‘Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.’
— Genesis 40:20
‘But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod’
— Matthew 14:6
Perpetua answered to his face and said, “Why do you not at least permit us to be refreshed, being as we are objectionable to the most noble Caesar, and having to fight on his birthday.”
— Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas (c. 205, W), 3.704.
And on birthdays, when the lawless word reigns over them, they dance so that their movements please the word. Someone before us has observed what is written in Genesis about the birthday of Pharaoh and has said that the worthless man who loves things connected with birth keeps birthday festivals. And I, taking this suggestion from him, find nowhere in Scripture that a birthday was kept by a righteous man. For Herod was more unjust than that famous Pharaoh. For the latter killed a chief baker on his birthday feast. But the former killed John.
— Origen (c. 245, E), 9.428.
Icon of St John the Baptist
Sherry 