Global Cultural Celebrations
At Wiin, we are delighted to be celebrating our 1st birthday - but how best to celebrate? Being a truly international association, we have our pick of ways. We're fascinated by how many other cultures celebrate their special day. Do you know any of these birthday traditions?
UK
In the UK a birthday is celebrated every year, for children and adults alike. Typical traditions are wrapping presents, singing Happy Birthday, and hosting parties, surprise or planned. While there is no traditional birthday meal, we enjoy a cake – with a special mention to the Caterpillar Cake which has risen in popularity in the last few years, in fact more than 15 million Colin the Caterpillar cakes have been sold since it was introduced in 1990.
The Happy Birthday song is one of the most well recognised songs in the world, and it was previously under copyright by Warner Chappell Music, who collected licences when it was played. In 2015 the copyright claim was declared invalid, leading to a payback of $14 million in fees!
In the UK you may also be subjected to the Birthday Bumps – a tradition that is also popular in India and Canada, which involves taking the birthday person by their arms and legs and flinging them up and down in the air (reasonably gently)!
Germany
If we are celebrating the German way, we need to get that date precisely right. For most Germans, being wished a happy birthday before the day itself is a sign of bad luck - so we wouldn't want to mark the date a minute sooner! That being said, in Germany you can celebrate "into" a person's birthday at midnight (known as "reinfeier"), so this is always an option, and definitely the WiiN style!
Mexico
Ever dreamed about getting head first into a cake on your special day? The birthday to emulate is that of one in Mexico. One Mexican birthday tradition is “la mordida,” when the celebrator has their hands tied behind their back and their face shoved into a cake for the first bite - while everyone chants “Mordida! Mordida! Mordida!" translated as "bite, bite, bite!"
Hungary
If you've already had a face in a cake, why stop there? We could make like the Hungarians who not only wish a birthday boy or girl good luck and a happy birthday by telling them, but also by pulling on their earlobes just before they open a present! The accompanying song they sing is not the same as Happy Birthday, but roughly translates as “God bless you to live so long, so your ears reach your ankles”.
Denmark
Have you heard of the kagemand, or a cake man? If you are a child celebrating a birthday in Denmark, you will be very excited to see you kagemand. Created from sweet dough, he can be decorated with clothes, hairstyles and looks – or even be turned into a girl.
It’s also worth enjoying your birthday right up until your 25th – as on this date, Danes have a licence to pelt you with cinnamon if you are still unmarried at this time!
Japan
Did you know that birthdays (being seen as an individual celebration) were not celebrated until after the Second World War? The traditions from the west have now made their way to Japan, and candles are blown, presents are opened and The Happy Birthday song is sang in English! This song dates all the way back to either 1859 or 1893 – there is some debate to it’s origins.
China
In China, it’s not typical to celebrate a birthday each year, and instead there are large celebrations for key milestones of the first birthday and then the 10th, 60th, and 70th. For a child’s first birthday, friends and relatives enjoy a lunch with long noodles called “longevity noodles” as a way to mark a wish for the child’s health and long life.
Ghana
Unlike in some cultures where we top up on our birthday week with alcohol and multiple cakes, in Ghana, during a person’s birth week they have a cleansing ritual that helps to purify the birthday person’s soul. During the cleansing, here they dress in white and washes using a special soaked leaf, followed by a feast in their honour.
South Korea
Just like in many other cultures, South Koreans celebrate on the day of their birthday with a birthday cake, but they also typically enjoy miyeok guk (Korean seaweed soup), which is said to be packed with vitamins. Because this is typically a meal a pregnant woman will eat, it is eaten again to represent a mother's love. (And there’s
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, the BBQ is fired up, and the sweet treats are piled up high. Cake, ice cream, jelly, canned fruit and condensed milk, all served with Horchata (a spiced cold milk drink).
Sweden
In Sweden it’s best to make the most of your celebrations as a child, as if you like surprises, when you grow up you’ll be planning your parties yourself – as adults are expected to plan their own birthday celebration if they wish to have one. Whether a child or an adult, the Swedish happy birthday song is called "ja, ma du leva," or "yes, may you live” – with a solid 8 verses!
We’ve loved exploring some of the cultural differences in birthdays. Each country prioritises food and singing – so this is definitely on the agenda for the WiiN birthday celebrations.
Hip Hip, Hooray!