Why Birthdays are Called Longevity

The birthday called Longevity Star has the meaning of blessing, wishing the birthday person to have a long life year after year, year after year.

Ancient Han myths and legends of longevity, for the First Heavenly Father under the great disciple of the South Pole True Lord. Because he is the main longevity, he is also called "Longevity Star" or "Elderly Star". Han Chinese folk believe that worshiping this fairy god can make people live a long and healthy life. Later generations called the person who celebrated his birthday or wished him a happy birthday the Longevity Star.

In the old days, when people wished the elderly a happy birthday, they would hang a portrait of the god of longevity. Although inviting the gods down to earth is often a formality, the birthday party can make the old man happy is real. Families gather, children and grandchildren are present, wine and food are served, and the elderly enjoy the joys of life. Such a scene is a family ritual that expresses filial piety and affection, and the portrait of the birthday girl is an essential symbol of good luck.

Expanded Information

The custom of celebrating birthdays was not prevalent at first, and this may have stemmed from a rustic notion that one's own birthdate was in fact the day of one's mother's crucifixion. Remembering the grace of parents and for their own birthday celebration atmosphere is very incompatible. It was only after the Ming and Qing dynasties that the custom of celebrating the birthdays of the elderly gradually emerged.

The Kangxi and Qianlong Dynasties several unprecedented scale of the event, so that the folk birthday custom can flourish. The most extravagant birthday banquet in history is the Qianlong Emperor organized a thousand old man feast. This year Qianlong 74 years old, and happy to have five generations of grandchildren, claiming to be the ancient and rare son of heaven, ten full old man. He issued an imperial decree to invite the world above sixty years of age on behalf of the elderly *** counting more than six thousand people, to the Forbidden City to the banquet, to celebrate his birthday.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Shouxing (Mythological God of Longevity)