Birthdays are important moments in everyone’s life, and, therefore, are celebrated as one feels and most desires. It’s your party and you can (even) cry if you want to. But sometimes, certain birthday traditions from the country you live in take control of what’s about to happen. From bumps to noodles. Let’s take a look at some unique birthday traditions around the world.
Birthday Bumps
In countries such as Ireland and the UK, crying at your own party might just be reality! Just kidding. Still, 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 says 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.
Greased Nose
In Canada, especially on the Atlantic side, it is a common practice to 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!
Australian Fairy Bread
Now here’s a delicious tradition. In Australia, instead of a birthday cake, you are more likely to get “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.
Meanwhile, in India
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. Also, 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.
Chinese Longevity Noodles
On their birthdays, the Chinese eat 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.
You can always call your family and friends to say Happy Birthday, Feliz Cumpleaños or Alles Gute zum Geburtstag. There’s a time for everything, so let this be a time for celebrating your loved ones.
