Unique Birthday Traditions From Around the World

It’s your birthday! 

Bring out the balloons, colorfully wrapped gifts, ice cream and cake heavily laden with buttercream frosting.

It’s the one day of the year that even “healthy” eaters will skip checking the ingredient list and fat and sugar content in the spirit of celebrating another year of life. 

Even conscious shoppers will spend $6 or more on a birthday card for their friends and loved ones.

And even the meanest of parents will venture into Chuck E. Cheese’s or the trampoline park for two hours of complete chaos surrounded by hundreds of overstimulated children.

In America, birthday traditions are well, pretty traditional.

Birthdays in many other countries are celebrated in some unique ways and with some interesting twists.

Just for fun, let’s look at traditions that are a part of birthday celebrations in 10 other countries. You might get a few new ideas for your next special day.

China - In China they skip the sugary cake and instead eat a plate of long noodles symbolizing longevity. 

Under the tradition, you slurp in as many noodles as you can without taking a bite, until your mouth is full and you can slurp no more. 

When a baby is born in China, he is considered one year old. 

On his second birthday, the child is placed on the floor surrounded by objects. Custom has it that the first object the child touches will determine what she does with her life.

Russia - Children in Russia look forward to school on their birthday, as tradition dictates that the student bring everyone candy on her special day.

The clothesline birthday tradition is a unique way of doing party favors in Russia.

Mom hangs a clothesline and clips small gifts along it. The children play games and pluck their party favors from the clothesline.

A birthday pie is more common than a cake, and the birthday card holds special importance. Cards come filled with heartfelt messages.

Apparently, merely writing “Happy Birthday” on a card would be seen as inconsiderate. 

Throughout the year, it is common practice for parents to confiscates toys and other items from children who misbehave.

Legend has it that ghosts wrap up some of these items and return them to children who can show good behavior throughout the rest of the year. So a Russian child’s birthday gifts may be a mix of new and returned items.

Germany -  Germans share the American traditions of candles, cake, and presents, but have an added bonus of requiring no homework or chores from the birthday girl or boy. 

The most interesting birthday tradition comes for men over 30, however.

If you are still single at this “old” age, you sweep the city hall stairs while your friends throw garbage at you.

This serves as public notification of your availability, and may be a way of showing potential mates how good you are at cleaning!

Ecuador - In Ecuador you celebrate your birthday on day the saint you were named after was born, rather than on your actual birthday.

For whatever it’s worth, it is still custom to give someone a card on the true day they were born.

Vietnam - It’s one big party in Vietnam, where everyone celebrates their birthday on the same day. 

That’s right, the entire country is engaged in celebrating their birthday on a day called Tet, which also signifies the beginning of the new year and usually happens in January or February.

Kids do get money from their parents on this day, which might take a little sting out of the absence of having your own special day.

Holland - Much like the U.S. celebrates certain landmark years such as 16 and 21, in Holland special emphasis is placed on the Crown Years, which occur at ages 5, 10, 15, 20, and 21.

On these birthdays you get big gifts, along with lemonade and hot chocolate.

Jamaica - Although the origin is not clear, it’s a well-established tradition to throw flour on birthday boys and girls of all ages in Jamaica. 

This can happen by ambush or as part of an organized party.

And for those who are really into a good time, the celebrant is covered in water before the flour throwing begins.

Canada - In many parts of Canada, tradition is to ambush the birthday child and smear butter on her nose to ward off bad luck.

The theory is the butter makes her too slippery for bad luck to be able to attach itself to her throughout the coming year.

India - On your first birthday in India, you celebrate by having your head shaved over a special fire to symbolize cleansing and renewal of the soul.

Fortunately, as you get older and are more able to remember your birthday, while the celebrations retain a ritual element, they also include singing happy birthday, and everyone participating in feeding the birthday boy cake.

Switzerland - In a tradition that takes the cake (so to speak) when it come to weirdness, Swedish parents hire an evil clown to follow and torment the child the week before her birthday. 

Apparently, the purpose is to build excitement and most kids love it.

The clown ends his duties by putting a pie in the birthday child’s face for good luck.

The Kids Party Characters Tradition

Maybe this look at how other countries celebrate birthdays has given you some ideas for family traditions you’d like to start (or avoid!) when it comes to celebrating.

One tradition that will delight kids of all ages is choosing their favorite character to invite as their special guest at their party each year.

With over 200 characters to choose from at KidsPartyCharacters.com, your child will never outgrow our selection.

At KidsPartyCharacters.com we have packages for everyone, including extras like cotton candy, face painting, and balloon twisting.

Get started planning your child’s next party today by visiting us at KidsPartyCharacters.com.

And be sure to join us on Facebook for party ideas and inspirations, and daily updates on all that’s going on with KidsPartyCharacters.com