Birthday traditions in different countries
Africa – In various African nations they hold initiation ceremonies for groups of children instead of birthdays. When children reach a certain designated age, they learn the laws, beliefs, customs, songs and dances of their tribes.
Brazil – The birthday child receives a pull on the earlobe for each year they have been alive. The birthday person also gives the first slice of cake to his/her most special friend or relative – usually mum or dad.
Canada – In Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland) the birthday child is ambushed and their nose is greased for good luck. The greased nose makes the child too slippery for bad luck to catch them. In Quebec the birthday person receives a punch for each year they are alive and then one for good luck.
China – The birthday child pays respect to his/her parents and receives a gift of money. Friends and relatives are invited to lunch and
noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life.
Denmark – A flag is flown outside a window to indicate that someone who lives in that house is having a birthday. Presents are placed around the child’s bed while they are sleeping so they will see them immediately upon awakening.
England – Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it, then you will be rich. Also, when it’s your birthday your friends give you the “bumps” – they lift you in the air by your hands and feet and then bump you up and down to the floor, one for each year then one for luck, two for luck and three for the old man’s coconut!
Germany – A member of the birthday person’s family wakes up at sunrise and lights the candles on the birthday cake. There are as many candles as the years of age of the birthday person plus one for good luck. The candles are left burning all day long. After dinner that night, everyone sings the birthday song and the birthday person blows out the candles. If all of the candles are blown out in one try then the wish of the birthday person will come true. Presents are then opened and the party starts.
Hungary – The birthday child brings sweets to school to give to their classmates.
India – At school the birthday child wears a coloured dress and hands out chocolates to the entire class, with the help of a trusted friend.
Israel – A small child sits in a chair while grown-ups raise and lower it a number of times corresponding to the child’s age, plus one for good luck.
Italy – The child’s ears are pulled as many times as the age they are turning.
Japan – The birthday child wears entirely new clothes to mark the occasion. Certain birthdays are more important than others and these are celebrated with a visit to the local shrine.
Russia – Instead of a birthday cake, many Russian children receive a birthday pie, with a birthday greeting carved into the crust.
United States – A cake is made, and candles are put on top based on how old the person is. Then everyone sings the “happy birthday” song, and at the end of the song, the birthday child blows out the candles. If they blow them all out with one blow, their birthday wishes will come true.
Vietnam – Not only is Tet the beginning of a New Year, it is also everyone’s birthday. The Vietnamese do not know or acknowledge the exact day they were born. A baby turns one on Tet no matter when he/she was born that year. Children say they were born in the year of the symbol of the lunar calendar for that year. On the first morning of Tet, adults congratulate children on becoming a year older by presenting them with red envelopes that contain “Lucky Money”, or li xi. These envelopes are given to the children by parents, siblings, relatives and close friends.