“The giving of birthday gifts is a custom associated with the offering of sacrifices to pagan gods on their birthdays.

“Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children”
(Flavius Josephus, Against Apion, Book II, section 26)

Ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth".

Matt. 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. . . . Honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of [Artemis]. . . . *” Birthday” candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes*. . . . Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortun