Americans love birthdays. But we do it all wrong. We set up elaborate parties, make others pay for our meals and gifts, and create a whole hooplah that never quite feels as satisfying as we hope it will be. The Germans on the other hand, have it down.
Here’s what I’ve learned from the Germans on celebrating birthdays, that has made for some of the best, most surprising and fulfilling birthdays ever.
2) Make your own damn cake. Don’t wait for anyone else to make it-- come to school or work with the goods. The Germans are firm on this one, in fact, if you don’t bring your own bakes on your birthday, you’ll find your colleagues and friends very disappointed.
3) If you are going out to dinner with friends, pick up the tab. Yes, it’s nice to be treated to a meal. But, it also puts a lot of expectation and demands on your friends and family. Instead, by adopting this custom, you are in essence choosing where and how you want to celebrate, and with whom. You’d be surprised how satisfying it can be to pick up your own birthday tab (or let your significant other!).
4) Don’t wait to celebrate on the night of your birthday! While the Germans are extremely superstitious about celebrating their birthdays before the actual day, they often celebrate going IN to the birthday, instead of coming out. They’ll often start at the strike of midnight with their friends and family gathered round a nice glass of champagne. That way, no matter what happens the rest of your birthday, you’ve gotten the year off to a fabulous start.
While these traditions are very different from American birthday rituals, they offer a refreshing break from the awkward birthday-expectations we often set that can result in disappointment. And they are fun! What other birthday traditions do you know of?
