm among the people of different backgrounds, regions and cultures. Almost Millions of cakes are cut down every-single day.
Hey! Why not open a bakery then? it’s a good market with potential by the way.
The birthday is the most special day in everyone’s life. Every year, we wait for this day. On your birthday, you are the most VIP person in the whole world. Everyone, who knows you or via any social media calls you or texts you wish you good health. And, you also many plans for your birthday celebration, among which, party is the list topper. But we celebrate our birthday party, without knowing why we celebrate it.
Why to wait! Lets dig in.
All history is based on borrowing trends from different cultures!
It all started when 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.
Then Romans were found in history of pages celebrating every commons man birthday in open markets.
“[Let them eat cake] was said 100 years ago by Marie-Thérèse, the wife of King Louis XIV of France. It was a callous and ignorant statement
The Industrial Revolution brought delicious cakes to the masses.
It is not Islamic nor its concept is present in Christianity. It was rather a pagan celebration we have adopted.
Seems absurd? So is Life.
Why do we celebrate birthdays?
It is no doubt a very silly question but let’s go deep into its root to know more.
- The idea of celebrating the date of your birth is a pagan tradition. In fact, many Christians didn’t celebrate birthdays historically, because of that link to paganism. Pagans thought that evil spirits lurked on days of major changes, like the day you turn a year older.
- Perhaps someday a Birthdayologist will come along to set the record completely straight, but until then, we’ve compiled this short list of historians’ best hypotheses on the evolution of birthday celebrations and the delicious cakes that so often accompany them.
- Many religions celebrate the birth of their founders or religious figures with special holidays (e.g. Christmas, Mawlid, Buddha’s Birthday, and Krishna Janmashtami).
Why do we sing “Happy Birthday To You?”
It’s the most recognizable song in the English language, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, and it started as a song for schoolkids.
Things to remember on your birthday!
So next time when you celebrate your birthday make sure you enjoy the day at its best because the way it has evolved through human history and became part of our lives is magical and no doubt is a unique form of human expression for appreciating life because we only lives once.
So, Love your life as the american philosopher Thoreau wrote:
“However mean your life is , meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault finder will find faults even in paradise.”
And like bon jovis famous rock song “Its my Life” say it loudly,
“My life is like an open high way like Frankie said I did it my way. I just wanna live while I’m alive. Its My Life.”
Thankyo 🙂
The Portrait of an Artist 