{"id":1281,"date":"2023-02-24T16:25:31","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=1281"},"modified":"2023-02-24T16:25:31","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:25:31","slug":"how-did-ancient-romans-celebrate-birthdays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/how-did-ancient-romans-celebrate-birthdays\/","title":{"rendered":"How did ancient romans celebrate birthdays?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Birthdays were a special occasion in ancient Rome. The birthday boy or girl would wear a special toga called a toga praetexta, which was a toga with a purple stripe. A feast would be held in their honor, and often a special cake would be made. Gifts were also given to the birthday person.<\/p>\n

Ancient Romans did not celebrate birthdays in the way that we do today. Instead, they held a festival called dies natalis (birthday) to celebrate the anniversary of a person’s or god’s birth. The festival usually involved a sacrifice, feasting, and giving gifts.<\/p>\n

What did the Romans do for birthdays? <\/h2>\n

The Roman government created public holidays in honor of more famous citizens, but regular Roman citizens would celebrate the birthdays of their friends and family members. Any Roman turning 50 years old would receive a special cake baked with wheat flour, olive oil, grated cheese, and honey.<\/p>\n

The dies natalis was a day to celebrate the start of something, usually a person or an event. The Romans believed that this day was special because it was the day that the person or event came into existence. For example, if a person was born on the dies natalis, then that person would be considered to be one year old on that day.<\/p>\n

What was birthday in ancient Rome <\/h3>\n