Birthdays are considered happy occasions when we celebrate a person’s special day with gifts, sweets, parties and good cheer.  However, looking back into history, birthdays were not always seen as a festive day.

In Europe many thousands of years ago, a person’s birth-day was seen as a fearful experience.  Common belief was that bad spirits could harm the person on the anniversary of his or her birth.  A way to keep the evil spirits at bay was to surround oneself with family and friends, who often brought small gifts or food to share. 

At these protective gatherings, people would use crude noisemakers to scare off the evil spirits lurking about.  The custom of lighting candles and torches also began.  In these days, most people believed that gods lived in the sky and a fire light that is later extinguished would send a sign to these gods. 

Birthday celebrations began to take on a more positive tone during the Middle Ages, but they were still very rare and usually only celebrated by royalty or the very wealthy.  During the Reformation, the recognition of one’s birthday began to be more common. 

During this period, the English people began making cakes for the birthday person, often hiding coins, rings and thimbles inside. 

The concept of children’s birthday celebrations was thought to have first started in Germany and the day was called Kinderfeste. 

Over the centuries, birthdays have evolved from simple events with token presents and good wishes to a significant annual event in people’s lives. Most people now celebrate with a party of some type – especially for children.  Sometimes birthday parties can be lavish events, these usually taking place for adults on what is considered a “milestone” birthday, reached at age 18, 21, 30, 40, 50 and the decades beyond. 

What are the most common birthday traditions in the western world? 
 

Coming of Age Birthdays

In the Jewish faith, the boys have a bar mitzvah on or around their 13^th birthday.  Jewish girls observe the bat mitzvah on or around their 12^th or 13^th birthday. 

Latin America culture has a quinceanera celebration for a girl’s 15^th birthday. 

Girls in the United States have sweet 16 birthday parties, although this tradition has been waning somewhat in recent years. 

In some Asian countries, a child’s 14^th birthday is considered a milestone as society considers it the day one becomes a man or a woman. 

In Christian churches, certain ages coincide with religious events, such as first communion or confirmation.

Teens usually are considered legal adults at age 18, earning them certain rights and responsibilities.

Some African countries hold initiation ceremonies for groups of children.  When children reach certain ages, they learn the laws, customs and beliefs of their tribes.  In South Africa, a key is presented on the 21^st birthday to signify the person is ready to unlock the door to their future.

In Vietnam, Tet is the beginning of a New Year, and it is also the day in Vietnam that is celebrated as everyone’s birthday.  The Vietnamese do not acknowledge the exact day a person is born, so a baby turns one on Tet no matter when it was born.  On the first morning of Tet, adults congratulate children on becoming a year older by presenting them with red envelopes containing lucky money.

Birthday Celebrations Around the World

It’s fascinating to read about how birthdays are celebrated in countries around the world.  Many countries do have a cake, song, birthday candles and gifts, but often there is a little something that will set the day apart from other cultures.  Here is a sampling.

Canada – On the Atlantic side of Canada, the birthday child has his or her nose greased for good luck.  The Scottish tradition says that a greased nose makes the child too slippery for bad luck to catch them.

Argentina – When girls turn 15 in Argentina, they have a huge party and dance the waltz with their father and other boys. 

China – Birthday children in China receive a gift of money and they are the guest of honor at a lunch party where noodles are served for good luck.

Denmark – In Denmark a flag is flown outside to show that someone who lives in the house is celebrating a birthday.  Presents are placed around the child’s bed while they are sleeping so they will see them immediately upon awakening.

Ireland – The birthday child is lifted upside down and “bumped” on the floor (gently, we hope!).  One extra bump is given for good luck.

England – Bumping is also traditional in England, but the person is merely lifted in the air rather than turned upside down.  At the end, the “lifters” say “one for luck, two for luck and three for the old man’s coconut!”  The birthday person also receives an English fortune-telling cake complete with coins or other significant trinkets baked into the cake.  Whatever the birthday person receives in his or her slice will predict their future.

India – Colorful clothes are usually worn by the birthday person in India.  Children, for example, will wear colorful clothes and hand out chocolates to classmates. 

Italy – Ouch!  School age children have their ears pulled as many times as how old they are turning.

Russia – Unlike western culture, in Russia it is traditional to have a birthday pie rather than a cake.  Often a child will have a special birthday message carved into the crust.