28 Birthday Traditions From Around the World - mental_floss on YouTube (Ep.201)

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

Happy birthday to Mental Floss, a great show that introduced me to the wonderfulness that is John Green.

[@cestlavi.]

I lost it at smash cakes. Bestselling author John Green, everyone!

[@RKH1502]

We do the flag thing in Norway, too. Also, in preschools, the birthday child spends their day crafting a crown out of paper, glue, and lots and lots of glitter.

[@TheLunasticks]

I´m from Denmark, and I´ve never seen anyone who places gifts around the childs bed... But I can say that we chop off the head of the cakeman/cakewoman, while every kid at the party screames :)

[@JanniGuldeIversen]

Me neather... but on the bed, while the family is waking up the birthday child (or pretending to) with a birthday song, thats more like it, right? :)

[@TheLunasticks]

***** Yup.

[@mxkrohn]

Agree

[@summarosa]

It could be a translation error from a page in Danish or just a slight variety in traditions.

[@EmmaSpAce111]

at my kindergarten in the u.s. we did something similar with a gingerbread man around christmas, but he 'ran away' until we 'caught him' and then the teacher asked us where she should cut first and most kids shouted things like 'legs so he can't run!' 'arms so he can't crawl' I was thinking the child equivalent of 'what the fuck you sadists, just cut off his head if you must kill him' and I said 'cut off his head so he dies quickly' and everyone looked at me like I was the crazy one, I wasn't the one cheering for a slow and painful death, I didn't even want to kill him, I wanted a candy cane, and yet I was scaring people. Hypocrites. Besides, it would work, he can't run away with no head either.

[@Colebrookproductions]

As a Canadian I can't say I've ever put butter on anyones nose. Where I'm from we stick a bunch of beaver tails in the birthday boys igloo while he's sleeping and we let the polar bears give em' the birthday "bumps".

[@xX3lit3zbeastXx]

XD

[@wiredupweird9435]

Was reading your comment seriously then i was like WHAT lol 😂

[@DanThePropMan]

I'm Canadian, I have lived in Manitoba and Ontario, and I have literally never heard of the butter on the nose thing until this video.

[@SKfilming]

"she chooses enlightenment." I'm dead of laughter.

[@JessiJawdrop]

As an Aussie, I think it's awesome that fairy bread was included on this list! If you're making it at home, a few tips: it works best with room-temperature butter (or margarine... but it tastes better with butter!) and you can save on some of the mess by tipping the sprinkles on a plate and dipping the buttered bread into it (but make sure you get LOTS of sprinkles on there!). Fairy bread sandwiches are also perfectly acceptable and work best when quartered into tiny triangles :-)

[@thetruepipster2706]

With Fairy Bread, you cut it onto triangles and eat it like that. No one eats it as sandwich

[@TMWriting]

How is fairy bread just a thing we do? It's awesome! Also, it is one of the most casual foods on the planet, eat it however you want John

[@morganburt2565]

Well, here in America, if someone is to see you eating bread with sprinkles on it, people think you're crazy (just like fish sticks and custard {yay Doctor Who}). We do cake.

[@TMWriting]

We do cake as well, obviously, and thank you for a beautiful reference. I can't believe I've never actually tried fish fingers and custard....

[@jayharbor5070]

The most casual food? You've obviously never eaten a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter.

[@morganburt2565]

Its amazing how many things in so many cultures seem great to one ane weird as fuck to another.

[@MythicalFigured]

Wait, Fairy bread is only in Australia and New Zealand? my life is a lie.

[@DijaVlogsGames]

I'm german and it's interesting to learn stuff about Germany I never knew.

[@Stabacs]

Yepp, I never heard about those traditions, too.

[@oliverreimann9511]

that's because there are many many many local traditions up here in the north, if someone isn't married by their 30th birthday they either have to clean doorknobs (as a woman) or sweep the town hall square (as a man). the party guests are obviously making a proper mess beforehand

[@latentlone]

I knew about not congratulating before the actual birthday. Strange that that is only a German thing. I never heard of the other stuff.

[@Stabacs]

***** Haha, yeah, so true. Greetz from Berlin ;)

[@lord1616]

Culture can vary within city limits all over the 🌎.

[@FrancinevNeer]

I'm dutch and I've never heard of crown years. What is more commonly celebrated with age related things are the 50th birthday's, which is referred as seeing abraham and sarah. It's really fun and I'd suggest you look into it :)

[@hahahadracula]

vind t altijd beetje lame. maar het is geen adam en eva hoor. t is Abraham en Sarah. www.google.nl/search?q=abraham+en+sarah&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=HZNOU_qTGYKROM_egMAF&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=785

[@FrancinevNeer]

hahahadracula oja abraham en sarah vergeef mijn fout :')

[@hahahadracula]

Frank v. Neer ja prima. niks aan de hand

[@dani68725]

I thought fairy bread was a thing everywhere?! Also, we can't be the only country that calls 100's & 1000's that… Surely.

[@greg.sym.4115]

South africans say hundreds and thousands. Maybe it's a southern hemisphere thing. We do say sprinkles too though.

[@HMJ66]

Greg. Sym. I'd speculate it's a British thing. We call them Hundreds and Thousands, and what with the whole colonies thing it may have spread...

[@partacana2013]

Today is my birthday and it's really awesome to watch this today. I really like the tradition of the crown years. Looks very nice. :)

[@J_and_M_Korea]

In Japan, there is a yearly celebration for 20 year olds called Coming of Age Day (成人式) They dress in suits and kimono and go to (usually) the town hall in their hometown to be celebrated and lectured about being an adult. I'm not Japanese but I turned 20 in Japan and was able to participate and it was a really fun experience.

[@di0br]

a moment of silence for all the people that don't have brigadeiros on their birthdays. It's a sad, sad world indeed.

[@magicvibrations5180]

Finally you nailed Denmark! But here's another danish birthday tradition: We usually celebrate with a "lagkage" or "layer cake" made with thin pieces of sugar cake and whipped cream etc.

[@lcvvcl2654]

That sounds amazing....

[@magicvibrations5180]

And a cake man is just i huge danish shaped like a person!

[@SpiceCh]

Don't forget that everyone has to scream when the head it chopped off :P The cake lady/man is usually decorated with pieces of candy as well. It's extremely delicious.

[@magicvibrations5180]

Jens Nielsen Sandt

[@KoreaJapanAvril]

I'm from Denmark and have never ever heard of the "placing presents around the bed" tradition. Ever. Yes, you may have your presents in the morning after your family has woken you up with a birthday song, but they don't place the presents around your bed. And I also think he misses out on the 18 shots you have to drink when you turn 18.

[@TheNameIsNori]

I would like to note that because of this video I have been eating fairy bread for the last two days. Very addicting.

[@daisysanchez1351]

I died @ 4:35 " Happy Birthday Yoda! What are you like a thousand now?" Lol!

[@arregaca4762]

hey John I saw this video of yours at my English class, and that's how I discovered your channel :) kisses from Brazil

[@MobBossBobRoss]

Here's a mind blowing question: In our culture, how did nods come to signify "yes" and shaking of the head come to signify "no"?

[@ifiwereaspoonful]

Great question! Hope they answer this one!

[@MobBossBobRoss]

93midnightsunrise i don't know much about babies, but i do notice people tend to turn their heads away from disgusting things in front of them.

[@MobBossBobRoss]

Adi David That's why i asked the question, i know some of the more foreign countries have their own quirks.

[@strongeronplants]

In some countries it´s the other way around (nodding = no) , for example in Bulgaria :D

[@LarsOcchionero]

More danish traditions, involving throwing stuff on people. On the 25th birthday you get cinnamon if you haven't married yet (or isn't engaged, depends). Originally cinnamon was put in the milk, coffee or other places to prank. This tradition has evolved to full-scale terror attack where people get chained to lampposts and are completely covered in cinnamon, and sometimes water (but that is evil). On your 30th birthday, you are a "pebersvend" if you are still unmarried. That means you are a black-pepper-boy, and that is usually marked with huge pepper-grinders or statues made of oil-drums in front of the house with a man and pepper theme. And of course, pranks with pepper are encouraged....

[@kaiayen]

As an Australian, hearing a non-Australian explain fairy bread is so hilarious. Definitely should cut it into triangles though :D

[@_sandy_]

yup, it tastes better as triangles.

[@ohyeahgroovy]

My birthday today :) the dog part at the end just made my day - thankyou!

[@micahphilson]

#8 just made my day. Seeing John Green smash a cupcake and devour it is the funniest thing posted to youtube today. No, that other thing you thought of just now wasn't it, you're just lying to yourself. Watch it again and you'll see what I mean.

[@NikolajLepka]

I can confirm the danish birthday tradition is in fact true

[@Suite_annamite]

Hahaha...the dog chooses enlightenment! Cool!

[@rpcprince]

Never heard of ear pulling in birthdays here in Brazil. However, there is a tradition of throwing eggs and flour at the celebrating person. Another curious tradition is that after "Happy Birthday", we sing a song wondering to whom will the person get married. Little boys and girls hate this song and usually cry or hide under the table. PS: Brigadeiro is awesome.

[@EMdilem]

When someone has a milestone birthday in my family (and sometimes jut for kicks, on any old birthday) we throw a pie in their face. It's a great honor to be the one who delivers the pie.

[@simbelmyne77]

Wow... It was a nice surprise to see Hungary included! Thank and happy birthday ;)!

[@mynar_lenahan]

John just casually not wearing a blindfold for the pinata thing.

[@TotesCoolBeans]

I'm Canadian and I've never known anyone who put butter on someone's (or had butter put on their) nose.

[@nachoqt]

Folding fairy bread is unorthodox, but not frowned upon.

[@SaveThePrincess]

As an Australian, I could not be more proud of fairy bread making it into mental floss. Hundreds and thousands 4 lyf!

[@erinkat37]

Wow can't believe I've been watching these videos for a year! Great job mental floss and hope you continue for a long time!

[@TristanBomber]

Fairy bread sounds delicious. But it definitely needs whipped cream.

[@kennethjensen3684]

***** Nope.

[@kennethjensen3684]

***** Damn people eat some crappy ass food :D and very unhealthy. And if it's unhealthy it should at least taste good :D

[@dustyburkybile52]

***** I eat apples and peanut butter with whipped cream its good.

[@dustyburkybile52]

I don't know I've never stewed apples?

[@dustyburkybile52]

they are I might try them.

[@MrKarnival54]

Fairy bread for the win

[@laurencedyball5635]

yeah

[@MagicalDragontamer]

Another tradition in Denmark is to wake the birthday kid up with a birthday song and give them (some of) their gifts on the bed. And Danish flags are everywhere on these occasions, because the flag is seen as a symbol of happiness as much as a symbol of the country. I didn't even realise other countries didn't do this when I was a kid.

[@user-rd8xg2um4w]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 🎉🎊🎈🎂

[@DanieDrummer]

Oto is delicious but i haven't had any in years! Eating it on a birthday makes your whole year!

[@TheSage555]

I've lived in Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario and I have yet to encounter the butter nose thing.

[@MarcLiCouthe]

I live in the U.S. if i smashed my cake i wouldn't have anymore birthdays

[@zeebo30]

Grant Petersen really? So on you're first birthday at 1 year old had you smashed you're cake you would have had all your future birthdays taken away? He said it was a baby thing

[@MarcLiCouthe]

hey, my parents were pretty strict :P

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

My niece wanted to post a comment on KZbin. She said, "I like birthdays!"

[@xocutievxo]

this is very fitting since today is my birthday! :)

[@IvliaC]

happy birthday :)

[@xocutievxo]

IvliaC thanks :)

[@gingram2]

Happy Birthday! :D

[@xocutievxo]

gingram2 thank you!!!

[@DroidFreak36]

Oh man, I almost forgot to be awesome today. Thanks for the reminder John. :P

[@Crypptiid]

I am so happy they included fairy bread. Coincidentally, I was actually eating fairy bread while watching this video :D

[@MateusAntonioBittencourt]

As a Brazilian I can say that I've never even heard about this tradition of pulling the earlobe. A quick google search showed that this might have been something very old... I got very few results, and most was people asking about this tradition. But this is not something you'll see in a birthday here in Brazil. PS: Brigadeiro is good...

[@PriscillaFerreiraOficial]

I'm agreed. I'm 30 years old and never even heard about this.

[@DataShawol]

My lucky guess is that some one troll they...

[@claudiapessoa7634]

That was a thing when I was a child, in the 80's. People would pull your earlobes the number of times corresponding to the age you were turning.

[@paulathehobbit]

well, actually in Brazil we don't pull our ears. x) but the brigadeiro part its true. it's like a MUST have on birthdays

[@booksmusicandkenzie]

My brother turns 16 this year may adopt the throwing flour on the head thing haha

[@WeGameEXP]

Eggs before hand. THEN FLOUR. Trust me.

[@OracleAnne]

And a week before my birthday, too. Happy Birthday!

[@manofworld16]

It just happened to be my birthday today... this makes me happy!

[@alexChenAUS]

fairy bread cut into triangles is a must

[@melissaegan2779]

Agreed. If it's not cut into triangles, it's just not fairy bread.

[@MicroBlogganism]

1:25 Not only will we decapitated the cake-man/lady, usually the kids at the party will scream like they are in pain while it being doing. Which sounds a bit messed up now that I think about it O_o

[@simongreve]

Its the best part of any birthday party :D

[@MicroBlogganism]

Yes, but still pretty messed up :P

[@angelazheng6343]

It was so funny when he smashed that cupcake and ate it. lol

[@stephenobrien5761]

Yes John Green, we do fold our fairy bread! You are a natural!

[@OrisStories]

I live in the Netherlands and have NEVER heard of crown years... You always get a huge gift on your 18th birthday.

[@AwsomeLorenzo]

Typically birthday parties in Mexico last about 2-3 hours. Then the birthday is ignored and everyone gets drunk.

[@AndyG94]

Depends on the age of the Birthday girl/boy. But yeah after turning 15-16 that's a likely scenario xD

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

heck half the time they show up drunk already

[@kennethjensen3684]

Or it's just your family lol ;)

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

I used to work at a venue that hosted the birthday parties. Several got downright vilent.

[@ladyi7609]

I can confirm that this can occur regardless of the birthday celebrant's age; I've been to birthday parties for babies and toddlers where people drank LARGE amounts of beer and tequila; also, either barbecue or mole gets served at these celebrations, depending on how "Mexican" the family unit is. Source: Been a Chicana all my life, though my parents were a ~little~ different.

[@gastarbeiter1]

I am from germayn..and I never even heard of those traditions...interesting...

[@JellybellyWaffles]

I don't if know if any of them are true. I've never seen nor heard aboot the butter on the nose thing.

[@jacks.6243]

I'm from Germany and I haven't either. Well, except for 'Don't wish a Happy Birthday before it's the actual Birthday.'. But traditions vary widley from one part of the country to another in every regard, so it kind of figured.

[@yourbabyscorpse]

I have heard of the flour and eggs thing, but I've never actually seen someone do it.

[@MeisterHaar]

Jack S. i am from germany as well and from what i know the flour thing is a very old tradition and very uncommen nowadays. i have never heard of the socks but i found some websites wich talk about that trtadition. I know of another tradition where unmarryed 30 year old men have to clean stairs of the townhall or the curch untill they are kissed by a "virgin" also it includes lots of drinking ^^

[@gastarbeiter1]

MeisterHaar Haha..what doesn't include lots of alcohol ;). Uff hard to find a virgin...poor guy will clean those stairs forever...

[@Mummele]

I'm German and never have heard about these traditions we apparently have. The correct spelling is *Sockenkranz* by the way (capital S and k). This Chinese dish looks more appealing to me than having flour or eggs in my hair ...

[@eldarauko]

Happy Birthday, Mental Floss!

[@Orangefury7]

lol I liked how he said "Happy birthday Yoda what are you, like a thousand now?" actually pretty good way to learn about birthdays around the world

[@bloodenjoyer]

I'm Canadian, and I've never heard of putting butter on the nose of the birthday person

[@musicaljulie]

I'm Canadian and I've never heard of the butter on the nose thing...

[@Goabnb94]

Fairy bread isn't really a New Zealand tradition, so much as it is simply a food served at parties for young children. But so are savoleys (cocktail sausages), and chips (crisps), beyond you know the usual cake, ice cream and fizzy drink.

[@webbot15]

I think it's that the Rest of the World doesn't know the splendour and amazement of fairy bread. We (Australia and New Zealand) appear to be the only places that have it ever. I've been living in Canada for two years now and Fairy bread is an entirely new concept.

[@BeakerInShortShorts]

It's not complaining. It's a truthful observation.

[@lemmypop1300]

We also pull ears in Serbia, but in the opposite direction - top of the ear up. We do it because we are 'aiding' the kid in question to grow taller. This usually stops around the age of 10. Fun fact - pulling ears up is also Serbian sign language word for birthday.

[@jacobsilcoff]

Why does wet stuff get darker even though water is clear?

[@Drmonstereater1]

Water still absorbs a little bit of light.

[@Altair287]

Notice this happens in substances where the water is soaked up, like sand or cloth, and not on substances that prevent entry of the water. The light hits the water molecules and through refraction, the light will be directed into the medium. So less light is being reflected back. Less light = darker.

[@jacobsilcoff]

Cool!

[@Cloudjump3r]

Hi folks. Awesome show but I am German and was born there and lived there until I was 27 and have never heard of flour, egg or sock involving traditions around birthdays. Just wanted to let you know......And yes I am aware of must tradtions in different parts of Germany.

[@wacka.]

cool... we also call them hundreds and thousands in the UK

[@garlicNeggplant]

Don't forget golden birthdays! In the USA at least, when you turn the age of the day you were born on it's special. I don't think there's any particular celebration, but acknowledgement is nice. Also, my birthday was yesterday, so yay relevant video!

[@benjioben]

Happy Birthday!!!!! Maligayang Bati!!!! Felicidades!!!!

[@Lazerblade95]

I live in the uk and not once have I ever heard of these bumps before. Only the punches

[@henrybrice86]

I grew up in the UK and we used to do bumps for birthdays... I guess it's an older tradition :)

[@smartydix]

Seems to me like Chinese are trying to find the new Avatar...

[@SleepFaster18]

I am so glad there are people who haven't forgotten... :D

[@fastimes420]

That's funny today's is my birthday and they came out with this Video

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

Happy birthday!

[@SwagMcPuffin]

Congratulations! Happy birthday!

[@heathersalamone2352]

Happy Birthday Mental Floss! Here's to another year of crazy interesting facts.

[@fizzylimon]

Koreans definitely celebrate birthdays. I think the mistake that was made here is conflating "birthday" with "aging up" - Koreans all age up on New Years, but they still celebrate birthdays. Or at least all my Korean friends in Korea did, I guess I can't speak for the nation as a whole.

[@Raphtyr]

You cut fairy bread into *triangles* you monster!

[@Evitaschannel]

Hey, I'm from the Netherlands, and crown years are actually every 10 years. So when you're 40 you have 4 crowns (or "kroontjes" in Dutch), my grandma alredy has 8 crowns :')

[@kojoorgle1599]

Ghana ftw. he said oto so funny, its )t)

[@LittlestGray]

I'm from Australia and it is hilarious with my family, we sing Happy Birthday but where everyone else normally finishes it we sing, 'from good friends and true, from good friends a you, make good luck go with you and happiness too' and then we sing the normal happy birthday part once more. But at big parties with guests that aren't part of the family they'll be singing then start looking around like we are a bunch of freaks cause they don't know the middle verse. Also my family (including relatives) are extremely musical and sing it in four part harmonies with like alternate melodies and stuffs it sounds so nice haha

[@recklessroges]

This had my favorite MBQ to date. Thank you.

[@Elbenzo64]

Figures you'd post this the day AFTER my 21st birthday haha

[@dibti0]

happy belated birthday!

[@BrighamTalks]

I'm Canadian and my whole family is, and I definitely have never heard of anyone spreading butter on the nose... what part of Canada supposedly does that?

[@EBMaddict]

According to a google search its the maritime area of Canada. But i'm not Canadian and can in no way vouch for the validity of that.

[@sion8]

Could it be the strange land of Québec?

[@twilor9515]

No, fun is outlawed in Quebec :P

[@sion8]

Jeffrey Dusome What about that winter festival before Easter I heard about?

[@BrighamTalks]

My Mom's from the Maritimes and I asked her, apparently some people used to to it when she was younger. Who knew.

[@BucketHeadMC]

I'm from The Netherlands, but I've never heard of ''crown years''...

[@jve89]

I'm Dutch too and same here....Never heard about it!

[@MarkVletter]

Gents Kroonjaren; nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verjaardag#Speciale_verjaardagen, but that usually starts at 50: womensissues.about.com/od/startingover/f/Sarah-Birthday-Netherlands-50th-Birthday-Tradition.htm

[@BucketHeadMC]

Ahaaa... He just had the wrong ages :P

[@JohnSmith-kw6io]

I'm Canadian and I've never heard of spreading butter on someone's nose...

[@janettebaker5577]

That's okay, I'm American and I've never heard of smash cakes.

[@katjatezak5816]

happy happy happy birthday mental floss, you guys are aaaaaaaawesome!! :D

[@fwmtrek279]

April 16 is also MY birthday. Of course I have exactly 50 years on you. Thanks for all the extra trivia for me to bore my friends with! LOL

[@HLoneheart]

I'm Canadian and I've never met anyone who did the butter on the nose thing *:/*

[@theladysiona]

I have the same birthday as Mental Floss x3

[@grainofredstone]

why do we say "pardon my French" before we curse?

[@George_designs]

3:05 he in joyed that to much 😂

[@edisonmichael6345]

Not sure if this is a Brazillian tradition or done everywhere, but when we part the birthday cake, the first slice is presented to the one geting older, which must choose the person he loves best to give that meaningful first slice 'out of his heart'. Envy, jokes, inuendo and deathly stares between mother and girlfriend ensues, so we usually just eat the first piece ourselves or give it to granny. ;-) Also, recently people developed out of nowhere a dumb thing in which the first cut in the cake must be done backwards, which I won't ever do, because the cake bursts into a mess and spills the precious filling.

[@nvernon69]

I'm from the UK and I have honestly never heard of 'The Bumps'. Otherwise a great video though :)

[@sarahpickford5569]

I'm a Brit and can remember ' the bumps ', risked dislocating your hip and shoulder joints, didn't have to hit the ground until the end though.

[@NoobsWuvGaming]

im 12 and what is this

[@jayharbor5070]

NoobsWuvGaming This is internet. Otherwise known as the dark side, come join us.

[@NoobsWuvGaming]

Jay Harbor its a meme...

[@graciepoopoonoonoodooblebu8010]

Why do the videos skip from 53 to 201?

[@albertosolano8268]

Hahaha... "She chooses enlightment"

[@mhucky]

So funny when you said the dog chooses enlightenment. .. lol!

[@sendookoo25]

I love how goofy you guys are! :) oh, and all the interesting facts.

[@jamielynnp24]

I have lived in the US my whole life and have never heard of people punching each other. I have heard of (and gotten) birthday spankings.

[@KoyalAlkor]

And I have lived my whole live in Brazil and never heard about that earlobe pulling thing. I google it and found out people actually do that, but it just seem to have fallen out of fashion and not to have been very widespread. But about brigadeiro... oh you can't have a birthday party without brigadeiros here, it is almost a crime.

[@anikafriedman5662]

I can confirm that birthday bunches are a thing in the US, but perhaps they are a regional thing or something like that. For your reference I am from the mid-west.

[@sexysupervillain802]

It's generally a male thing, and growing up in New Jersey I accrued my fair share of Birthday Bruises from overzealous friends and family members... And a pinch to grow an inch...

[@LukeHarris1]

I grew up in Australia and we always did birthday punches there. I also heard pinch to grow an inch (even though we don't use inches!)

[@AwesomesMan]

Yea we quite enjoy birthday punches in the south. Especially if it's your younger brother's birthday.

[@matthewjiang2095]

i think Yoda is like somewhere around 1000 years old

[@seanwei5117]

*Nerdy Voice Actually he's exactly 978.3256 years old

[@matthewjiang2095]

Sean Wei ok i was close doe

[@sarasdramaticlife]

You should do TFiOS facts!!

[@xThuby]

I think the only way to settle it is to have a video featuring one unique fact for every country in the world

[@gl00my.kayamomme]

OMG I JUST GOT THE FAULT IN OUR STARS AND I LOVE IT SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!! THANK YOU!!! =3