Q&A Home > B > Birthdays

How can we celebrate birthdays in a Christian way at home and Sunday school? I personally, prefer to celebrate the baptism date over the birth date.

The practice of celebrating birthdays can be found within the Holy Bible. We know that King Herod celebrated his birthday with evil. He invited nobles, high officers, and chief men of Galilee to a feast on his birthday and during the evil celebration (provocative dancing, swearing, broad promises, open admiration of his brothers' wife, and most certainly strong drink) was lured into beheading St John the Baptist.

Certainly this gives one an example of how not to celebrate a birth date.

The Church encourages joy and gladness at birthdays. The Holy Gospel of St Luke 1: 14 tells us about the Holy birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. This joy and gladness should be directed to God with all thanksgiving.

This verse further tells us "many will rejoice in His birth." Celebrations with the Lord Jesus Christ as its focal point are acceptable whether at home or in church.

Please note that if one child's birthday is celebrated in the Church, all children’s must be. No one child is to be left out. If this is impossible home celebrations should be encouraged. All children are the same in the sight of the Church and their birthdays should be accorded the same response. Servants should acknowledge all birthdays within their respective classes by a card and a Bible verse of a famous birth within the Holy Bible. This is a wonderful opportunity for teaching as well as celebrating.

A birthday cake and a small biblical gift from the priest are acceptable for celebrating within the Church in the fellowship hall following a Divine Liturgy or church event. The servant from the appropriate class is responsible for coordinating this with the priest before the birth date.

Also I would like to encourage celebrating the Baptism day since it is our real birthday in which we are born again through the Water and Spirit.