What does the Bible say about birthdays: is it a pity to celebrate them?

Is it a pity to celebrate a birthday? Does the Bible say such commemorations should be avoided? Did the devil originate on the day of birth?
The earliest testimony of a birthday celebrated in the Bible is that of an Egyptian pharaoh at the time of the patriarch Joseph. Joseph, one of Jacob's sons, lived between 1709 and 1599 BC and spent most of his life in Egypt. The account of this event is in Genesis 40.

Our birthday example starts with a baker and a butler who served Pharaoh. They were both prisoners for causing their ruler's wrath on themselves. As they languish in prison, they meet Joseph. A married woman had thrown him in prison when his sexual advances were rejected.

One night, a few days before Pharaoh's birthday, both the baker and the butler have strange dreams.

In the butler's dream, he sees a vine that has three branches. He describes Joseph's dream and claims that he is holding the cup of the Pharaoh. With the cup in his hand, he then “took the grapes (from the vine) and squeezed them into the cup and gave them to him (Pharaoh)” (Genesis 40:11).

The baker then tells Joseph that he dreamed of having three baskets on his head. The upper basket contained Pharaoh's baked goods, where the birds ate them (Genesis 40:16 - 17).

What dreams would ultimately mean to the butler and baker, as foretold by Joseph under God's inspiration, would come to fruition three days after Pharaoh's birthday. The butler was returned his work to the service of the ruler, while the baker was hanged (Genesis 40:20 - 22).

Some people have reasoned that since a birthday hanging has taken place it is therefore wrong to celebrate the day of a person's birth. This is a "guilt by association" argument that doesn't make much logical sense. While one person lost their life when the Pharaoh commemorated his birth, another gained their freedom! Not only that, but in the end it was thanks to the butler that Joseph's life was ultimately spared!

After being saved, Joseph continued to save his entire family (the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel) from famine in the land of Canaan (see Genesis 45 and 46)! All in all, what happened because of a birthday would be a strong argument for keeping them, since the day happened more than bad!

The only other mention in the Bible of a birthday is that of Herod Antipas (one of the sons of Herod the Great). The account is in Matthew 14 and Mark 6.

In short, Herod had thrown John the Baptist into prison because of the comments condemning his marriage to Herodias. Both Herod and his wife wanted to put John to death. Herodias and his daughter Salome, on the day of Herod's birthday celebration, conspired to deceive him so that he was forced to kill the Baptist.

Salome's dance was so happy with Herod that he promised her anything (Mark 6:23). He requested John's head on a plate, a gross and evil request that was met.

Herod's birthday was secondary to the general desire to get rid of John. Using John's death on the day Herod decided to throw a party to celebrate when he was born as a reason to avoid rejoicing in his own birth is a fallacious "guilty by association" argument.

The Bible does not say that it is a sin to celebrate a birthday. There is simply no teaching regarding these events in one way or another. There are no verses that state that it is wrong to keep track of the passing years of one's life. It is acceptable for a family to rejoice that a patriarchal father reaches a great age, or to hug and love a child, giving them a gift and congratulating them on their special day!