Scriptures
“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
Josephus & the Jews
“Nay indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children…” Josephus, Against Apion 2.26
Early Christians
“And on birthdays, when the lawless word reigns over them, they dance so that their movements please that 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, Commentary on Matthew 10.22
“But Scripture also declares that one himself who is born whether male or female is not ‘clean from filth although his life is of one day.’ And that you may know that there is something great in this and such that it has not come from the thought to any of the saints; not one from all the saints is found to have celebrated a festive day or a great feast on the day of his birth. No one is found to have had joy on the day of the birth of his son or daughter. Only sinners rejoice over this kind of birthday . For indeed we find in the Old Testament Pharaoh, king of Egypt, celebrating the day of his birth with a festival, and in the New Testament, Herod. However, both of them stained the festival of his birth by shedding human blood. For the Pharaoh killed ‘the chief baker,’ Herod, the holy prophet John ‘in prison.’ But the saints not only do not celebrate a festival on their birth days, but, filled with the Holy Spirit, they curse that day.” Origen, Homily 8.3.2 on Leviticus
“We have found that no other people observed their birthdays except Herod and Pharaoh.” Jerome, Commentary on Matthew 2.14.6
“The only men whom we read of, as celebrating their birthdays with festive joys are Herod and Pharaoh, but each, with an evil presage, stained his birthday with blood; Herod, however, with so much the greater wickedness, as he slew the holy and guiltless teacher of truth, and that, by the wish, and at the instance of a female dancer… Now Herod was not ashamed to bring before his guests the head of a murdered man; but we do not read of such an act of madness in Pharaoh. From both examples, however, it is proved to be more useful, often to call to mind the coming day of our death, by fear and by living chastely, than to celebrate the day of our birth with luxury. For man is born in the world to toil, but the elect pass by death out of the world to repose.” Bede, Commentary on Mark Chapter 6 [Mark 6:21]