Spare a thought for those who celebrate a birthday in January. With the country collectively unpickling their livers, giving their bank balances a much needed rest, and pledging to go meat free for the month, the appetite for celebration tends to be somewhat suppressed during the new year’s first month.
Should you be keen to breathe new life into your birthday and give it a different twist this year, or you’re simply curious about customs from across the world, then you’ve got to the right place; from flowers to flour, here are some unique ways birthdays are celebrated in different cultures around the world.
CANADA: GREASE THE NOSE
In Canada, the birthday boy or girl is pinned to the ground and their nose is smeared with butter or grease, all in the name of making them too slippery for bad luck to take hold in the coming year.
Another Canadian tradition is that a wrapped coin is hidden among the layers of the birthday cake. If you find the coin, you get to go first in all of the party games!
How to say Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday or Bonne Fête
SWEDEN: BIRTHDAYS IN BED
In Sweden, it’s traditional to wake the birthday boy/girl up, no matter how old they are, and serenade them with ‘Ja må du leva’ while they’re in bed. It’s also custom to open birthday presents in bed, too!
When it comes to cakes, the Princesstårta (Princess Cake) is by far the most popular confectionary to enjoy on birthdays in Sweden. This cake was named in honour of the three princesses, Margaretha (from Sweden), Martha (from Norway), and Astrid (Queen of the Belgians), and is a layered cake of sponge, pastry cream, raspberry jam and whipped cream. The cake is covered by a layer of green marzipan, giving it a smooth, rounded top, and a truly distinctive appearance.
It’s not uncommon to give flowers to someone on their birthday in Sweden. If you’re going to send ‘födelsedagsblommor’ which means birthday flowers, then our friends from Bloom Post recommend sending Sunflowers, Mini Carnations, Gerbera Daisies, Snapdragons, Miniature Rose and Cyclamens.
How to say Happy Birthday: Grattis På Födelsedagen
MEXICO: CAKE FACE
In Mexico, after singing a special birthday song called ‘mañanitas’ (or little mornings), guests shove the face of the birthday boy or girl in the cake for good luck. The tradition, known as the ‘La Mordida’, happens since it’s considered good luck for the birthday boy or girl to take the first bite of their cake without using utensils. Thus, a helping hand is offered! In fact, you’ll find this tradition popular across South America, too.
Las Mañanitas is a traditional Mexican birthday song sung in Mexico. It’s usually sung as an early morning serenade to wake up the birthday boy or girl.
When it comes to gift-giving, flowers are always a good choice in Mexico, coming second only to tequila in the present buying popularity pyramid. However, be sure not to give Marigolds. Often called “flowers of the dead”, Cempasuchil, or Flor de Muerto, are strongly associated with the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Dahlias are Mexico’s official flower. When given as a gift, they are a symbol of a commitment. As such, they are often used in floral arrangements at weddings and given at anniversaries. Avoid giving purple flowers as they are reserved for funerals. On the other hand, white flowers are seen as being uplifting.
How to say Happy Birthday: Feliz Cumpleaños
JAMAICA: THROWING FLOUR
From flowers to flour…
In Jamaica, the birthday boy/girl celebrates their special day by having flour thrown in their face by ‘well-wishers’. Often, they will be anointed with water first to ensure that the flour truly adheres to the celebrant’s face.
This flouring tradition also happens in Germany, but only on your 16th birthday! On your 18th birthday in the country, the flour is replaced by an egg.
How to say Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday, or Happy Earthstrong in Iyaric, the Rastafari language
CHINA: SLURPING NOODLES
All across East Asia, noodles represent longevity and a long, prosperous life. It’s believed that the longer the slurp, the longer your life will be, and because of this, it’s important not to cut the noodles with your chopsticks or spoon as you’re eating them.
In fact, in China, whenever it’s a family member’s birthday (even if your aunt, for instance, lives on the other side of the world), the whole brood eats noodles to confer a long life on the celebrant.
Every culture has superstitions around gift-giving and China is no exception. While fruit baskets are always a good thing to give here, be sure not to include a pear – the Chinese word for ‘pears’ sounds the same as the word for leaving or ‘parting’ and as such, is considered bad luck.
Gifting flowers for a loved one’s birthday in China can also get a little complex. Red flowers tend to denote a fortunate, prosperous future, and are the safest bet. Steer clear of white flowers entirely, as well as yellow chrysanthemums, both of which are reserved for funerals.
Anyway, speaking of noodles…
How to say Happy Birthday: 生日快乐 (or, ‘shēngrì kuàilè’)
RUSSIA: PULL THE EAR
In Russia, a wonderfully childish tradition exists where you get to pull the birthday person’s ears as many times as their age, plus one for luck. This is often accompanied by the saying ‘’grow up; don’t be noodles’’, which is an encouragement to mature into a tall and strong adult. This pulling ear tradition is also popular in Brazil.
Interestingly, 40th birthdays tend not to be celebrated in Russia. This is because, in the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition, it’s believed that the 40th day after death is your soul’s judgment day. On this day, a memorial service for the departed is traditionally held. Therefore, it’s considered back luck to celebrate your 40th in Russia, and the year’s birthday celebrations are usually skipped.
How to say Happy Birthday: с днем рождения (or, ‘s dnem rozhdeniya‘)
AUSTRALIA: EATING FAIRY BREAD
This iconic sweet treat, consisting of soft white bread spread with butter and sprinkled with hundreds and thousands, has graced Australian birthday party tables for decades. However, as Mashed writes, “you do not have to be young to enjoy this food fit for Tinker Bell.’’ In fact, an Australian birthday party is the perfect excuse to indulge in some treats usually deemed only fit for kids!
In Australia, your 21st birthday is considered the ‘big one’, and will often be celebrated with a huge barbeque party and an extravagant gift that symbolises a transition into adulthood, such as a car, from mum and dad. Incidentally, in South Africa, your 21st is also considered your most important birthday, with parents giving their child a symbolic key as a gift on this date.
How to say Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday Mate
KOREA: A BOWL OF SEAWEED SOUP
Originally a postpartum food for mothers, in Korea seaweed soup is given to new mums to replenish the nutrients in the body after going through the tiring process of labour. As such, the tradition of eating seaweed soup by Koreans on their birthday stems from that simple way of honouring the mothers who brought them into the world.
So how do you make it? As Korea.net explains “The preparation of this soup is simple, with just dehydrated seaweed, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, salt and water needed as ingredients. Throwing in meat or seafood adds protein but beef is the meat of choice, though coastal areas add mussels or white fish. Even with these variations, the seaweed remains the star of the dish.’’ Sounds downright delicious to us!
How to say Happy Birthday: 생일 축하합니다 (or, saeng-il chu-ka-ham-ni-da; a polite and respectful way to say it)