The Strange, Winding History of Birthdays
Like most traditions, birthday celebrations as we know them today are shaped by many layered histories.
According to HuffPost, the earliest known birthday reference appears in the Bible: a Pharaoh marks the day of his “birth,” likely referring to his coronation: the moment he was considered divine. In other words, the first recorded birthday wasn’t about the person; it was about the power.
The Producer Hat
At some point, I started producing. I don’t remember when the switch flipped. Ash and I just clicked—she’d start something, and I’d be there pulling out the calendar, making the spreadsheet, booking the venue, tweaking the copy. I’ve since produced five original IVP shows, and helped shape them into something that can tour, transform, translate. Versions adapted for radio, restaged for new venues, even performed in new languages. Stories evolve—and so do we.
Moments of Non-Reflection: Just Being
This got me thinking about the origins of April itself. Some believe the name comes from the Latin word aperire, meaning “to open”—symbolizing the earth waking up after the cold of winter. Normally, this would push me toward action and growth. But when I look at the buds on trees, I see that they stay still and patient before they open to the world. They sit. They wait. They listen to nature. And I’m reminded of how powerful moments of stillness can be, especially when everything around us feels like it’s rushing forward.
Look Back in Hope
Right now, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The endless corruption, the fear for those we love, and the uncertainty of how to even begin to fight back—it can be paralyzing. The arts community, too, is weighed down by these same forces. But if there’s one thing history has shown us, it’s that those in power have always tried to control the work of artists. This is a fight as old as art itself. And though the current moment may be terrifying, the quote “history repeats itself” doesn’t always have to be a bad reminder. As a historian, sometimes looking back gives me the exact story I need to remind me that artists always find a way to resist.