We take it for granted that a birthday is special and deserves a celebration, but in fact the passing of human years did not always merit any particular attention. So where does the ritual of cakes, candles, gifts and cards that we know and love today come from? Here’s a delve into the interesting history of birthday celebrations.

Some forms of annual celebration have taken place since the earliest primitive timekeeping methods were used, such as following the movement of the sun and moon and the changing seasons. However, these ancient rituals were thought to relate to marking the annual harvests or the first signs of spring, which were essential to the rhythms of life.

The ancient Egyptians were the first to invent an early form of clock, using sundials to position the shadows of the sun and divide the day into segments. The ancient Greeks introduced the water clock, which measured time with a regulated flow of water. It was thought that this was used as a way to record worker’s hours.

It is thought that these ancient civilisations used the early calendars to celebrate events such as coronations and the birthdays of their gods or leaders, but the birthdays of ordinary citizens were not marked and probably most people did not even know their date of birth or exact age.

By the earliest days of Christianity, a focus on the individual was considered to be disrespectful to God, and instead the birth of Christ and the days of the saints were the most important celebratory events on the calendar. Of course, in the Christian world today, Christmas is still the biggest festive occasion.

The wider celebration of birthdays evolved alongside the changing socioeconomic trends of the 19th century, when the industrial revolution led to an emerging middle class. There was a shift in the way society viewed families and childhood, and it was now considered to be a special time of life that was worth investing in.

The greater focus on the family, encouraged by writers such as Charles Dickens, meant that individual children’s birthdays were celebrated with small gifts and cakes or other treats. The tradition of lighting candles on a cake is thought to have developed in Germany, where it was known as Kinderfest, and was linked to the festival of light.

As the culture became more commercialised, birthday celebrations became more universal and elaborate. Today, all children will hopefully enjoy a party or a special day out with their friends and family, often with a carefully chosen theme. There may be party games and a beautifully decorated birthday cake.

Above all, there will be presents! Even as adults, we continue the tradition of buying a special gift for our loved ones, particularly for milestone birthdays that mark the start of a new decade. It’s a way to express our love and kindness towards others, although it can be a challenge to find a gift that is meaningful and personal.

If you are looking for an unusual gift idea, you may like to consider a Welsh lovespoon, which are hand carved from the finest quality walnut, sycamore, or limewood.