| Birthday celebrations are a popular personal holiday | | | | celebration of the self, even if only for a day, would |
| for many around the world, necessitating cheap party | | | | seem, according to many of the strictest most |
| supplies and numerous gifts, but it was not always | | | | conservative interpretations, to smack of idolatry and |
| so. For much of human history, many cultures did not | | | | self-aggrandizement, which is a principal sin. |
| seem to reckon one's own birthday to be of special | | | | In most forms of Orthodox Judaism, one's Jahrzeit, |
| importance. No cheap party supplies back then! For | | | | or day of passing, is given great importance while |
| there was no point to the commemoration of | | | | little mention is made of one's birthday. This feeling |
| oneself for many back then, in predemocratic times | | | | goes back to the Book of Ecclesiastes, wherein the |
| when society and the world was not generally so | | | | Wise King in Jerusalem (traditionally held to be none |
| concerned with the individual. Indeed, many religious | | | | other than Solomon himself) observes that "a good |
| traditions discourage or even forbid it, to this very | | | | name [that is, reputation] is better than good oil, and |
| day (more on this soon). | | | | the day of death than the day of birth." Other rabbis, |
| Herodotus, the ancient Greek no considered "the | | | | however, teach that birthdays can be useful for |
| father of history," believed that birthday celebrations | | | | encouraging self-reflection. |
| went back to the ancient Persians (modern-day | | | | Greek Orthodox Christianity prefers the celebration |
| Iranians). No mention is made of any cheap party | | | | of name days (specific dates devoted to the saints |
| supplies, but Herodotus did observe that these | | | | after whom one was named) over birthdays, but do |
| ancient Persians ate "little solid food but an | | | | not prohibit birthdays outright. Jehovah's Witnesses |
| abundance of dessert" on the one day out of all the | | | | and other "sacred name" adherents on the |
| rest in a year that they revered most, their | | | | peripheries of mainstream Christianity do prohibit |
| birthdays. Other ancient peoples were also given over | | | | birthdays. Among Muslims, there is no prohibition |
| to birthdays, evidently; the Bible specifically mentions | | | | against birthdays, but concern over its Western roots |
| Pharaoh's birthday. Where sundries for such events, | | | | and connotations, especially those associated with an |
| like bowling party supplies, were available is still open | | | | emphasis on the self and individualism (after all, |
| to debate in anthropological communities. In some of | | | | "Islam" means "submission" or "to submit!"). |
| the more conservative Jewish and even Christian | | | | Written by Paul Wise, who has had birthday parties |
| traditions, birthdays are not celebrated for just that | | | | before with cheap party supplies, recommends for |
| reason, their association with pagans. Indeed, many | | | | bowling party supplies and other party necessities. |
| religions have prohibitions against idolatry, and the | | | | |