This past weekend, in Sunday school, we were studying the return of Israel after the Babylonian captivity, and the huge celebration they had in Ezra 6. One of the students, a young lady, asked how they celebrated birthdays back then. So…

There are two references to birthday celebrations in Scripture. The first is Pharoah’s, during the time of Joseph, when he restored his cupbearer and had his baker killed:

Genesis 40:20-23

20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. (ESV)

The second is Herod’s at the time of Christ, when he beheaded John the Baptist:

Mark 6:21-29

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (ESV)

According to Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary:

BIRTHDAY — the day or anniversary of one’s birth. The word “birthday” is used three times in the Bible: once of Pharaoh (Gen. 40) and twice of Herod Antipas (Matt. 14:6; Mark 6:21). The birthdays of kings and other high officials were regularly celebrated, especially in Egypt and Persia. But the anniversary of a common person’s birth apparently was not celebrated as much as it is today.

So the verdict? Yes, birthdays were celebrated, but mainly for royalty and “other high officials.” And judging from the biblical accounts, the celebrations were elaborate. But the “common person”? Probably not so much.