Birthday Traditions

Birthdays are celebrated around the world. Some traditions are quite similar from country to country: candies, cakes and birthday wishes. Others are quite different. Here are a few.

Argentina

In Argentina, as in many Latin American countries, one of the most important birthday parties is a girl’s fifteenth. When girls turn fifteen, they have a huge party and dance the waltzfirst with their father, and then the boys at the party.

Denmark

A flag is flown outside a window to show that someone who lives in that house is having a birthday. Presents are placed around the child’s bed while he/she is sleeping.

The Netherlands

Special year birthdays such as 5, 10, 15, 20, 21 are called the crown year and the birthday children receive a very large gift. You can always see flowers around the child’s chair.

lsrael

A small child sits in a chair while adults lift it up and down a number of times according to the child’s age, plus one for good luck.

Japan

The birthday child wears new clothes to start the day. Certain birthdays are more important than others and these are celebrated with a visit to the local shrine. These are the third and seventh birthdays for girls and the fifth for boys.