What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Young children in Israel will be given a crown made of leaves and flowers. They will then sit in a special chair while their family and friends dance around them.
Perhaps one of the strangest traditions, parents in Switzerland will hire an evil clown for their child’s birthday. And as if that weren't enough, the clown will put a pie in their face for good luck.
Birthdays in Argentina are celebrated with tea sandwiches and sweet pastries called sandwiches de miga and masas. Delicious!
The first slice of cake doesn't go to the person celebrating their birthday in Brazil. They give it to the most important person in their lives. For kids, that’s usually mom or dad.
In some countries, including Spain, Italy, Argentina, and Hungary, friends will pull the ears of the person whose birthday it is. And they'll pull once for every year lived!
A tradition in both Australia and New Zealand, fairy bread is essentially made with white bread, butter, and multicolored sprinkles. It's a must at every kid's birthday party.
Egyptian birthday parties are full of dancing and singing traditional songs. The party will also be filled with flowers and fruit to symbolize growth and life.
Children in Ghana are woken up on their birthdays to eat a fried sweet potato patty called oto. Not a bad way to start the day!
Receiving gifts in Italy is a serious business. You must immediately open the gift when it’s given to you. If you don't, then it's considered rude.
In some countries, such as Germany and Greece, it’s considered bad luck to wish someone a happy birthday before the actual day, or to celebrate your birthday early.
On their birthdays, the Chinese eat extra-long noodles that symbolize their longevity. And they're to be eaten by slurping them in as far as possible before biting.
In ancient times, children often died young. So in Japan, to celebrate their survival, children get dressed up and receive gifts on November 15th. Called shichi-go-san, or 7-5-3 celebration, the name refers to the ages celebrated. The ages are also related to East Asian numerology, which believes odd numbers are lucky.
A person’s first, 10th, and 15th birthday are the most important in Nigeria. They're always celebrated with large parties, full of family and friends.
An Irish tradition, children are hung upside down and are gently "bumped" on the floor. They get one "bump" for every year.
The Vietnamese don't celebrate individual birthdays. Instead, everyone celebrates turning a year older together on the Vietnamese New Year, called tet.
In Canada, boys and girls are sometimes "ambushed" and get their noses greased with butter to ward off bad luck.
An important Hindu tradition, a child will get their head shaved on their first birthday. It symbolizes the cleansing of evil and renewal of the soul.
In many Latin American countries, a girl's 15th birthday is a big deal. Considered to be the beginning of womanhood, a quinceañera begins with a mass and continues with a lavish party.
A popular birthday tradition in the Netherlands is to serve tarts, or taarties, filled with different fruits and topped with fresh whipped cream. You might be lucky and get some popular powdered sugar pancakes with this, too.
Another well-known Latin American, especially Mexican, birthday tradition involves the piñata. Filled with candy, piñatas come in shapes like the traditional donkey, cartoon characters, and even politicians.
When single men in Germany turn 30, an old tradition is for them to sweep the steps of their local city hall. Meanwhile, their friends toss rice, confetti, or the like onto them. This is meant to embarrass them until they can find a woman to hit on.
To add some extra warmth to birthday parties, Russians include gifts for all the children attending. Basically they'll hang up presents on a clothesline and each kid can pull one down before they head home.
Jamaicans will sometimes be "antiqued," or covered in flour, on their birthday. This happens either at an organized party, or as part of an ambush.
In North Korea, if your birthday falls on December 17th or July 8th, forget celebrating it. This is because Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il died on those dates, and the population is supposed to avoid any signs of celebration.
In a gesture of good luck and love, those celebrating a birthday in Venezuela will get caked. So it’s probably best not to bother with makeup!
Children's birthdays in Nepal can get real sticky and messy. It’s considered good luck for the birthday girl or boy to have brightly colored rice yogurt smeared on their forehead.
In most cultures, birthdays are considered an important event that usually consists of a birthday song, celebrating with cake, and receiving gifts. And while these might be some common birthday practices, many countries have their own unique way of celebrating. From having cake thrown at your face to eating long noodles, many of these traditions are quite surprising. And even if they may not represent every household or individual, they'll give you an idea of how birthday traditions differ in other parts of the globe.
Check out the following gallery to discover different birthday customs from around the world. Click on!
In some European countries, such as Germany and Italy, it's the birthday boy or girl who pays for events and buys drinks for their friends.
In Sweden, it's tradition that one's birthday starts with the family getting up early to prepare a nice breakfast. The birthday girl or boy gets woken up with the birthday song, and receives gifts and breakfast in bed.
In New Zealand, after the candles are blown out, the birthday person receives a clap for every year they've lived.
Sources: (Babbel) (Mental Floss)
See also: Delicious party snacks that will please every guest
Unusually delightful birthday traditions from around the world
Not all cultures celebrate birthdays with a sugar rush
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
In most cultures, birthdays are considered an important event that usually consists of a birthday song, celebrating with cake, and receiving gifts. And while these might be some common birthday practices, many countries have their own unique way of celebrating. From having cake thrown at your face to eating long noodles, many of these traditions are quite surprising. And even if they may not represent every household or individual, they'll give you an idea of how birthday traditions differ in other parts of the globe.
Check out the following gallery to discover different birthday customs from around the world. Click on!