From flour-filled “fights” to butter-greased noses, and even sweeping the steps of City Hall while dressed in drag, there are a variety of ways to celebrate a birthday. Here are some unique birthday traditions around the world that will leave you mind-boggled!
You’d think that birthday celebrations are all about cakes, birthday gifts, and throwing spectacular parties. Typical right? But there’s more than one way to celebrate your birthday in this big ol’ world. Get cultured and read on for 10 of the most unique birthday traditions around the world!
🎉 Now to 31 August 2022: Join us in the month of August as we celebrate our birthday with four #BirthdayTrippin’ episodes for you to win rewards and experiences worth over S$20,000! Jump over here for more info, don’t miss out!
💜 Stay Up To Date:
– Creative Party Themes to Celebrate Your Next Birthday
– Reality Shows Worth Watching On Netflix 2022
– Top 15 Horror Movies To Watch This Season
1. Latin America — Quinceañera
Image credits: Unsplash
We’ve heard of Sweet Sixteens, but what about a quinceañera? A Hispanic tradition thrown to celebrate a young woman’s coming of age on her 15th birthday, quinceañeras are all about marking the beginning of womanhood. A festive celebration that starts off at a local Catholic church and ends in a lavish birthday party bash with dinner, drinks, and dance, you’ll find yourself marveling at the beautiful ball gowns and well-dressed gentlemen in tuxedos. Picture a scene from Bridgeton or even your high school prom night.
Learn more about Quinceañera — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
2. Germany — Single & Ready To Mingle?
Image credits: IGP
Now, I bet you’ve never heard of this one before. A peculiar tradition in Germany that has now since been altered, single German men used to dress in drag on their 30th birthdays and sweep the steps of City Hall! That is – until they find a virgin to kiss… Fortunately, this birthday tradition has been modernized. Now, single men and women spend their 30th birthday bashes drinking cheap booze while sweeping some steps or engaging in other household chores to display their “eligibility” for marriage.
Learn more about this old German tradition — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
3. Australia — Fairy Bread
Image credits: Ostrali
If you ever attend an Australian kid’s birthday party, don’t expect to be feasting on cakes! These Aussie children love their Fairy Bread. White bread spread with butter and topped with a ton of colorful sprinkles, we’ll admit it’s definitely easier to make compared to cake. To this day the origin of this tradition remains unknown. What do you think? Fairy bread or cake?
Learn more about Fairy Bread — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
4. Canada — Nose Greasing
Image credits: ESL Stories – ESL Language
We’ve all heard of the playful tradition of getting cakes smashed into our faces on birthdays. However, in Canada, it’s common to sneakily grease the birthday boy/girl’s noses with butter! For what reason? To get you too slippery for bad luck. Perhaps we all need a butter grease (or two?) on the nose.
Learn more about Nose Greasing — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
5. China — Longevity Noodles
Image credits: The Woks Of Life
One dish commonly found on the banquet table of Chinese celebrations is these Long Life Noodles (yī miàn, 伊面). The longer the noodles, the better! Symbolizing hopes for longevity, these noodles are eaten by slurping entire lengths of noodles without biting them off. Often topped with a browned fried egg and some green vegetable leaves, Longevity Noodles are often paired with a rich bowl of clear soup. Other dishes representing a full and long life include eggs and longevity peaches (shou tao, 寿桃包子).
Learn more about Longevity Noodles — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
6. Russia — Russian Clothesline
Image credits: Photobook Blog
Your kid will never leave a children’s birthday party empty-handed in Russia. With gifts hung on a clothesline at Russian birthday parties, each kid is allowed to pull one down, ensuring every child goes home with a gift. An inclusive tradition that will warm the cockles of your heart.
Learn more about the Russian Clothes Line — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
7. Brazil — Get Floured!
Image credits: Daily Mail
You would think poor Philippe Coutinho is probably getting hated on with all that flour on him. But not to worry because he was actually celebrating his 26th birthday. That’s right, in Brazil, it’s tradition to cover the birthday boy/girl in eggs and flour as if they’re their very own birthday cake! It’s a chaotic mess full of birthday love.
Learn more about how birthdays are celebrated in Brazil — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
8. Korea — Seaweed Soup
Image credits: The Spruce Eats
Often shown in K-Dramas, Korean seaweed soup (Miyeok Guk, 미역국) is often eaten on birthdays or by women who have just given birth — some mothers even eat it for 6 whole months! This birthday tradition is often seen at breakfast in order to honor one’s mother and commemorate their love. Aww.
Learn more about Seaweed Soup — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
9. Spain — Ear Pulling
Image credits: Far & Wide
As Singaporeans, we may have retained some PTSD remembering all the times we’ve had our ears pulled for misbehaving. But ear pulling in Spain means a whole other thing. Spaniards often pull on the ears of the birthday boy/girl according to their age. One tug is given for every year, plus another for good luck.
Learn more about Spain’s birthday traditions — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
10. Vietnam — Tết Holiday
Image credits: Vietcetra
Instead of celebrating individual birthdays, the Vietnamese celebrate turning a year older together on the Tết holiday. Known as the Vietnamese New Year, Tết is quite the birthday bash to pay homage to ancestors and throw family reunions. Much like our Chinese New Year tradition of giving red packets (ang bao), Vietnamese children are congratulated on turning a year older with red envelopes containing “lucky money (li xi)” as well!
Learn more about the Tết Holiday — one of the unique birthday traditions around the world
Get Cultured By Reading Up On These Unique Birthday Traditions Around The World
Now that you’re brimming with knowledge on how different countries celebrate birthdays, you’re ready to educate others on your trip across the world! Whether you’re booking plane tickets or stocking up on travel essentials, don’t forget to pay with your YouTrip card to make full use of our Wholesale Exchange Rates and skip those pesky bank fees.
If you don’t have a YouTrip card yet, sign up now and be sure to check out our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions too! For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram(@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below!
And while you’re at it, why not join the conversation with thousands of #YouTroopers in our very own Community Telegram Group @YouTripSquad? Get tips and tricks to everything YouTrip including exclusive invites to exciting events and experiences, & be part of the #YouTripSquad! 💜
Stay safe, and happy travels!
Related Articles
YouTrip’s Guide To The Best Late-Night Tokyo Diners 2022
Signature Must-Try McDonald’s Items Around The World
The Ultimate New Zealand Bucket List
