Happy Birthday

Have you ever wondered how and when the celebration of birthdays came about? I have, and I am sure glad that someone thought of it.

In America, it seems that every child, and many big children, want and wait for their special day to arrive -– their birth date. Delicious icecream, rich cake, and flickering candles on the cake, along with bright party hats, toys, and decorated rooms mark this grand day to remember. Family and friends gather around the birthday boy or girl as everyone sings "Happy Birthday" to the very special person. Boxes wrapped with pretty paper hold gifts. They are lined up on the table. Oh, boy! It’s time to show honor to the lucky person, and have some fun, too. People flash their cameras, pull out pictures of the person’s last year party, and everyone has a jolly ole time.

Thousands of years ago, people looked to heaven’s beautiful stars to identify their birthday in the majestic sky’s events. They put together a horoscope that would later be used as a consultant basis for life choices, and even marriage.

But who started this whole birthday ceremony? The ancient rich and famous. Pharaohs in Egypt made people in business close down their work days to honor their masters’ birthdays. Huge feasts and gifts galore’ marked these dates. Cleopatra’s birthday dinner to Antony; Persian noblemen’s barbecue of a camel, ox, and hundreds of cakes; wealthy Greek males shared a birthday party with acquaintainances that had the same date; and the ancient Roman emperor hosted tremendous parties to salute his own birthday, with circuses and gladiator fights.

Christ’s birthday, the chosen date of December 25, was and is celebrated by millions throughout the world. Jewish boys have traditionally reached their manhood on their 13th birthday –- a special party time.

So, where in the world does the song, "Happy Birthday To You" come from? It was written in 1893 by two sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill. The wonderful song was basically ignored, until the original words from the song "Good Morning to You" were changed to "Happy Birthday to You." Now, you will hear this sweet, cheery song in nearly every house throughout the country, every single year. "Happy birthday to you…."

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