In my newly purchased "Handwörterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens" ("Dictionary of superstition and folk magic in German language countries") (10 vols., 1927-1942, Swiss editorial board), I've stumbled across a beautiful explanation for the origin of the celebration of people's birthdays, of birthday parties, and the exchange of birthday presents.

In the whole Greek, Roman, and Persian cultural aera before Christ it was assumed that with the birth of a child a good demon had chased away the evil demons. That is: The birth of a child was already the sign (evidence) that a good demon had succeeded against the evil ones. In honour of and gratitude to this "deus natalis" ("god of birth") celebrations were held and offerings presented. Thus a birthday party was not the celebration of the person born but a celebration of gratitude for the guarding demon that had ensured the save birth of this person. (Today we would rather speak opf one's guardian angel.)

I find this custom beautiful in at least two respects:

* Not the person but his/her good demon is acknowledged.

* Whereas in Christianity the newborn child is already sinful (and wicked, which is why early baptism is required), in this custom the arrival of the baby is *by being born* already evidence that the good demon had been successful, i.e., the birth of the child is already a sign of peace.

Given these origins, I'm more inclined than before to accept birthday parties.