2006-12-12 10:01:45 · 5 answers · asked by Angelica 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The celebrations of birthdays is NOT a Biblical practice.
“The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general.”—The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries (New York, 1848), Augustus Neander (translated by Henry John Rose), p. 190.
“The later Hebrews looked on the celebration of birthdays as a part of idolatrous worship, a view which would be abundantly confirmed by what they saw of the common observances associated with these days.”—The Imperial Bible-Dictionary (London, 1874), edited by Patrick Fairbairn, Vol. I, p. 225.
What is the origin of popular customs associated with birthday celebrations?
“The various customs with which people today celebrate their birthdays have a long history. Their origins lie in the realm of magic and religion. The customs of offering congratulations, presenting gifts and celebrating—complete with lighted candles—in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year. . . . Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.”—Schwäbische Zeitung (magazine supplement Zeit und Welt), April 3/4, 1981, p. 4.
“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. . . . Birthday greetings and wishes for happiness are an intrinsic part of this holiday. . . . Originally the idea was rooted in magic. . . . Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day.”—The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.
Although considered to be a harmless secular custom today, birthday celebrations are actually rooted in paganism. The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states: “The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles.” Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal the underlying reason for this. In their book The Lore of Birthdays, they write: “Mesopotamia and Egypt, the cradles of civilization, were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope.” This direct connection with astrology is a cause of great concern to any who avoid astrology because of what the Bible says about it.—Isaiah 47:13-15.
Not surprisingly then, we read in The World Book Encyclopedia: “The early Christians did not celebrate His (Christ’s) birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.”—Volume 3, page 416.
2006-12-12 10:33:37 · answer #1 · answered by Jeremy Callahan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love celebrating birthdays, Your birthday is a designated day, only for you! My sister and I's birthday is at the identical day... sharing is being concerned correct? But you must be excited and completely happy celebrating it considering the fact that it's the day while you have been fortunate sufficient to be born! it is also a time for you and your peers and household to celebration!!! If you consider of birthdays as "Closer to dying" then it unsuitable considering the fact that you could as good revel in your existence earlier than you die.. BIRTHDAYS!!!!! It maybe simply "an additional day of the yr" however it is your day..... plus you get offers *_* Each birthday you'll thank that you've got lived an additional yr of your existence and wish to make the following yr greater. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR 33 DAYS (adding in these days) My birthday is on March so i must wait until subsequent yr -___-
2016-09-03 14:33:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really is kind of stupid to celebrate birthdays. After all, you didn't do a single thing in order to be born.
Personally, I think all persons should have a celebration on their birthday BUT NOT FOR THEMSELVES! For their mothers. And they do call that experience of the mother just before the baby is delivered 'labor'.
2006-12-12 10:09:22 · answer #3 · answered by flandargo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Birthdays were not originally celebrated in Judaism. That's one reason why the whole idea of Christmas is so ludicrous to Jews.
2006-12-12 10:07:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
lol. probably people who decided to count how long we lived using a callendar.
2006-12-12 10:04:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋