Know Some Famous Birthday Traditions Across the Globe

Happy birthday! Bonne Fete! Joyeux Anniversaire! No matter how you greet the celebrant, an occasion like a birthday is considered the most important and significant event in almost every culture. The hype around the day is to the extent that there are different traditions associated with it. From long noodles to celebrating everyone’s birthday on the same day – most birthday celebrations go way beyond blowing candles and going out for a party. This blog furnishes you with some of the never-heard-of-before and famous birthday traditions across the globe.

Denmark

You will find a Danish flag being flown outside the celebrant’s house. Any of the family members would tiptoe into the birthday girl or boy’s room when they are sound asleep and surround her or him with gifts. The person wakes up to a birthday bonanza! Moreover, the birthday kid also gets a special birthday cake – a cake man or a cake lady – the head had to be chopped off and eaten first.

Vietnam

Quite surprising but the Vietnamese do not celebrate their actual birthday. No matter the day or year they are born, the people of Vietnam celebrate their birthday together on the Vietnamese New Year, the day known as ‘tet’. This way, when in Vietnam, you don’t need to remember birth dates anymore.

Germany

While in Germany and celebrating someone’s birthday, you should never say Alles Gute Zum Geburtstag before the actual birthday. It is considered both rude and also a sign of bad luck. For this very reason, people never throw birthday parties before the actual day. Say, your birthday is on Tuesday and because of the day being a working day, you may throw the party on the following weekend not earlier than the actual day. Furthermore, the birthday boy/girl, buy drinks for their friends or even bring birthday cake to work.

Canada

In some parts of Eastern Canada, the birthday person often has their nose greased with butter. The underlying reason behind this birthday tradition of nose-greasing is to ward off bad luck. Also, in some parts, kids get birthday bumps according to their age.

China

Eating long noodles is among the much-practised and famous birthday traditions of China. This symbolises their longevity and they are supposed to slurp the one as much as possible before they bite it off or it breaks in between.

Mexico

Mexicans actually celebrate their birthday in the sweetest and happiest manner possible. They smash the birthday piñata filled with candy while being blindfolded. This tradition in particular is filled with fun and laughter. Just watch out for your head while being a part of the celebration!

Russia

While at a Russian birthday party, you will find gifts, particularly for the children attending. Adults hang up return birthday gifts on a clothesline and each kid can pull one to take home with so everyone gets something and that also as per his/her own wish! Here’re some amazing return gifts for birthday you can pick from. Last, but not least, it’s a common sight to see the birthday person digging into a personalised pie on their birthday.

India

Though it’s a common practice in India for younger ones to touch the feet of their elders as a mark of respect and thankfulness, it is done without fail on one’s birthday. People usually wear new clothes, go out to parties or simply take an off and chill at home.

Jamaica

For Jamaicans, drenching their friends with flour on their birthday is a part of the tradition. No matter the age of the celebrant, he/she is covered with flour from head to toe by family and friends. This can either be a part of a party or a carefully planned ambush.

Australia

Australians or Aussies enjoy a traditional birthday treat, i.e. a Fairy Bread. It is basically a plain white bread that is slathered with a layer of yellow butter and covered with hundreds or thousands of multi-coloured sprinkles. The dessert is strictly reserved for birthdays; if eaten at any other time of the year, it’s accompanied by other items.

Well, these were some of the famous birthday traditions that are practised across the globe. If you know any other interesting tradition, share it with us in the comment section below. Also, let us know which of the listed ones you would like to incorporate in your or your dear ones’ birthday celebration.