How are birthdays celebrated around the world?

by Alex Mallozzi

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Birthdays around the world are often celebrated in ways that vary from region to region. Cultural customs often have unique and interesting celebrations for when a person becomes a full year older. Many cultures around the world do not celebrate their birthdays with sugary cake like we do in the states.

For Americans, “A Birthday without a Cake is just a meeting”, but Australian tradition celebrates with “Fairly bread”, a simple slice of white bread covered in butter and multicolored sprinkles. In China, “longevity noodles” are typically eaten on one's birthday. The noodles are unusually long, and are supposed to be slurped as much as possible before bitten, to symbolize a person's longevity.

Other countries’ traditions also celebrate with different events, such as the Russian practice of sticking gifts on clotheslines so children attending birthday parties may take one before they leave. Another celebration that is commonly known is the quinceañera, originating in Latin America, the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday. The quinceañera is a lavish party where food and drink is often served, and dancing is also a widespread practice.