What is your plan for your birthday, t-mates? Sometimes you might be wondering, is it the same for everyone else in another continent of the world?
It is not something so far-fetched that birthday celebrations are often done in various different ways for other countries. Well, the celebration itself might vary depending on the cultures and some other traditional influences from their respective country. If you are curious though, we have a list of wonderful birthday celebrations from around the world. Let’s have a peek at each of them, shall we, t-mates?
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Festivity and Diversity of Birthday Celebration
Remember that the number of your candles atop the birthday cake does not define you, t-mates! After all, age is just a social construct that shall not dictate your feelings. Thus, do not let the festivity of our birthday party die down so easily. Check out these birthday celebrations from all around the world that might kindle your excitement even more!
1. Candy Shower with Pinata in Mexico
Sweetness overload is how we are going to spend the birthday party in Mexico. As most of you might have known before, the country has its distinctive property for a birthday party, that is a pinata. It is a candies container that is commonly made from colourful cloth that is meant to be crushed by the birthday girl/boy using a stick. No worries though, the fun activity is done under a safe environment and no harm done is guaranteed.
The tradition itself does not discriminate against anyone, meaning everybody from all ages could be part of the gaiety. Yep! Everyone is welcomed to smack the pinata away and bring the explosion of the sweet candy from inside the pinata. Be ready to shower amidst a birthday party, but instead of water you are going to be embraced by goodies of candies, lollipops, toys or some other things.
Yeay! This time is a cue for Las Mañanitas, a birthday song from Mexico, to play.
Happy Birthday in Spanish: Feliz cumpleaños!
2. Boopsie Boops the Nose in Canada
We all know that any sincere wish for our birthday coming from our relatives are precious. Just as priceless as knowing they are always keeping us in their prayers. What an exhilarating feeling to have! However, in Canada, there is a fun and unique way to convey the message. Well, when words are not able to do their jobs then let’s put some work to it.
Place your bet, t-mates, what is going to be the quirkiest way to congratulate someone on their birthday? Is it to crack an egg on their head, something that most of Indonesian do? Or perhaps to splash them with a bucket of cold ice water? Dingdong! None of them come close to the birthday tradition in Canada.
The Canadian birthday boy/girl is expected to have a greasy nose at their birthday party. The grease is a result from all the butter the relatives have sneaked to put on their nose. Wow, it must be a funny additional ornament to their nose! The tradition that is called a buttered nose is meant to throw away all the bad luck. So, in a way, the relatives are wishing the birthday boy/girl to have a year ahead filled only with fortunes.
3. Showtime for Birthday Men in Germany
Somehow it has been common sense in some countries to treat a birthday boy like a majesty and to attend to all the wishes they are having. It is not going to be an exaggeration even if we were to throw them a birthday party. Or so we thought! Apparently, the sense does not match quite well with the birthday tradition held in Germany.
There is a designated birthday scheme for the men in Germany, specifically those who are yet to be married by 30. The plan is to get them to sweep the City Hall or any other public places where everyone is free to roam around and witness the act of the birthday boy.
However, if you think the whole thing is meant to put them into a shame then nope! The purpose of the tradition is to show off the expertise of the birthday boy to the women around, that they are also good at cleaning. It’s such an interesting take, isn’t it, t-mates?
It is even funnier to watch when you know there is not a time limit for it, but instead, a miracle to happen. Yep! The said miracle should come in the form of a woman’s kiss. It is as though you are tuning into a princess movie. But rather than the bride, now the birthday boy has to receive a kiss in order to put an end to the torture.
Happy Birthday in German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
4. Turn Yourself into a Cake Material in Jamaica and Brazil
Did you get to experience the merriment of a birthday celebration after school, t-mates? No, not the birthday party one. But the one wherein all your friends are teaming up against you to rain the flour and crack the eggs on you. Laughter is bubbling freely within your chest as you are turned into an unbaked cake. Ah what a dear memory!
In Jamaica, the birthday boy/girl are bound to be going through the same occurrence as you, t-mates! However, instead of doing it in secrecy at any given time throughout your birthday, Jamaican people are making it as a tradition in a birthday party. So, perhaps they are more prepared to be showered by all the flour and eggs. Well who knows?
It may seem like a yucky one for some people, but children in Jamaica and Brazil are always looking forward to the tradition. Though messy and grimy, the tradition undeniably makes the party more alive with all the laughter and whatnot. To top it all, the birthday presents are going to be given to the birthday boy/girl afterwards. This will certainly be the best appetizer to your dinner, isn’t it, t-mates?
Happy Birthday in Portuguese: Feliz Aniversário!
5. Always a Warm Birthday in South Korea
One of the prominent things we are looking forward to during our birthday is to have a home meal cooked by our family. Most of us choose to spend our birthday intimately with our family and relatives rather than having a huge and full of noise party. Indeed, to each their own. However, it is always a pleasant feeling to have someone cook for us, isn’t it, t-mates? Moreover, on the day we were born everything looks extra special in the eyes.
This sentiment is probably shared nationwide in South Korea, for they are always serving a home meal cooked to those who are celebrating a birthday. They will get a bowl or two of seaweed soup on the day of their birthday, as a substitute for a birthday cake. The soup itself is going to be cooked personally by their closest relatives.
So, if you happen to celebrate a birthday in South Korea, do not act so surprised when the people there ask you a question about having a seaweed soup for your birthday, as it is one of the delightful birthday traditions in South Korea. Well, are you interested in making a seaweed soup for yourself on your next birthday, t-mates?
Happy Birthday greetings in Korean: 생일 축하합니다 (saeng-il chukha-hamnida)
6. Soul Cleansing in India
Have you thought about sacrificing something so valuable to God, t-mates? A way to cleanse your soul from the dirt you have been piling up all throughout the year. If you were to do that, what is something valuable that crosses your mind for the ritual? Don’t think in such an extreme way for this one. Honestly, we might as well peek at how India people are celebrating their birthday, to have a better knowledge about the sacrifice ritual.
Some of you might have known that India is a country that is rich with Hindu rituals and practices. Thus, it is such an ordinary life for them to be celebrating birthdays in accordance to Hindu rituals yet does not let the festivity die down. In addition to the birthday party, traditional Indian families celebrate their birthday by getting their hair shaved.
This is the sacrifice to the God we are talking about before. A practice that is meant to bring the birthday boy or girl good luck in return. Besides, the bareness of their head has also become a symbol of a newborn soul. Something like cleansing their soul. The practice is also accompanied by wearing colourful clothes to school and distributing chocolates to their classmates. Such a sacred tradition, isn’t it, t-mates?
Happy Birthday greetings in Indian Language: Janam din Mubarak!
7. Slurping Noodles for Birthday Party in China
China is well-known for their wise way of living their lives. It can be seen from the way they put meaning in every little detail of their daily lives. So, what kind of wise meaning could China possibly specify for birthday t-mates? Yep, it is noodles! The meal that is loved by nearly the entire residents of the world.
Birthday celebrations in China start with the birthday boy or girl having a serve of long noodles as their meal. The noodles itself symbolize longevity of life. In other words, it is to wish the birthday girl or boy a long life ahead. Hence, in order to aim for the best score, they have to slurp the noodles as a whole without parting them apart in the midst. Let’s slurpie Slurp the longevity, t-mates!
Here is a pro tip for giving a birthday gift to Chinese people! Generally, they are going to appreciate any gifts from you. Except! For stuffs that symbolize mortality such as knives, candles, handkerchiefs and so on. Therefore, you must be thorough in choosing the birthday gifts, t-mates! Let’s not
Happy Birthday in Chinese: 生日 快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè)
8. Earn the Lucky Money in Vietnam
Vietnam may not have a tradition specifically set for a birthday celebration as most of them deem birthday celebration as something that is not a necessity. You could say they may carry on with their life as usual like nothing extraordinary is happening during your birthday. However, they are still wishing the birthday boy or girl a sincere wish for their new ages.
There is also a designated tradition to those who share a common birthday on Vietnam’s New Year, or best known as Tet. The Vietnamese children will receive li xi or the lucky money during this time of the year. Bet it will be so memorable!
Happy Birthday in Vietnamese: Chúc mừng sinh nhật!
9. Count Your Blessing for Each Age in Italy
In every new age, coming with them is a brand-new blessing for you, t-mates! Do you still remember some of the blessings you received during your previous birthdays? You will probably have a taste of reminiscing with a little stimulation, will you not?
The stimulation you will receive in Italy is ear-pulling, an amusing tradition for a birthday celebration. When Italians have a birthday celebration, the person will have to be willing to get their ears pulled in accordance with their own age! Aw! Would it be a hurtful experience? Maybe yes if you are celebrating your 20th birthday since your ears are going to be pulled 20 times!
Happy Birthday in Italian: Buon compleanno!
10. Treating Family and Friends to Lunch or Dinner in Indonesia
Holding a party of your own or treating your colleagues and your family to a fancy dinner, does that sound familiar? That is just how it is as an Indonesian, adhering to a tradition of century-long in any occasion, including a birthday party!
Even though it is your day, people close to you will expect to be treated to lunch or dinner. During a birthday party, usually the birthday boy or girl bought a lot of good foods and share them with friends.
Besides eating together, in Indonesia, the birthday boy/ girl will blow up the candle on the cake and share the piece of cake with their loved ones.
Happy Birthday in Indonesian: Selamat Ulang Tahun!
11. Smash-cake in America
Lastly, there is the smash-cake tradition in the United States, t-mates! This tradition is usually done by children whose birthday is at the first age. True to its name, America’s children will be allowed to crush birthday cakes in their presence.
Not only that but they were also asked to eat the cake until it fell apart! Wow, this unique tradition does sound fun, right? 😀
Go on a Trip Across the World for More Amusing Birthday Traditions
Do you know that the world is such a vast canvas for us to paint, right, t-mates? Thus, there are still various birthday traditions from diverse cultures left apart from the ones we listed above. For instance, in Greece, saying Happy Birthday before the actual date is believed to be bringing you bad luck! Omg indeed!
Now, are you ready to give the best birthday present for your loved ones, t-mates? If so, let’s book them a flight ticket to their next birthday vacation. No doubt they are going to love you even more for it!
book flight tickets at tiket.com
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