“You say it’s your birthday. It’s my birthday too. Yeah, they say it’s your birthday; we’re gonna have a good time, I’m glad it’s your birthday! Happy Birthday to you!” –The Beatles, 1968

“Happy Birthday” is a greeting we look forward to, validation God had given us another year, a wish for the future, and the privilege to grow older, something many have not had.

Keeping track of time is not a purely human thing. All of nature is aware of the passing of a year: geese migrate, bears hibernate and flowers bloom.

Stonehenge and the Mayan calendar tell us that the celebration of the passage of time is an ancient tradition. In early Egypt, pharoahs were honored with lavish celebrations marking their “birth” as a god. The Greeks also held elaborate birthday festivals while Romans celebrated with family and friends including gatherings, gifts, and feasting. The Christian church initially viewed birthday celebrations as pagan rituals but gave way to gradually incorporating them, commemorating the birth of their savior. History is uncertain of the exact date but shepherds tending their flocks in the field represented December lambing season in the Holy Land.

During the Middle Ages, European countries celebrated birthdays with decorations and candles to represent the age of the celebrant. The prosperity of the industrial revolution led to widespread celebrations across social classes including the singing of Margret Hill’s 1893 “Happy Birthday” song.

Today, technology and traditional customs merge as birthday celebrations remain a cherished and universal event.