What if your city threw itself a birthday party every year for over 2,700 years straight?

Happy Birthday, Rome! The City's Epic 2,000+ Year Party

How an ancient city threw the biggest birthday bash in history!

Ancient Romans celebrated Rome's birthday on April 23rd with bonfires and epic parties!

Imagine a city so proud of itself that it throws a MASSIVE birthday party every single year — for over 2,000 years! That's exactly what Rome does on April 23rd!

According to ancient legend, Rome was founded on this very day in 753 BCE by twin brothers named Romulus and Remus. But here's the wild part — these twins were supposedly raised by a WOLF! A real, actual wolf mom who kept them safe when they were babies. How cool is that?

The Romans called their birthday celebration 'Parilia' (say it: puh-RILL-ee-uh). Originally, it was a festival to honor Pales, the goddess who protected shepherds and their fluffy sheep. But the Romans decided it was also the perfect day to celebrate their amazing city!

During Parilia, Romans would jump over bonfires — yes, actual fires! They believed the flames would bring them good luck and keep away bad things. They'd also decorate their homes with flowers and have huge feasts with their families and friends.

💡 Rome's symbol is a wolf nursing two baby boys because legend says a she-wolf raised the city's founders, Romulus and Remus!