Saturday, April 21, 2007
Evalyn: Today’s The Day…
I have it on good authority that Birthday, meaning the anniversary of one’s birth, is really, really old. Genesis 40:20 states, “And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants.”It’s old in English literature, too. In 1382 (somewhat past the Medieval, it’s true) John Wyclif used the word in his translation of Mark 6:21, “Eroude in his birthe-day made a soper to the princes.”
In Julius Caesar, Cassius tells Messala on the plains of Philippi, “This is my birth-day; as this very day was Cassius born.”
Dear Sis: I hope you have a great time. If you’re feeling expansive, you could make a feast unto all your servants. Want something more intimate? Perhaps you and Peter will celebrate with a quiet soper.
Either way, Happye Birthe-day, Evalyn.
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