The Strange Origins of American Birthday Celebrations
For most people, birthdays were once just another day. Industrialization changed that.
The idea that everyone should celebrate their birthday is, weirdly, not very old itself.
Not until the 19th century—perhaps around 1860 or 1880—did middle-class Americans commonly do so, and not until the early 20th century were birthday celebrations a tradition nationwide. In fact, the song “Happy Birthday” is not far beyond its own 100th birthday.
Throughout history there are of birthday festivities around the globe, but the honorees tended to be either rulers, such as Egyptian pharaohs, or powerful members of an
