Although we know Romans celebrated birthdays, we don't know if they wished one another the exact phrase 'Happy Birthday!' But that doesn't mean we can't use the Latin language to wish someone a happy birthday. The following seems to be the best way to express 'happy birthday' in Latin.
And not only that, but these birthday quotes are all on funny, touching or romantic images, because a picture can help say so much more. This collection contains birthday greetings for anyone you know who is having a birthday including birthday wishes for a friend. We hope you have enjoyed these happy birthday quotes, wishes, and images.
Felix sit natalis dies!
Using the accusative case, specifically the accusative of exclamation, felix sit natalis dies is one way to say 'happy birthday.' Similarly, you could also say felicem diem natalem.
Habeas felicitatem in die natus es!
Habeas felicitatem in die natus es is another possibility. The phrase roughly translates to 'on happiness to love you.'
Natalis laetus!
A third way to wish happy birthday is Natalis laetus mihi! if you want to say 'happy birthday to me.' Or, Natalis laetus tibi! if you want to say 'happy birthday to you.'
Celebrating in Ancient Rome
The ancient Romans observed different types of birthday celebrations or dies natales in Latin. Privately, Roman men and women marked their own birthdays and the births of family members and friends with gift-giving and banquets. Fathers gave presents to their children, brothers gave presents to sisters, and slaves gave presents to their master's children.
One custom was to celebrate not on the specific date an individual was born but rather on the first of the month (calends) in which the individual was born, or the first of the next month.
Gifts given on birthdays include jewelry; the poet Juvenal mentions parasols and amber as gifts, and Martial suggests togas and military clothing would be appropriate. Birthday feasts might have entertainment furnished by dancers and singers. Wine, flowers, incense, and cakes were part of such celebrations.
The most important feature of Roman personal birthday celebrations was a sacrifice to the genius of the housefather and the juno of the housemother. The genius and juno were clan symbols, representing a person's patron saint or guardian angel, who guided the individual throughout life. Genii was a sort of middle power or intermediary between men and gods, and it was important that votive offerings be given to the genius each year in hopes that the protection would continue.
Public Celebrations
People also held similar celebrations for the birthdays of close friends and patrons. There is a wide variety of elegies, poems, and inscriptions commemorating such events. For example, in 238 CE, the grammarian Censorinus wrote 'De Die Natali' as a birthday gift for his patron, Quintus Caerellius. In it he stated,
'But while other men honor only their own birthdays, yet I am bound every year by a double duty as regards this religious observance; for since it is from you and your friendship that I receive esteem, position, honor, and assistance, and in fact all the rewards of life, I consider it a sin if I celebrate your day, which brought you forth into this world for me, any less carefully than my own. For my own birthday gave me life, but yours has brought me the enjoyment and the rewards of life.'
Emperors, Cults, Temples, and Cities
The word natali also refers to anniversary celebrations of the founding of temples, cities, and cults. Beginning with the Principate, Romans also celebrated the birthdays of past and present emperors, and members of the imperial family, as well as their ascension days, marked as natales imperii.
People would also combine celebrations: a banquet could mark the dedication of an association's banqueting hall, commemorating an important occasion in the life of the association. The Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum includes an inscription from a woman who donated 200 sesterces so that a local association would hold a banquet on her son's birthday.
Sources
Argetsinger, Kathryn. 'Birthday Rituals: Friends and Patrons in Roman Poetry and Cult.' Classical Antiquity 11.2 (1992): 175–93. Print.
Ascough, Richard S. 'Forms of Commensality in Greco-Roman Associations.' The Classical World 102.1 (2008): 33–45. Print.
Bowerman, Helen C. 'The Birthday as a Commonplace of Roman Elegy.' The Classical Journal 12.5 (1917): 310–18. Print.
Lucas, Hans. 'Martial's Kalendae Nataliciae.' The Classical Quarterly 32.1 (1938): 5–6. Print.
Welcome to our collection of funny birthday wishes that you can use to wish your friends, colleagues or family on Facebook or in person.Both you and birthday boy/girl are sure to get a laugh or two from all of the funny ways to wish them “Happy Birthday”. Upgrade from boring birthday wishes, and enjoy the memes and messages below.
Funny Birthday Wishes
1. Happy Birthday! May you live to be old and toothless.
2. Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Candles are years
Happy Birthday to you!
Violets are blue,
Candles are years
Happy Birthday to you!
3. Blow me, says your lighted candle! Happy birthday buddy.
4. Forget the past, forget the future and please forget the present too as I did forget to get you one. But happy birthday, dear.
5. Happy birthday! I hope you get dope and happiness. Sorry, hope and happiness.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes with Wine!6. Another year closer to getting those senior citizen seats on buses! Happy birthday.
7. Another birthday comes by with more candles on your cake and less hairs on your head!
8. Dear hubby,
You define my past and my future.
And as for the present, I could find nothing for you. So I bought one for myself.
You define my past and my future.
And as for the present, I could find nothing for you. So I bought one for myself.
9. I hope you enjoy your birthday just like when you were born in this world. Without clothes.
10. Once in many years, people with great passion and brilliance are born into this world who aims at the greater things in life. And today one of them would like to wish you a very happy birthday.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Foodies!11. I was going to give you something awesome for your birthday, but they wouldn’t let me courier myself to you. Hence, Happy Birthday!
12. I wish almighty embraces you with luck to follow up those dreams and also a bucket of water to wake you up from them.
13. One more year of warming your butt on my couch. Happy birthday!
14. Happy birthday buddy. Don’t you worry about getting so old. That was something that happened years ago.
15. Happy birthday and welcome to the ’29 years old forever’ club!
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Dog Lovers!16. Happy birthday man, and if someone calls you old, whack him with your walking stick.
17. There is no way in hell that I could have forgotten your birthday.
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Because a sweet little angel called Facebook reminded me!
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Because a sweet little angel called Facebook reminded me!
18. Take two pieces of cake, one in each hand and you’ll be on a balanced diet.
19. Hit a donkey with your foot and have a kick-ass birthday!
20. Wishing the most beautiful and intelligent person I know a great day. That’s me. And to you a very happy birthday.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Accountants!21. Happy birthday gal, I am political enough to remember your birth date but to forget your age.
22. Happy birthday dude. Enjoy another 365 days of an all-expense paid trip around the sun.
23. Good luck getting a cake big enough to fit all those candles! Happy birthday buddy.
24. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays. May you have the energy and excitement of a 2-year-old but not the amount of their teeth.
25. Thanks for always being older than me. Happy birthday buddy.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for DJs!26. You are just getting younger in reverse! Happy birthday!
27. Happy birthday! May you live long enough to see Amazon delivering on the moon.
28. Happy Birthday, son! Your existence taught me the valuable lesson of protection of one’s assets.
29. Your birthday gives me one more chance to gift you stuff that I need. Happy Birthday dear brother!
30. May you get everything that you wish for, and your wife knows nothing about it too! Happy Birthday!
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Granddaughters!31. Happy Birthday! Nope, it wasn’t a Facebook reminder.
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Your mom called and told me nobody wished you.
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Your mom called and told me nobody wished you.
32. So where do you plan to spend your birthday at? The dentist’s place or at the chiropractor’s? Happy Birthday, dear!
33. Why is it called a birthday? It’s not like you were being born throughout the day. I mean, your mom could have been in labor for a long time, but that doesn’t count as your birthday right. They could have named it Labour day and celebrated it. Oh, but that would have been confusing. Not like most people know what Labour Day is about. Oh, what was I talking about? Happy Birthday!
34. Happy Birthday to the 18-year-old with 32 years of working experience.
35. So, if you could just get the cake, food and the booze, I can get rest of the party home. Happy birthday, bestie!
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Golfers!36. Happy 15th anniversary of your 18th birthday (If the person is 33 years old).
37. In case you feel lonely, neglected, unloved or simply forgotten, they say you should just take a loan and miss a few payments. Or better, just change your birthday to tomorrow on Facebook!
38. Happy ‘two minutes of intense awkwardness when people sing around, and you have a hold on to that smile all that while!’
39. You are so old that there is a bonfire on your cake. But happy birthday!
40. The worst thing about your birthday is that everybody knows we grew up together and it reveals my age too. But still, happy birthday to my all-time bestie.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Horse Lovers!41. I might not remember where I placed the car keys at our age, but I surely remember your birthday! Have a great birthday.
42. Wishing you another great year with newer wrinkles and greyer hairs.
43. Happy ‘sitting on your Facebook and typing a thousand thanks to people you don’t know’ day!
44. You were born at the expense of 3899999 sperms. But Hey! It’s your birthday!
45. What goes up, comes down. Well, except your age, right? Happy birthday dude.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Fiances!46. Happy birthday dude, hope your mustache grows at least this year.
47. Happy birthday to you and that newborn wrinkle on your cheeks.
48. Happy 18th! Here’s to all the legal activities you will indulge in now and still be judged!
49. Birthdays: The one time in the year when you have your name on something you didn’t buy yourself. Happy Birthday!
50. Happy Birthday to you! I wish you get everything in life as easy as you got fat.
Click Here for More Funny Birthday Memes!51. Start counting the cavities in your mouth, rather than the candles on your cake. Happy Birthday!
52. Happy birthday to the ugliest fart I’ve known.
53. Let’s face it; this is probably the only day in the year you look fine. Many more to come.
54. Happy birthday and my heartfelt condolences to you for aging up!
55. Only if discovery showed animals celebrating their birthdays… Yes! You’d be on television!
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Motorcycle Riders!56. Nobody really cares about clapping and singing the happy birthday song, what everyone really has their eyes on, is the cake.
57. I’m just glad that we could become as close friends as you inviting me to your birthday party!
58. Only call me for the after party with all the alcohol and chicken.
59. Yesterday is past, tomorrow is not known, and present… I didn’t get one.
60. Blow out the goddamn candles and give us the cake! Global warming is increasing way too fast.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Cat Lovers!61. I took my day off from the office today, so you and I can have a nice chat over your retirement plans.
62. I got you a stress ball as your present. With all the tension of growing old you know.
63. Blowing out those candles and wishing to get rich over night? Keep blowing! Cause that shit doesn’t work.
64. With this another year of passing, I hope you start acting your age and not your shoe size.
65. You’re not 45. You’re 20 with 25 years of experience.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Runners!66. I’ve never heard of Superheroes wanting any gifts, but I have heard that they throw the greatest parties.
67. I’ve been your best friend through thick and thin… and it’s only fair that I get to kick you the most.
68. This birthday party won’t even be happening if your parents knew your actual marks. So get me the biggest piece of cake, half your gifts, and some money, please.
69. Happy birthday… blah, blah and blah… CHEERS! Birthday wishes!
70. If you really want to look young and thin and pretty on your birthday call everyone’s grand moms and grand dads and play chess and poker.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Photographers!71. Happy Birthday! Isn’t it? Wait, let me just confirm it on Facebook.
72. It is just a package deal! You get older and wiser. Nope, you can’t have just the latter! It doesn’t work that way. Happy Birthday!
73. Here’s to another year of endless fights, prank games, sneaking out of homes and keeping each other almost sane. Have a good one bud.
74. With another year gone, don’t start assuming you’re an adult now.
75. Did you know you make the best pasta in the world? Hint: pasta brunch for your birthday party!
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Older People!76. I wanted to give you a dog for your birthday, but then my mom said you’re way too clumsy to be handling a dog. Until next, happy birthday!
77. Today I have gathered the courage to stand in front of you, look into your eyes, hold your hand and tell you… that I am only here for the cake.
78. With today happening you should get your birth certificate verified as it says expired.
79. Candles on the cake don’t determine your age. So save the wax, and bake more cake.
80. Wearing a tiara over your head and giving everyone birthday caps won’t be making you any younger.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Male Best Friends!81. Everyone should buy two cakes on their birthdays as one can be smeared over the face with absolutely no regrets.
82. Don’t trouble your lovely mother to host a grand party at home. Just get us drunk, and we all go home happy!
83. Happy Birthday! No, I did not forget. And it’s not that late. Technically, it still is your birthday in America.
84. Don’t they say love is all you need? So I didn’t get a present but double the love. Happy birthday.
85. I never understood the point of taking a photo when there’s cream stuck in hair; icing slathered all over the face cause that’s when you’re looking the ugliest. Birthday wishes!
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Female Best Friends!86. Happy birthday! You’re not old obviously. But if you were my cereal I’d check the expiration date before consuming it.
87. Do you know why older people wear a cardigan with everything? Don’t worry you’re one year close to finding out. Happy birthday you old birdie.
88. Just know you’re getting old when you need an umbrella in the rains.
89. Happiness is like uprooting of your nail, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the pain. Just like what you’ll feel today. Happy birthday!
90. Time and tide wait for none, but the time can stand still for a woman of your age.
Click Here for 20+ Funny Birthday Wishes for Younger Brothers from Older Sisters!91. I got you a killer gift offering a facial which you can avail when your cake comes out.
92. Inside every old person, there’s a child thinking where the time went.
93. Living as an old man is better than not living at all right? Happy birthday!
94. Here’s wishing you a hundred wall posts and tweets from people you never talk to! Happy Birthday!
95. You’re not 40. You’ve only lived twenty years twice.
96. I know this is early, but since I haven’t gotten an invitation, I thought of letting you know that none of us are planning any surprise party.
97. The only thing that comes without effort or hard work is old age.
98. Happy Birthday best friend. Now let’s go to the corner and bitch about people who didn’t wish you today.
99. If white is not your favorite hair color, you might have some problems with the increasing age.
100. I wanted to post the longest fanciest birthday message on Facebook for you today, but I had typers block.
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