"Happy Birthday!"
That expressive 'wish' has been said by countless people from one generation to the next across varying cultures and continents. Where did our traditions and customs for celebrating birthdays come from? How did we come to celebrate ourselves in sometimes extravagant ways? And why exactly DO we make a wish and blow out those pesky candles that keep multiplying year after year?
Well, let's do a little digging, shall we?
Let's first take a look at what the Scriptures say.
Pharaoh and the Baker
In Genesis 40:20 we have a recorded example of a birthday, and the first one noted in Scripture. What we read is that the Pharaoh, during the time that Joseph was in Egypt, held his birthday celebration. At this exaltation of his birth he had the chief baker hanged as Joseph had seen in his dream.
The significance of the day of a Pharaoh's birth is not to be underestimated here.
“For beneath and above everything in Egypt was religion. ... We cannot understand the Egyptian—or man—until we study his gods.” (Will Durant, The Story of Civilization. Vol. 1: Our Oriental Heritage. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935, p. 197)
An Egyptian Pharaoh was considered not just a king but a god. According to the belief of Egyptians, the first Pharaoh was the god Ra - the sungod. After him, other gods ruled such as the son of Osiris and Isis, called Horus. Horus was considered as a pre-image of all Egyptian Pharaohs, and Pharaohs were his terrestrial embodiment. Each real Pharaoh was considered as an offspring of Ra through Horus. The Egyptians were very much interested and influenced by astrology. The course of the stars and planets were charted and tracked being used to forecast events and to bring enlightenment on people or issues.
"Every Egyptian attached much importance to the day, and even to the hour of his birth: and it is probable that in Persia ... each individual kept his birthday with great rejoicing, welcoming all of his friends with all the amusements of society, and a more than usual profusion of the delicacies of the table." - M'Clintock & Strong's Cyclopedia, Vol I, p. 817
"Birth-day: The observance of birth-days was common in early times (Job 1:4, 13, 18). They were specially celebrated in the land of Egypt (Gen. 40:20). There is no recorded instance in Scripture of the celebration of birth-days among the Jews. On the occasion of Herod's birth-day John the Baptist was beheaded (Matt. 14:6)." - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary.
The death of the baker at Pharaoh's birthday celebration is significant. Remember that as we go on.
The Children of Job
Next, in the book of Job (Job 1:1-5 ), we read that Job had sons and daughters, all apparently grown up since the sons each had their own houses.
"And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one on his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them."
Job 1:4
Though some would contest as to whether or not these were "birthday" celebrations that the sons of Job were having, we can look at what Job himself said in chapter 3.
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived."
In other versions "his day" is rendered as "the day of his birth". Clearly in the context that is what Job is speaking of, the day he was born. "His day" was his birth day. So evidently, the sons of Job were celebrating their birth days, however, Job did not seem to consider this a positive thing. It says in 1:5 that after the days of their feasting were done Job would sanctify them and offer up burnt offerings for each one, saying, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed Elohim in their hearts." There seems to be a correlation to this father's concern for his children and the feasting they were doing, "each one on his day".
Shortly after reading of Job's children's celebrations we read that every one of them was killed. Job 1:14-19.
King Herod and John the Baptist
In Matthew 14; Mark 6 we read of king Herod's birthday celebration in which John the baptist was beheaded.
"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Yahshua, And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet."
Matthew 14:1-5
"But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Yahshua."
Matthew 14:6-12
So we have three accounts in the Scriptures of birthdays being celebrated and in each one there was at least one death that took place. Also, each celebration was done by a person or people who was/were unrighteous. The Pharaoh of Egypt, king Herod, and the sons of Job.
It would seem clearly from those three witnesses that the celebration of one's birth was not accompanied by anything good, but rather, the opposite!
Happy Birthday Jesus!
What about our Savior's birth? That was certainly a good birthday, right?!
Notice in the Scriptures recounting that event there is no mention of the exact day on which Messiah was born. Not one date. We can be fairly certain the time of year in which He was birthed, but not the exact date. Why? Because even though His earthly birth was essential and important (and miraculous!) it was His death and resurrection that was the point of His coming! In fact, we're told to remember and proclaim His death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26).
The widely accepted date of our Savior's birth around the world is that of December 25th. We know from the Scriptural record that this is highly unlikely since shepherds would not be keeping their flocks by night during the winter (which is cold in Israel). Also, looking at the order of John the baptist's father, Zechariah, in which he was a priest, and that of John's birth in accord with Mary's conception it is most likely that Messiah was born in the fall, around the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.
December 25th is very easily seen to be the "birthday" of the sun god in nearly every major pagan religion. The religion of Mithras, the Persian sun god, was rapidly and widely spread through most of the known world due to the acceptance of it by Roman soldiers. The soldiers easily took to Mithraism because it was a "man's religion" of strength and stature, and so because the Roman army invaded and conquered so prominently the religion spread far and wide.
We also see that at His birth there was no practices or traditions that we see in typical birthday celebrations. The gifts brought by the magi were in honor of the King of kings, though were these gifts blessed of Yah? The magi, though recognizing the prophetic importance of that event, were still apparently pagan in their beliefs as far as we can tell. Regardless, they did not appear to bring the gifts in accordance with the usual reasons for gift giving at the time of one's birth.
So, according to the Scriptures, Messiah's birth had no specific date, was associated with His Feast (NOT on the pagan birthday of the sun gods), and given less prominence than His death and resurrection.
A Little More History
Now let's take a look at what secular history records about the origins and practices of birthdays.
"Among the early Greeks, it was the birthdays of the gods which were important, not those of men."- (Ralph and Adelin Linton, The Lore of Birthdays, 1953, p. 17)
"Nay, indeed, the Law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess; but it ordains that the very beginning of our education should be immediately directed to sobriety. It also commands us to bring those children up in learning, and to exercise them in the Laws, and make them acquainted with the acts of their predecessors, in order to their imitation of them, and that they might be nourished up in the Laws from their infancy, and might neither transgress them, nor have any pretense for their ignorance of them." (Josephus. Translated by W. Whiston. Against Apion, Book II, Chapter 26. Extracted from Josephus Complete Works, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids (MI), 14th printing, 1977, p. 632).
Not that the "church fathers" were right in their teachings, but this is a simple, historical observation of what they perceived at the time of their writings:
Grolier's The New Book of Knowledge, 1979, p. 289 states: "The early church fathers frowned upon the celebration of birthdays
and thought them a heathen custom."
Astrology
Jeremiah 10:2 "Thus saith the Yahweh, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."
“Birthdays are intimately linked with the stars, since without the calendar, no one could tell when to celebrate his birthday. They are also indebted to the stars in another way, for in early days the chief importance of birthday records was to enable the astrologers to chart horoscopes” (The Lore of Birthdays, p. 53)
Rawlinson’s translation of Herodotus includes the following footnote: “Horoscopes were of very early use in Egypt… and Cicero speaks of the Egyptians and Chaldees predicting… a man’s destiny at his birth"...
Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend : "The date, hour, and place of birth may be the clues to good or bad fortune as determined by the complex computations of astrologers, numerologists, and geomants. Prudential ceremonies either at birth or at stated anniversaries, depending on the system of computation, are good insurance. Memorial services, or sacrifices at tombs or before ancestral tablets, are in some places customary on the birthdays of the deceased. The function is a mixture of natural affection, the desire to keep the deceased at peace and therefore to keep his ghost from troubling the living". -- Page 144.
Birthday Parties
"Long ago, people believed that on a birthday a person could be helped by good spirits or hurt by evil spirits. So, when a person had a birthday, friends and relatives gathered to protect him or her. And that's how birthday parties began. (World Book-Childcraft International, Inc., Childcraft, The How and Why Library: Holidays and Birthdays, 1982, Vol. 9, pp. 12-13)
“The exchange of presents… is associated with the importance of ingratiating good and evil fairies… on their or our birthdays” (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, p. 144)..
"Certain primitive societies view birthdays as danger periods when one is susceptible to attack by evil spirits. Hence, parties and good wishes of friends, bring gifts to appease the evil spirits, and offering sacrifices to "their protective spirits" are all part of the birthday celebration." (Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, Vol. One, p. 144)
Birthday Cakes & Candles
"The idea of putting candles on birthday cakes goes back to ancient Greece. "... The Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Among them was one called Artemis. Artemis was the goddess of the moon. The Greeks celebrated her birthday once each month by bringing special cakes to her temple. The cakes were round, like a full moon. And, because the moon glows with light, the cakes were decorated with lighted candles." (World Book-Childcraft International, Inc., Childcraft, The How and Why Library: Holidays and Birthdays, 1982, Vol. 9, pp. 12-13)
"The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. Philochonus records that on the sixth day of each month, the birthday of Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt, honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of this goddess." Ralph and Adelin Linton, The Lore of Birthdays, 1953, pp. 17, 26, 28, 51-52
“The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born. The Romans also subscribed to this idea. . . . This notion was carried down in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron saint. . . . The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. . . . Honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of [Artemis]. . . . Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. . . . Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortune. . . . " (The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.)
"One of the simplest of magical arts which comes under the heading of natural magic is candle burning. ... Most of us have performed our first act of candle magic by the time we are two years old. Blowing out the tiny candles on our first birthday cake and making a wish is pure magic. This childhood custom is based on the three magical principals of concentration, will power and visualization. In simple terms, the child who wants his wish to come true has to concentrate (blow out the candles), visualize the end result (make a wish) and hope that it will come true (will power)." - (The Internet Book of Shadows: Candle Magic)
Making a "Wish"
“Originally the idea was rooted in magic. The working of spells for good and evil is the chief usage of witchcraft. One is especially susceptible to such spells on his birthday, as one’s personal spirits are about at that time. Dreams dreamed on the birthday eve should be remembered, for they are predictions of the future brought by the guardian spirits which hover over one’s bed on the birthday eve. Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day. Good wishes bring good fortune, but the reverse is also true, so one should avoid enemies on one’s birthday and be surrounded only by well-wishers. ‘Happy birthday’ and ‘Many happy returns of the day’ are the traditional greetings” (The Lore of Birthdays, Linton, p. 20)...
The Lore of Birthdays continues: "Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. There are various ways of invoking their spell. Sometimes the birthday child makes a wish (these wishes must never be spoken aloud or the magic fails), and if he can blow out all the candles on his cake with one puff, the wish is sure to come true."
Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend : Among people with well developed sense of time, BIRTHDAYS mark the transition from one stage of being to another. Because any change is dangerous, BIRTHDAYS are the times when good and evil spirits and influences have the opportunity to attack the celebrants who at these times are in peril....The presence of friends and the expression of good wishes help to protect the celebrant against the unknown pervasive peril. Ceremonies and games at BIRTHDAYS frequently are a SYMBOLIC wiping out of the past and starting anew. The American child who at his BIRTHDAY blows out all the candles on his cake with one puff is eager to demonstrate his prowess, but the secret wish he makes will be granted only if all the candles can be extinguished at once. Trials of strength and skill on birthdays are demonstrations of progress....
Genii or Djinn
The wishes over a birthday cake are said to be granted by your personal genie (genii or djinn) or, basically, an evil spirit.
E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. Ge’nius, Genii (Roman mythology) were attendant spirits. Everyone had two of these tutelaries from his cradle to his grave. But the Roman genii differ in many respects from the Eastern. The Persian and Indian genii had a corporeal form, which they could change at pleasure. They were not guardian or attendant spirits, but fallen angels, dwelling in Ginnistan, under the dominion of Eblis [Author Note: Eblis is the Islamic version of the Devil]. They were naturally hostile to man, though compelled sometimes to serve them as slaves. ... (The word is the old Latin geno, to be born, from the notion that birth and life were due to these dii genitáles.) Genius (birth-wit) is innate talent; hence propensity, nature, inner man. “Cras genium mero cura’bis” (to-morrow you shall indulge your inner man with wine), Horace, 3 Odes, xvii. 14. “Indulg’ere genio” (to give loose to one’s propensity), Persius, v. 151. ... The Romans maintained that two genii attended every man from birth to death—one good and the other evil. Good luck was brought about by the agency of “his good genius,” and ill luck by that of his “evil genius.”
"At the moment when each of us receives life and being, he is taken in charge by the genii who preside over births, and who are classed beneath the astral powers. ... But the reasonable part of the soul is not subject to the genii; it is designed for the reception of God, who enlightens it with a sunny ray. Those who are thus illumined are few in number, and from them the genii abstain; for neither genii nor gods have any power in the presence of a single ray of God. But all other men, both soul and body, are directed by genii, to whom they cleave, and whose operations they affect. But reason is not like desire, which deceives and misleads. The genii, then, have the control of mundane things, and our bodies serve them as instruments. Now, it is this control which Hermes calls Destiny." [The esoteric book: "The Virgin of the World of Hermes" THE DEFINITIONS OF ASCLEPIOS by Mercurius Trismagistus translated by A. Kingsford, E Maitland [1884] ]
Clearly we can see that the celebration of one's birth and the many traditions that accompany it are ungodly in nature. Rather than "exalting" ourselves and others we should seek to exalt the only One who is actually worthy.
Can we be thankful to our Creator for our birth and the births of others? I believe so! To thank Him for the life of someone or the life that He's given to us is only fitting as we acknowledge Him and His love for us. It would seem as though the traditions and customs that often go along with a birthday celebration are not only pagan, but as His Word says of pagan things, an abomination to Him. And if something is abominable to Him it should be to us as well.
He does not condemn those who simply acknowledge the birth of someone with thanksgiving for that life. Of course, the birth that we experience the first time is only a blessing if we seek Him to be born again! It's that second birth that is of great importance.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth."
Again, this is only true for those who are "born again"!
That expressive 'wish' has been said by countless people from one generation to the next across varying cultures and continents. Where did our traditions and customs for celebrating birthdays come from? How did we come to celebrate ourselves in sometimes extravagant ways? And why exactly DO we make a wish and blow out those pesky candles that keep multiplying year after year?
Well, let's do a little digging, shall we?
Let's first take a look at what the Scriptures say.
Pharaoh and the Baker
In Genesis 40:20 we have a recorded example of a birthday, and the first one noted in Scripture. What we read is that the Pharaoh, during the time that Joseph was in Egypt, held his birthday celebration. At this exaltation of his birth he had the chief baker hanged as Joseph had seen in his dream.
The significance of the day of a Pharaoh's birth is not to be underestimated here.
“For beneath and above everything in Egypt was religion. ... We cannot understand the Egyptian—or man—until we study his gods.” (Will Durant, The Story of Civilization. Vol. 1: Our Oriental Heritage. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935, p. 197)
An Egyptian Pharaoh was considered not just a king but a god. According to the belief of Egyptians, the first Pharaoh was the god Ra - the sungod. After him, other gods ruled such as the son of Osiris and Isis, called Horus. Horus was considered as a pre-image of all Egyptian Pharaohs, and Pharaohs were his terrestrial embodiment. Each real Pharaoh was considered as an offspring of Ra through Horus. The Egyptians were very much interested and influenced by astrology. The course of the stars and planets were charted and tracked being used to forecast events and to bring enlightenment on people or issues.
"Every Egyptian attached much importance to the day, and even to the hour of his birth: and it is probable that in Persia ... each individual kept his birthday with great rejoicing, welcoming all of his friends with all the amusements of society, and a more than usual profusion of the delicacies of the table." - M'Clintock & Strong's Cyclopedia, Vol I, p. 817
"Birth-day: The observance of birth-days was common in early times (Job 1:4, 13, 18). They were specially celebrated in the land of Egypt (Gen. 40:20). There is no recorded instance in Scripture of the celebration of birth-days among the Jews. On the occasion of Herod's birth-day John the Baptist was beheaded (Matt. 14:6)." - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary.
The death of the baker at Pharaoh's birthday celebration is significant. Remember that as we go on.
The Children of Job
Next, in the book of Job (Job 1:1-5 ), we read that Job had sons and daughters, all apparently grown up since the sons each had their own houses.
"And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one on his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them."
Job 1:4
Though some would contest as to whether or not these were "birthday" celebrations that the sons of Job were having, we can look at what Job himself said in chapter 3.
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived."
In other versions "his day" is rendered as "the day of his birth". Clearly in the context that is what Job is speaking of, the day he was born. "His day" was his birth day. So evidently, the sons of Job were celebrating their birth days, however, Job did not seem to consider this a positive thing. It says in 1:5 that after the days of their feasting were done Job would sanctify them and offer up burnt offerings for each one, saying, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed Elohim in their hearts." There seems to be a correlation to this father's concern for his children and the feasting they were doing, "each one on his day".
Shortly after reading of Job's children's celebrations we read that every one of them was killed. Job 1:14-19.
King Herod and John the Baptist
In Matthew 14; Mark 6 we read of king Herod's birthday celebration in which John the baptist was beheaded.
"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Yahshua, And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet."
Matthew 14:1-5
"But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Yahshua."
Matthew 14:6-12
So we have three accounts in the Scriptures of birthdays being celebrated and in each one there was at least one death that took place. Also, each celebration was done by a person or people who was/were unrighteous. The Pharaoh of Egypt, king Herod, and the sons of Job.
It would seem clearly from those three witnesses that the celebration of one's birth was not accompanied by anything good, but rather, the opposite!
Happy Birthday Jesus!
What about our Savior's birth? That was certainly a good birthday, right?!
Notice in the Scriptures recounting that event there is no mention of the exact day on which Messiah was born. Not one date. We can be fairly certain the time of year in which He was birthed, but not the exact date. Why? Because even though His earthly birth was essential and important (and miraculous!) it was His death and resurrection that was the point of His coming! In fact, we're told to remember and proclaim His death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26).
The widely accepted date of our Savior's birth around the world is that of December 25th. We know from the Scriptural record that this is highly unlikely since shepherds would not be keeping their flocks by night during the winter (which is cold in Israel). Also, looking at the order of John the baptist's father, Zechariah, in which he was a priest, and that of John's birth in accord with Mary's conception it is most likely that Messiah was born in the fall, around the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.
December 25th is very easily seen to be the "birthday" of the sun god in nearly every major pagan religion. The religion of Mithras, the Persian sun god, was rapidly and widely spread through most of the known world due to the acceptance of it by Roman soldiers. The soldiers easily took to Mithraism because it was a "man's religion" of strength and stature, and so because the Roman army invaded and conquered so prominently the religion spread far and wide.
We also see that at His birth there was no practices or traditions that we see in typical birthday celebrations. The gifts brought by the magi were in honor of the King of kings, though were these gifts blessed of Yah? The magi, though recognizing the prophetic importance of that event, were still apparently pagan in their beliefs as far as we can tell. Regardless, they did not appear to bring the gifts in accordance with the usual reasons for gift giving at the time of one's birth.
So, according to the Scriptures, Messiah's birth had no specific date, was associated with His Feast (NOT on the pagan birthday of the sun gods), and given less prominence than His death and resurrection.
A Little More History
Now let's take a look at what secular history records about the origins and practices of birthdays.
"Among the early Greeks, it was the birthdays of the gods which were important, not those of men."- (Ralph and Adelin Linton, The Lore of Birthdays, 1953, p. 17)
"Nay, indeed, the Law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess; but it ordains that the very beginning of our education should be immediately directed to sobriety. It also commands us to bring those children up in learning, and to exercise them in the Laws, and make them acquainted with the acts of their predecessors, in order to their imitation of them, and that they might be nourished up in the Laws from their infancy, and might neither transgress them, nor have any pretense for their ignorance of them." (Josephus. Translated by W. Whiston. Against Apion, Book II, Chapter 26. Extracted from Josephus Complete Works, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids (MI), 14th printing, 1977, p. 632).
Not that the "church fathers" were right in their teachings, but this is a simple, historical observation of what they perceived at the time of their writings:
Grolier's The New Book of Knowledge, 1979, p. 289 states: "The early church fathers frowned upon the celebration of birthdays
and thought them a heathen custom."
Astrology
Jeremiah 10:2 "Thus saith the Yahweh, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."
“Birthdays are intimately linked with the stars, since without the calendar, no one could tell when to celebrate his birthday. They are also indebted to the stars in another way, for in early days the chief importance of birthday records was to enable the astrologers to chart horoscopes” (The Lore of Birthdays, p. 53)
Rawlinson’s translation of Herodotus includes the following footnote: “Horoscopes were of very early use in Egypt… and Cicero speaks of the Egyptians and Chaldees predicting… a man’s destiny at his birth"...
Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend : "The date, hour, and place of birth may be the clues to good or bad fortune as determined by the complex computations of astrologers, numerologists, and geomants. Prudential ceremonies either at birth or at stated anniversaries, depending on the system of computation, are good insurance. Memorial services, or sacrifices at tombs or before ancestral tablets, are in some places customary on the birthdays of the deceased. The function is a mixture of natural affection, the desire to keep the deceased at peace and therefore to keep his ghost from troubling the living". -- Page 144.
Birthday Parties
"Long ago, people believed that on a birthday a person could be helped by good spirits or hurt by evil spirits. So, when a person had a birthday, friends and relatives gathered to protect him or her. And that's how birthday parties began. (World Book-Childcraft International, Inc., Childcraft, The How and Why Library: Holidays and Birthdays, 1982, Vol. 9, pp. 12-13)
“The exchange of presents… is associated with the importance of ingratiating good and evil fairies… on their or our birthdays” (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, p. 144)..
"Certain primitive societies view birthdays as danger periods when one is susceptible to attack by evil spirits. Hence, parties and good wishes of friends, bring gifts to appease the evil spirits, and offering sacrifices to "their protective spirits" are all part of the birthday celebration." (Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, Vol. One, p. 144)
Birthday Cakes & Candles
"The idea of putting candles on birthday cakes goes back to ancient Greece. "... The Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Among them was one called Artemis. Artemis was the goddess of the moon. The Greeks celebrated her birthday once each month by bringing special cakes to her temple. The cakes were round, like a full moon. And, because the moon glows with light, the cakes were decorated with lighted candles." (World Book-Childcraft International, Inc., Childcraft, The How and Why Library: Holidays and Birthdays, 1982, Vol. 9, pp. 12-13)
"The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. Philochonus records that on the sixth day of each month, the birthday of Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt, honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of this goddess." Ralph and Adelin Linton, The Lore of Birthdays, 1953, pp. 17, 26, 28, 51-52
“The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born. The Romans also subscribed to this idea. . . . This notion was carried down in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron saint. . . . The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. . . . Honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of [Artemis]. . . . Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. . . . Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortune. . . . " (The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.)
"One of the simplest of magical arts which comes under the heading of natural magic is candle burning. ... Most of us have performed our first act of candle magic by the time we are two years old. Blowing out the tiny candles on our first birthday cake and making a wish is pure magic. This childhood custom is based on the three magical principals of concentration, will power and visualization. In simple terms, the child who wants his wish to come true has to concentrate (blow out the candles), visualize the end result (make a wish) and hope that it will come true (will power)." - (The Internet Book of Shadows: Candle Magic)
Making a "Wish"
“Originally the idea was rooted in magic. The working of spells for good and evil is the chief usage of witchcraft. One is especially susceptible to such spells on his birthday, as one’s personal spirits are about at that time. Dreams dreamed on the birthday eve should be remembered, for they are predictions of the future brought by the guardian spirits which hover over one’s bed on the birthday eve. Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day. Good wishes bring good fortune, but the reverse is also true, so one should avoid enemies on one’s birthday and be surrounded only by well-wishers. ‘Happy birthday’ and ‘Many happy returns of the day’ are the traditional greetings” (The Lore of Birthdays, Linton, p. 20)...
The Lore of Birthdays continues: "Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. There are various ways of invoking their spell. Sometimes the birthday child makes a wish (these wishes must never be spoken aloud or the magic fails), and if he can blow out all the candles on his cake with one puff, the wish is sure to come true."
Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend : Among people with well developed sense of time, BIRTHDAYS mark the transition from one stage of being to another. Because any change is dangerous, BIRTHDAYS are the times when good and evil spirits and influences have the opportunity to attack the celebrants who at these times are in peril....The presence of friends and the expression of good wishes help to protect the celebrant against the unknown pervasive peril. Ceremonies and games at BIRTHDAYS frequently are a SYMBOLIC wiping out of the past and starting anew. The American child who at his BIRTHDAY blows out all the candles on his cake with one puff is eager to demonstrate his prowess, but the secret wish he makes will be granted only if all the candles can be extinguished at once. Trials of strength and skill on birthdays are demonstrations of progress....
Genii or Djinn
The wishes over a birthday cake are said to be granted by your personal genie (genii or djinn) or, basically, an evil spirit.
E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. Ge’nius, Genii (Roman mythology) were attendant spirits. Everyone had two of these tutelaries from his cradle to his grave. But the Roman genii differ in many respects from the Eastern. The Persian and Indian genii had a corporeal form, which they could change at pleasure. They were not guardian or attendant spirits, but fallen angels, dwelling in Ginnistan, under the dominion of Eblis [Author Note: Eblis is the Islamic version of the Devil]. They were naturally hostile to man, though compelled sometimes to serve them as slaves. ... (The word is the old Latin geno, to be born, from the notion that birth and life were due to these dii genitáles.) Genius (birth-wit) is innate talent; hence propensity, nature, inner man. “Cras genium mero cura’bis” (to-morrow you shall indulge your inner man with wine), Horace, 3 Odes, xvii. 14. “Indulg’ere genio” (to give loose to one’s propensity), Persius, v. 151. ... The Romans maintained that two genii attended every man from birth to death—one good and the other evil. Good luck was brought about by the agency of “his good genius,” and ill luck by that of his “evil genius.”
"At the moment when each of us receives life and being, he is taken in charge by the genii who preside over births, and who are classed beneath the astral powers. ... But the reasonable part of the soul is not subject to the genii; it is designed for the reception of God, who enlightens it with a sunny ray. Those who are thus illumined are few in number, and from them the genii abstain; for neither genii nor gods have any power in the presence of a single ray of God. But all other men, both soul and body, are directed by genii, to whom they cleave, and whose operations they affect. But reason is not like desire, which deceives and misleads. The genii, then, have the control of mundane things, and our bodies serve them as instruments. Now, it is this control which Hermes calls Destiny." [The esoteric book: "The Virgin of the World of Hermes" THE DEFINITIONS OF ASCLEPIOS by Mercurius Trismagistus translated by A. Kingsford, E Maitland [1884] ]
Clearly we can see that the celebration of one's birth and the many traditions that accompany it are ungodly in nature. Rather than "exalting" ourselves and others we should seek to exalt the only One who is actually worthy.
Can we be thankful to our Creator for our birth and the births of others? I believe so! To thank Him for the life of someone or the life that He's given to us is only fitting as we acknowledge Him and His love for us. It would seem as though the traditions and customs that often go along with a birthday celebration are not only pagan, but as His Word says of pagan things, an abomination to Him. And if something is abominable to Him it should be to us as well.
He does not condemn those who simply acknowledge the birth of someone with thanksgiving for that life. Of course, the birth that we experience the first time is only a blessing if we seek Him to be born again! It's that second birth that is of great importance.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth."
Again, this is only true for those who are "born again"!