Many happy returns wish you all the best

I've been trying for years to find out what the traditional birthday greeting: "Many Happy Returns" means exactly. Anybody know?

Chris Prophet, Sweden

• The full phrase "Many happy returns of the day" means exactly what it says. May the day (your birthday) return many times to you and may you be happy. I.e. may you have a long and happy life.

  John Charnock, Warrington Cheshire

• You are being wished many returns of this day, your birthday. In other words you are being wished a long life.

  Roger Thomson, Brighton, UK

• It is short for "many happy returns of the day" and means that the person, who is speaking, is wishing that the person with the birthday will have many more of them, i.e. that their birthday will return many times more and that they will therefore live a long life.

  Liz, Nyköping Sweden

• Many returns of your birthday. A wish for a long life.

  Jonathan, Lancaster, UK

• Presumably it is a cheery recognition that your birthday has returned i.e. you are still alive despite wars, disease, pestilence and the rest!

  Maureen Edwards, Newcastle upon Tyne UK

• I've heard an astronomical explanation of this - the sun returns to the same place in the ecliptic (a solar return), hence the wish that this will happen many more times.

  Simon, Malmo, Sweden