Celebrate your birthday? How did it  started and why?

In ancient Egypt, when pharaohs were crowned, they birthed into gods. This is the earliest known birthday celebration. The Egyptians probably inspired them as the birthdays this far back was only in honor of gods and goddesses not mere mortals. The candle was also to ward off evil spirits, to be a light in the dark.

The customs and traditions connected with the observance of birthdays in pagan times had to do with guessing the future, good wishes for the future and good luck against evil spirits. All the birthday rituals are part of the magic making bestowed on the child to keep them safe and happy in the year ahead.

It’s interesting to think about how this contemporary version of a birthday celebration we have today will change and evolve over the next several hundred years.