There is something very universal about every person on this planet. We were all born and as a result most people celebrate what is considered to be our day of birth or birthday. However, it is quite interesting to learn how people from different cultures celebrate this special day. Below you will find a guide to various countries from around the world and how its people choose to celebrate birthdays.

INDIA: It is a Hindu custom to allow children to skip school on their birthday. The belief is that a child’s birthday is a day of honor and should be time for the child to reflect, pray and celebrate.

GERMANY: A member of the birthday person’s family gets up at sunrise and lights candle in honor of the birthday person. For how many years old, that is the number of candles lit plus one to grow on. The candles remain lit for the entire day. At sunset or dinner, the birthday person blows the candles out making a wish. If all candles are blown out, the wish will come true.

CANADA: Parts of Canada celebrate with an old Scottish tradition of greasing the nose. The birthday person is caught and greased upon the nose. This is said to make the person so slippery that bad luck slips away.

AFRICA: Many tribes hold initiation celebrations that celebrate multiple children’s birthdays at once. At these initiations, the children are taught about their culture, tribe, traditions and laws of the land.

ENGLAND: Starting in the medieval times, objects such as coins and thimbles were mixed into the batter of the birthday cake. Now known as “Fortune Telling Cakes” these cakes are still a tradition of birthday celebrations. It is said that what you find in your cake is a symbol of your future.

NORWAY: Children of Norway have parties with chocolate cake and chocolate icing. Their homes are decorated in small streamers and candy on the tables. At school, the child chooses a friend to dance with as the class sings the birthday song.

VIETNAM: Everyone in Vietnam celebrate their birthday on the same day also known as their New Year. The individual days of birth are not acknowledged in Vietnam. When making reference to when one was born it is told using the symbol for that year using the lunar calendar. On the New Year morning, children are given what is called “Lucky Money”.

These are just a few of the countries and how birthdays are celebrated in that country. Every country has its own way of celebrating the birthday of its people. It is quite interesting learning how we celebrate the same special occasion in so many different ways. Our differences are just one part of what makes our world so wonderfully diverse!