Birthday Traditions from around the World

By Noemi Zaccaria

In most Western cultures, birthdays are celebrated with cakes and candles. In the following, we take a look at some unique ways of celebrating, from bumps to noodles.

Birthday Bumps

In countries such as Ireland and the UK, you might want to watch out on your birthday! Tradition states that the person celebrating is taken by the arms and legs and then is “bumped” up into the air and down onto the floor. This is repeated one time for each year of their age — plus an extra bump for “good luck”!

Birthday Ear Pulling

In Italy, Hungary, Argentina, and other countries, a similar tradition to the birthday bumps dictates that you wish a happy birthday by pulling on the earlobes of the birthday boy or girl. This is done once for each year of the person’s age.

Geburtstag in Germany

When it comes to wishing someone a happy birthday in Germany, there is a strict rule that must be observed: no one should say Alles Gute zum Geburtstag before the actual birthday. Breaking this rule is not only considered rude, but also bad luck. For the same reason, birthday parties are never celebrated early. If your birthday is on a Monday, for example, you would have the party on the following weekend if you don’t want to celebrate during the work week.

In addition to that, the person celebrating the birthday is the one supposed to buy drinks for their friends or bring cake to work, unlike in many countries where it is the other way around.

Australian Fairy Bread

In Australia, instead of the big classic birthday cake, you are more likely to see “fairy bread”: sliced white bread spread with butter and covered with hundreds of colorful sprinkles. This desert is very simple, but it is definitely a favorite among children and adults and a must-have at birthday parties in Australia, as well as New Zealand.

Greased Nose

In Canada, especially on the Atlantic side, it is a common practice to sneakily grease the birthday boy/girl’s nose with butter. By doing so, the greased nose will make the person too slippery for bad luck. The amount of butter even increases as you get older!

Birthday Fun in Mexico

The large Mexican birthday parties are celebrated with a piñata, which is a festive object or an animal made out of papier mâché and crafted in bright colors. The piñata is always filled with candies, treats, and small toys for birthday kids, and party goers take turns trying to break it — while blindfolded — by hitting it with a bat or stick.

What’s more, a birthday celebration in Mexico cannot end without “the cake in the face”. If it is your birthday, you are supposed to bite the creamy cake without using your hands, while everyone shouts Mordida! Mordida! Mordida! — which means “bite”. After that, your face will be pushed into the cake!

Thoughtful Birthday Cards

Writing a nice and sincere card is the most important part when it comes to wishing someone a happy birthday in Russia. In fact, Russians like giving long and thoughtful cards and messages, with wishes for love, success, and health. Writing a simple “Happy Birthday” would be considered unthoughtful and might cause disappointment.

Moreover, at school, children usually receive small gifts on their birthsay, such as books and pencils, from their teacher and classmates.

Chinese Longevity Noodles

The Chinese opt for eating a plate of long noodles, which symbolize longevity. In order to have a long life, one should slurp the noodles whole, without biting them off or breaking them with the chopsticks.

Birthday Traditions in India

It is common to see younger Indians bending down to touch their elder’s feet in a sign of respect. During someone’s birthday in India, it is possible to see this practice as well: children — who are wearing brand new clothes for the occasion — touch their parents’ feet to show respect and thankfulness for giving them life and for looking after them.

When giving a birthday present in India, it is important to keep in mind that wrapping gifts in black or white paper is considered to cause bad luck.

Celebrating on New Year’s Day

According to old traditions, in Vietnam, everyone should be considered a year older on Tết, the Vietnamese New Year that falls in January or February. For this reason, some people still celebrate their birthday on New Year’s Day. Nowadays, this tradition is not very common, but some older generations still celebrate their birthday this way.

About Noemi Zaccaria

Noemi studies Languages & Communication for Business & Tourism in Italy and is currently working as an Editorial Intern at InterNations. She loves travelling, calligraphy, and home decor. In her free time, you will most likely find her in a nice coffee shop chatting with a friend in front of a warm cup.

Article Topics

Culture & Traditions

Being Grateful and Finding Positivity as an Expat

For many expats, 2020 has been a difficult year and it is easy to fall into despair. But even when times seem dark and desperate, there are always things that can bring you happiness. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, now is the time to reflect on all the things you can be thankful for this year.
How Learning a Language Can Help You Settle In

When you first move abroad, figuring out where to begin with your new life can be overwhelming. From building a social circle to finding out more about the culture and history of your new city, learning the local language can make your whole settling in process a whole lot easier!
Living Sustainably and Giving Back to Your Local Community

Sustainability and community go hand in hand! From food to free time, take a look at how you can make small changes to your routine to ensure that you are taking care of Mother Nature, while at the same time giving back to fellow citizens in your new home.
Creative Greetings in Times of Physical Distancing

Physical distancing is a necessity during this pandemic, but it has also created a new problem: how should people greet one another if they can’t shake hands, hug, or kiss on the cheek? With some creativity, you can find other ways to greet people, and it might even be a great conversation starter.
Making the Most of Social Distancing — Checking In without Checking Out of Your Home

Social distancing can help prevent the coronavirus from spreading further, however, many of us question how we can still stay in touch and connected with our loved ones. This article will provide you with tips on how to stay social during this social distancing period.