My good friend Carlos invited me to his birthday party. He moved to Canada from Mexico when he was a baby, but his parents tried to follow some of the Mexican traditions. At his party I saw my first pinata (彩盒). It looked like an animal and full of candies. People put it on the ceiling (天花板). Carlos hit (打) the pinata until it broke. All the candies fell on the floor, and we had a great time eating candies. Everyone shared. It was fun!

Caros’s birthday party got me thinking about how kids in other places celebrate birthdays.

Did you know that in Vietnam, everyone’s birthday is on the same day? Kids do not celebrate on birthdays. Instead, on New Year’s Day (信封) with lucky money in them. What a great way to celebrate birthdays!

In South Africa, kids do not celebrate every birthday. However, on their 2lst birthday, their parents make a key. It can be made of paper or wood. Parents give their child this key. It is a sign from the parents that the child can know “unlock the door to their future life”.

In Japan, children get a new set of clothes on their birthdays. While in Italy adults (成年人) pull children’s cars—one pull for each year. In Denmark, adults put presents all around the child’s bed.

Sixteen is the age in the United States when teenagers can begin driving. It’s a special age.

There’s often a special celebration for a girl’s 16th birthday—a big party called her “sweet 16”. It is like a wedding reception(结婚晚宴).

【小题1】 They must buy a special present for the birthday girl and the girl guests find good dresses to wear. A “sweet-16” present usually costs $40 to $60. This is about $20 more than the usual-cost of a birthday present.

The party itself is not held at someone’s house. The hostess rents(租) a reception hall for the event. Food, cake and a DJ are provided. Around 6 o’clock, guests arrive and greet the birthday girl. Then the girl and her father have a special father-daughter dance. 【小题2】 Then there is the most important part of the “Sweet-16” party, the candle-lighting ceremony. The “sweet-16” hostess stands behind 16 candles and dedicates(献给)each candle to her friends, family, and anything that she feels is important to her. 【小题3】. Afterwards, people sit and eat. Most guests begin leaving around 11 o’clock.

This school year, I have been to two “Sweet-16”. 【小题4】. I’ll have to wait another year before I can have my own special “Sweet-16” party. I can’t wait for it!