Birthdays are a celebration that is celebrated almost everywhere in the world. But they are not always celebrated in the same way - birthday customs vary, as do birthday wishes. We have set off on a little trip around the world to introduce you to some of the many different customs.
Happy birthday is said in Germany
Here, it is considered good manners to send out birthday invitations, eat cake and give presents to the birthday child. But even here, there are some regions with very special birthday traditions.
On the 14th birthday, the birthday child is showered with milk and thus becomes a milk boy or milk girl.
On the 16th birthday, it is customary, especially in Friesland, to pour flour over the birthday child. This tradition is also called breading and usually takes place on the way to school.
On the 18th birthday, raw eggs are broken on the head of the now adult birthday child.
If a man is still unmarried on his 30th birthday, he must sweep the steps of the town hall as a public display. He can be saved by a kiss from a virgin. In return, an unmarried woman must knock on doors on her 30th birthday.
Feliz Cumpleaños is said in Latin America and Spain
In Spain and some Latin American countries, the piñata is the centerpiece of birthday celebrations. This is a colorful figure made of papier-mâché that is filled with lots of sweets and fruit and is hung in such a way that it can only be reached with a stick. The birthday child can then hit the piñata blindfolded with the other children until the contents fall out.
They say parabens and muitas felicidades in Brazil
A birthday tradition in Brazil has to do with the ears of the birthday child - here the birthday child's earlobe is pulled as many times as he or she has grown old.
They say happy birthday in England
The English birthday cake always contains a small lucky charm in the form of a piece of jewelry or a coin and a thimble. Whoever finds the lucky charm is said to have a lot of luck and prosperity in the coming year. This tradition is already a very old custom, although nowadays small gifts such as toys are often baked into the cake. According to English custom, whoever finds a thimble in the birthday cake should remain unmarried.
Tillykke med fødselsdagen is what they say in Denmark
The Danes make no secret of their birthdays. When the big day arrives, the house is decorated with a national flag. When it is a child's birthday, the presents are arranged around their bed at night so that they can enjoy the sight of their presents when they wake up in the morning.
They say congratulators with dagen in Norway
Similar to Denmark, a national flag is used to indicate that someone in the house is celebrating a birthday. The birthday child traditionally dances in front of the class on his or her special day while classmates sing along.
Veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag is what they say in South Africa
On their 21st birthday, South Africans receive a key from their parents. This is meant to symbolize the birthday child's responsibility for their future, and with the key, the birthday child is supposed to symbolically unlock the door to this future. Since the key is only symbolic, it can also be made of aluminum foil or paper.
Zhu ni sheng ri kuai le is what they say in China
In China, there is no classic birthday cake, but birthday noodles (“Yi Mein”). They are called “Long Life Noodles”. The Chinese custom is that if you don’t eat birthday noodles on your birthday, it will bring you bad luck. In China, noodles represent longevity, so the noodles you put in your mouth should be as long as possible before you take your first bite. The longer the noodle, the longer your life will be happy and fulfilled.
And there are so many other birthday rituals in the world that are as different as we humans are. Do you have any special birthday traditions? If so, what are they? Let us know how you celebrate birthdays in your own unique way.
