The Strange, Winding History of Birthdays
reflections, theatre & ritual, women's history, community & celebration Ash Singer reflections, theatre & ritual, women's history, community & celebration Ash Singer

The Strange, Winding History of Birthdays

Like most traditions, birthday celebrations as we know them today are shaped by many layered histories.

According to HuffPost, the earliest known birthday reference appears in the Bible: a Pharaoh marks the day of his “birth,” likely referring to his coronation: the moment he was considered divine. In other words, the first recorded birthday wasn’t about the person; it was about the power.

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