How would you like to celebrate two birthdays? If you are the King or Queen of England, you will, especially if you were born in colder months.
The tradition started back in 1748 with King George II. He was born in November, a month of miserable weather with temps in the high 40s-low 50s and a good chance of rain. When George ascended the throne, he decided that he wanted to celebrate his birthday outside when it would be nice. The close family members would celebrate his November birthday, and the nation could celebrate him in June when they could all come outdoors and really throw him a party. The party is called The Trooping of the Colors.
This practice was observed by Queen Elizabeth II and now, King Charles. The Queen’s birthday was April 21 and the King’s is November 14.
“Trooping the Colour’s name comes from officers displaying their “colours,” the flags representing the different regiments in the British Army, according to the Household Division. The parade’s origins trace back to the battlefield, when a regiment’s colours signaled a rallying point for soldiers, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich.
“In order to ensure that every soldier would be able to recognize their colours, the flag would be marched or ‘trooped’ regularly ’round the ranks,” they state. “A regiment’s colours came to have huge significance for serving soldiers, and the gain or loss of colours were seen as decisive moments in battle.”
“More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will create the stunning display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark King Charles’ official birthday, according to Buckingham Palace.
“Members of the royal family will gather for the special occasion, either participating in
the parade on horseback or riding in horse-drawn carriages as crowds line The Mall in London from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guard’s Parade.
“King Charles will take the salute before heading to Buckingham Palace, where royals will join him on the royal residence’s famous balcony to watch a flypast overhead performed by Royal Air Force jets and the Red Arrows display teams.”1
My assessment is that it all seems a bit pretentious and over-the-top. But this is what you get with a monarchy. They love their pomp, ceremony, and regality.
If you could celebrate two birthdays, would you? John 3:1-3 says, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: (2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Only three places in Scripture use this “born again” phrase: here in John 3:3, 7, and 1 Peter 1:23.
The phrase confused Nicodemus. “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:4-7)
If a person has trusted Jesus as Savior and received the gift of salvation, they have another birthday to celebrate. We often refer to it as their spiritual birthday. The first birthday is the day they came into this world and the second birthday is the day they were saved.
Truthfully, I’ve never met anyone who really celebrates their spiritual birthday. I’m not saying that it’s right or wrong. I’ve just never met the person. I don’t celebrate my own – the first Sunday night of August, 1979. I don’t even think about it when the day rolls around. I think there is a reason.
My earthly birthday, March 16th, is celebrated by others. I don’t throw myself a party. I don’t plan a special dinner. I don’t give myself presents. So, if my family didn’t celebrate it, I wouldn’t celebrate it. In fact, I’d probably lose track of my own age if I wasn’t reminded yearly that I just had another one.
Since nobody celebrates my spiritual birthday – and I’m definitely not suggesting that they should start – it comes and goes without a thought. However, I’m reminded all the time that I have a born again birthday. That’s just a part of the salvation experience for every believer in Christ.
Do you have two birthdays? You don’t have to throw yourself a party but maybe let this be a gentle nudge to thank the Lord for BOTH birthdays. 1 Peter 1:22-23 says, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
1https://people.com/why-does-king-charles-have-2-birthdays-all-about-trooping-the-colour-7509981
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