I had great birthdays. Even jam sandwiches. And my parents weren't religious either.

@GoldenDoll Sure, it has nothing to do with religion / lack of...

@DUCHESSA There we go.

@GoldenDoll And how about surprise parties? I don't like them unless I am told in advance they will give me one.

@DUCHESSA - I HATE surprise parties! Last one my first husband did for me I went straight to the bedroom and didn't come out till all the guests had gone.

@GoldenDoll To each its own; the only time I got an UNANNOUNCED surprise party I told the guests...I'll will be ferocious wich each of you on your birthdays....and I was. LOL

Probably because birthdays and name days are religious in nature and I'm not religious.
I mark the time as my own personal year but not anymore than that, perhaps it would mean more if I had a deep rooting in the idea from childhood but I just don't have that personal history.

@Surfpirate Horsefeathers! Why are birthdays religious?

@GoldenDoll Horsefeathers?? Thanks for posting that, a nice birthday present for me. Birthdays and Namedays are religious and always have been, the same as saints days and days honouring the gods. Where did you think they came from?

@Surfpirate, perhaps they do have some arguably religious undertones, but why shouldn't we enjoy celebrations and holidays? The religious enjoy advants like modern medicine and technology.

@Surfpirate Mine came from my parents, who were not religious. Cycle broken.

@Mea I'm off to my favourite Sushi restaurant shortly and my wife and I will go to see a play after that. I'm not against celebrating the beginning of my own personal year, I just don't want all the religious trappings that are attached to it. My issues isn't with the event but the ritual and the religious connection that goes with it. Wishing you a happy birthday in advance. Cheers

@Surfpirate - where do you think names came from? Really? So people didn't have names before religions?

@GoldenDoll Names have meanings, mine means king or ruler, doesn't mean I am one. Name days are just a variation on birth days. Enjoy yours.

@Surfpirate, I'm honestly not under the impression that most people who celebrate their birthday associate it with its religious origins. You should enjoy the day if it makes you happy, it doesn't make you any more or less of an atheist.

@Mea I did enjoy my day, the sushi was amazing, I connected with friends on several continents and even though the play we went to was amateur it was still fun. Same time next year and no cake or candles then either.

@Surfpirate I think your comments emphasise how much damage the indoctrination of children into religious practices can do, and how hard it is to free yourself from them. One day you'll maybe be able to see why you think the way you do about a harmless "ritual". I wish you well in your recovery.