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Every family has its own traditions when it comes to celebrating birthdays, and so does every country. You may be surprised to find that not everyone throws a birthday party, bakes a cake, and sings to the guest of honor every year. Consider some different birthday traditions from around the world, as you may get a few new ideas.
In Aruba, it is traditional for the birthday child to bring a small treat to class for their classmates and teachers, while the teachers usually give the child a small present in exchange. In China, birthday children tend to get both money and noodles from their parents, as this food is reputed to help them live a long life. In Denmark, the birthday child wakes up to find presents around his bed, and his family usually puts a flag up at the house to show that it is someone’s birthday.
Some countries celebrate specific birthdays in a special way. For example, girls in Bolivia wear all white and dance the waltz with boys when they turn 16 years old. In Argentina, the best age to turn is 15, as this calls for a big party where the birthday girl gets to dance the waltz with boys, similar to Bolivians. Another country where the waltz is apparently popular is Brazil, where girls do this dance with 15 boys on their 15th birthday.
On the other hand, Cubans tend to celebrate birthdays similar to those in the U.S., though their parties are often larger since they invite nearly everyone they know. Whether you are looking to merely tweak your current birthday traditions, or want to give them a complete overhaul, consider these ideas from other countries.
