Birthdays Traditions Around The World

People celebrate birthdays in many different ways. Traditionally, you may think that everyone has a birthday cake topped with flaming candles. But not everyone has the same traditions. So many places around the world have unique and amazing ways to celebrate.

One of the main ways that people celebrate is by food. In most cultures, food is used as a way to bring people together.

For example, in South Korea most people make a seaweed soup to serve with breakfast. Mothers also eat this soup after childbirth because it is full of nutrients.

In Russia, most families make personalized pies with the person's name. The pies can be sweet or savory, it is up to the person who’s birthday it is.

In China, they eat noodles on your birthday. This tradition represents how long you will live. Traditionally, the noodles are served in broth with a fried egg, but each family has their own way to celebrate longevity.

In Australia, they make a fairy bread. It is a buttered bread with frosting and sprinkles.

In the Netherlands, they make taarties and pancakes to celebrate birthdays. Taarties are Dutch tartes filled with fruit, and topped with a dollop of whipped cream.

In Sweden, they make a princess cake on your birthday. Princess cakes have layers of marzipan and whipped cream ,covered in green fondant. Marzipan is sweet almond paste.

In Ghana, they make a spicy yam and egg mash called Oto. It is traditionally made in a huge pot and fried in palm oil, infused with onions. It is served for breakfast.

In Mexico you get the well known Arroz con Leche on your birthday. Arroz con Leche is a cinnamon rice pudding that is served warm on birthdays.

These are only a few of the many colorful and flavorful ways people celebrate birthdays around the world. Some other cool birthday traditions are:

In Argentina, they pull your ear the amount of years you have been alive, instead of spanking wich is a tradition for a lot of American families. This tradition is for friends and family of all ages. It is considered bad luck to wish people a happy birthday in advance in Argentina, along with many other places around the world. Another birthday tradition is throw eggs, flour, and polenta at the birthday person when they get to school or work.

In Norway, they have a birthday song like ours in America. The birthday song has a dance to go with it and if you are in school you can choose a friend in your class to do the dance with you.

In Russia, they have a birthday song, but they also have a tradition called the “clothesline tradition.” The clothesline tradition is were people put up a clothesline with small gifts for children and adults at the party.

In Germany, they share a lot of the same birthday traditions as we do, along with not having to do chores, or homework. If you are a single man that is older than thirty, you have to get garbage thrown at you while sweeping stairs.

Most children in Ecuador have two birthdays. On the day that they were born they get a card. Oon the day that the saint that they were named after was born they have a full celebration.

In Vietnam, everyone celebrates their birthdays on the same day. This day is called Tet. Tet is known as the beginning of the New Year. On Tet, children get money from their parents and relatives.

In India, children get to wear new clothes. Another birthday tradition of India is to show respect to your parents. One way people do this is by touching the parents feet.

In Holland, they have what are known as Crown Years. Crown years are years where you get a big celebration with gifts and food. The Crown Years are 5, 10, 15, 20 and, 21.

We can conclude that not everyone celebrates birthdays the same way. From sweet treats to respecting your parents, there are many unique birthday traditions around the world.

Sources:

https://www.bustle.com/articles/136530-11-cool-birthday-traditions-from-around-the-world

https://team.org/blog/birthday-traditions-around-the-world/

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