So I was eating the typical cereal this morning when I wondered. "How did people in the past celebrate birthdays when they had nothing to tell the time other than the seasons?" Which made me wonder about birthdays and whether or not they were part of everyday life in the past. Any answer would be greatly appreciated!
I got to know Jan Karski (1914-2000) and wrote his biography. When the centennial of his birth came around a few years ago, there was a vigorous debate in Poland about whether he had been born on "IV/24," i.e. April 24, or "VI/24," June 24. He was inclined to believe the latter date, but he said he had never cared about or celebrated his birthday. The April date was written in the parish register, but he said his mother told him his father had gotten drunk with the priest at the christening; hence the transposed date.