When it comes to occasions like birthdays, we all celebrate it with birthday cakes, balloons, chocolates, and other delicious treats. But things are not the same everywhere. Each country has its own way of celebrating birthdays. Let’s take a look at some of the more unconventional yet interesting ways to celebrate this personal milestone.
Africa – Initiation Ceremonies are held in various African nations for groups of children in lieu of birthdays. Children, upon reaching a certain age, are forced to learn the laws, beliefs, customs, songs and dances of their tribes.
Argentina – On their 15th birthday, the girls dance to the rhythm of the waltz with their father and other children.
Brazil – Earlobe sweaters. The birthday boy or girl receives a pull on the earlobe for each year he has lived. The birthday person also gives the first slice of the birthday cake to their most special friend, usually mom or dad. At the age of 15, the girls waltz with their father and grandfather. She dances with a total of 15 couples, each of which symbolizes a year of her life.
Canada – Spread the nose with butter. In Atlantic Canada, the birthday boy’s nose is greased for good luck. The greased nose is believed to make the birthday boy too slippery for bad luck to catch up with. This tradition is reputed to be of Scottish descent. In Quebec, the birthday person gets one punch for every year they are alive and then one for good luck.
Porcelain – In China, the birthday boy pays homage to his parents and receives a gift of money. Friends and family are invited for lunch and noodles are served to wish the birthday boy a long life.
Denmark – A flag is waved outside the window to indicate that someone in the house has a birthday. The gifts are placed around the birthday boy’s bed while he sleeps so that he sees them immediately upon waking.
Ecuador – When a girl turns 15, there is a big celebration and the girl puts on a pink dress. Her father puts the first pair of heels on the birthday girl and waltzes with her while 14 maids and 14 children also dance with them.
England – In England, certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is made. If your piece of cake has a coin on it, you will be rich. On top of that, when you have a birthday, your friends give you the “pacifiers”, they lift you up in the air by your hands and feet and lift you up and down to the floor, one for each year and then one for luck, two for the luck and three for the old man’s coconut.
Germany – A member of the birthday boy’s family wakes up at dawn and lights candles on the birthday cake. The number of candles will be equal to the age of the birthday person, plus one for good luck. The candles are left burning all day. That night, after dinner, everyone sings the birthday song and the birthday boy blows out the candles. Then the presents are opened and the party begins.
Guiana – Duck, chicken or lamb curry with rice are the main dishes for the birthday celebration. A family member bakes a fruit, black, or cake for the birthday boy to cut. The birthday person will wear something fancy.
Holland – Birthdays of special years like 5, 10, 15, 20, 21 are called “crown” years. The birthday boy receives a great gift on a birthday of the crown year. The family decorates the birthday child’s dining chair with flowers, streamers, and balloons. At school, the birthday boy can give his classmates chocolates or other things to eat and the teacher makes the birthday boy a special hat made of streamers and paper flowers.
Vietnam – Everyone celebrates their birthday on New Year. Tet is not only the beginning of a new year, but also means everyone’s birthday. The Vietnamese do not recognize the exact day they were born. A baby turns one on Tet, regardless of when she was born that year. On the first morning of Tet, adults congratulate children on turning one year older and give them red envelopes containing “Lucky Money” or li xi. These envelopes are given to children by their parents, relatives, close friends, and siblings.