7 Interesting Birthday Rituals Around the World
4. Pulling earlobes in Hungary
Just like giving bumps to someone on their birthday is a ritual in the UK and Ireland, another European country, Hungary, has a somewhat crazy ritual of pulling earlobes. Right after the birthday boy or girl open their presents, loved ones take turns to pull their ear lobes to bless them with a long and happy life. They then sing a song which translates to something like, ‘God bless you, live so long so your ears reach your ankles.’
5. Bursting Pinatas in Mexico
The Pinata bursting tradition in Mexico is quite a fun one and is done at children’s birthday parties or get-together. A Pinata is a huge doll like stuffed animal made out of paper mache and stuffed with goodies like small toys and candies. The birthday kid is blindfolded and handed a bat to aim carefully and try to smash this Pinata. When the goodies fall after the Pinata is smashed, all the kids gather on the floor to collect them as fast as possible.
6. Key presentation in South Africa
South African parents present their children with a key on their 21st birthdays so as to mark their readiness to unlock their future. This key can be made of anything, be it iron, gold, silver, wood or paper, depending on the financial status of the parents.
7. Flour throwing in Jamaica
One of the most wackiest ways to celebrate a birthday was invented by the Jamaicans. They douse the birthday person with sacks of flour unknowingly at any time of the day on his or her special day. Some of them even pour water on the person first and then the flour, so that the flour sticks rigidly to the body and is difficult for him or her to get rid of it.
