# Q. about birthday celebrations **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220 "2002-11-17T23:37:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/1 "2002-11-17T23:37:23Z")
I’m putting this in General Questions because I’m looking for specific answer (if there is one), as opposed to polling what different ceremonies are performed. Here in the USA I would venture to say it’s tradition all across America to sing Happy Birthday, and have a Birthday Cake with candles. My question is this: Is this just an American thing? Those of you from other countries, what (if any) is the traditional way of celebrating a birthday where you’re from? Do you have a birthday song? What are the words? I didn’t search the archives. If this has been discussed before many apologies. E3 ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/2 "2002-11-18T00:08:32Z")
**UK** : Cake - _check_. With candles - _check_. Singing [Happy Birthday](http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/birthday.htm) - _check_. I suppose giving presents to the birthday boy/girl is too obvious to mention, but I mention it anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/3 "2002-11-18T00:16:23Z")
In my experience (in Latin America and Europe), the American tradition, with minor variations, has spread around the world. It’s not even traditional to celebrate birthdays in many countries, so it’s not surprising they would adopt the American tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/4 "2002-11-18T00:17:48Z")
Australia and New Zealand Cake with candles Song: Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday dear Skogcat Happy birthday to you P.S. It is generally acceptable to not use my name when it is someone elses birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/5 "2002-11-18T00:21:39Z")
Did it start off as an American tradition? ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/6 "2002-11-18T02:41:32Z")
Sweden: Birthday cake, presented to person in bed early in the morning. Candles check. Translated birthday song: Yes may s/he live, Yes may s/he live, Yes may s/he live, For a hundred years. Surely s/he will live, (x3) For a hundred years. {Optional final verse: And when s/he has lived, (x3) For a hundred years, Then s/he will shot (x3) Out of a cannon. (well litterally pushed around in a wheelbarrow but this is a better translation 😛 ) } ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/7 "2002-11-18T02:46:21Z")
The song is American; I don’t know the origins of the cake with candles and other customs. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/8 "2002-11-18T07:56:24Z")
Thanks, Iteki. That’s pretty cool! E3 > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > \*\*Sweden: > > Birthday cake, presented to person in bed early in the morning. > Candles check. > > Translated birthday song: > Yes may s/he live, > Yes may s/he live, > Yes may s/he live, > For a hundred years. > > etc…\*\* ---
**Author:** ![freckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47c2d/32.png) [@freckles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckles)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/9 "2002-11-18T10:36:15Z")
Ireland - Cake and candles song- Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you U look like a monkey And you smell like one too! Only kidding - the same song as in the USA ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/10 "2002-11-18T11:34:16Z")
Or, variation on theme began by **Freckles** _Happy birthday to you, You were born in the zoo, With the monkeys and the donkeys And a big kangeroo!_ And plenty of other similar variations on this theme too. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/11 "2002-11-18T11:58:39Z")
in china there is a translated version of the happy birthday song with the same tune but chinese words. However, traditional chinese birthdays are celebrated with a feast but no cake and the presents given is usually money in a special pouch thing. Oh, and lots of red. Also, birthdays are traditionally celebrated on whole years from **conception** , not **birth**. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/12 "2002-11-18T13:33:15Z")
um, Shalmanese, sorta. Birthday cakes are huge in China, but usually with whipped cream instead of frosting and often with fruit. Presents may be given. The red money pouch thing is for Chinese new year and not for birthdays (generally). You see the red package money (hong bao) at weddings as well, but not usually at birthdays. Birthdays are now celebrated from the birthday and not conception. The conception thing comes from the year, eg you are a year old when born. Not sure if this is still done in Taiwan, but passports in the 1980’s reflected an age that was a year older than the birth date. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/13 "2002-11-19T15:44:48Z")
My Taiwanese coworker reports that their celebrations are the same as in the U.S. Same birthday tune, same meaning. Cake and candles. She says that very old people might still calculate their birthday according to conception but it isn’t done any more. However…she’s considered a year older on Chinese New Year rather than on her birthday. That is, she turned 29 in August 2001 and that’s when her birthday is celebrated but, as of Chinese New Year 2002 she’s considered 30 years old. ---
**Author:** ![xicanorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a88e57/32.png) [@xicanorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xicanorex)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/14 "2002-11-19T16:37:09Z")
The traditional Mexican thing is to have your family wake you up to the song “Las Mañanitas” "LAS MAÑANITAS Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el rey David A las muchachas bonitas se las cantamos aqui Despierta mi bien, despierta mira que ya amanecio, ya los pajaritos cantan, y la luna se metio Que linda esta la mañana en que vengo a saludarte, venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte. El dia que tu naciste, nacieron todas las flores y en la pila del bautismo cantaron los ruiseñores. Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nació, levantate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció." Later on the day, perhaps at night, a birthday party which will include a cake with candles that incorporates singing this song and the “Happy B’day” son in Spanish. Xicanorex ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/15 "2002-11-20T18:28:48Z")
In Greece and I suspect other countries, they do a “name day” thing on which people come to your house to congratulate you on your patron saint’s day. You, of course, are hospitable, and offer food and drink. I hear some people nowadays arrange to be “out” on their name days to avoid having to host people into the wee hours if they have friends who overstay their welcome. For instance, if there is a St. Cecil’s day (say Feb 30), then all the dopers that want to go over to Cecil’s house on Feb 30 to congratulate him, even if Cecil’s brithday is really 31 November. Cecil provides us with drink and food worthy of a man of his means. He has to guess how many dopers will drop in unannounced. (BTW, I do know there is neither a Feb 30 or Nov 31. It’s an example.) I don’t know how they decided which days to use for popular names that aren’t “Christian” type names such as Pericles, Socrates, Leonidas, Athena, etc. These people do, however, also have their “name days”. I gather that in older times, non-Christain names were not given or very rarely given. Some people also do the “American” style birthday also. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/16 "2002-11-20T19:32:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aro \* > \*\*Or, variation on theme began by **Freckles** > > _Happy birthday to you, > You were born in the zoo, > With the monkeys and the donkeys > And a big kangeroo!_ > > And plenty of other similar variations on this theme too. \*\* \*Happy birthday to you, You belong in a zoo, You look like a monkey, And you smell like one too! \* ---
**Author:** ![tourbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@tourbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tourbot)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/17 "2002-11-20T22:01:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > **…eg you are a year old when born.** Maybe if you are a camel. For most people type folks, they wouldn’t be a year old until three months after they were born. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-birthday-celebrations/137220/18 "2002-11-20T22:19:14Z")
The US traditional “Happy Birthday” song has been translated to French and is often sung at birthday parties in french-speaking countries. Then we split the camembert into small parts, one per person, and drink one glass of Bordeaux for each year in the age of the birthday person.