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

Birthday traditions around the world often share similar aims, but use vastly different means. The birthday traditions from different countries featured in this episode of The List Show will teach you a little something about how to celebrate a special person on their big day.
The List Show is a weekly show where knowledge junkies get their fix of trivia-tastic information. It's our birthday! In celebration of a year of mental_floss on KZbin, John looks at some fascinating birthday traditions from around the world.
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[@cestlavi.]

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

[@SKfilming]

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

[@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

[@rosagibson6570]

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 😂

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@thetruepipster2706]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 :-)

[@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 🌎.

[@RebecaC12]

He mentioned "brigadeiro". Soo gooooooooood!! xD

[@di0br]

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

[@TheNameIsNori]

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

[@wildwolfmoon73]

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.

[@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...

[@DroidFreak36]

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

[@SaveThePrincess]

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

[@nachoqt]

Folding fairy bread is unorthodox, but not frowned upon.

[@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!

[@SleepyFen]

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.

[@stephenobrien5761]

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

[@Younecorn]

Dude I only just found out this is the John Greene who killed my feels with the Fault in Our Stars.

[@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....

[@NikolajLepka]

I can confirm the danish birthday tradition is in fact true

[@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.

[@mhucky]

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

[@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.

[@Suite_annamite]

Hahaha...the dog chooses enlightenment! Cool!

[@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.

[@MrKarnival54]

Fairy bread for the win

[@laurencedyball5635]

yeah

[@mynar_lenahan]

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

[@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.

[@simbelmyne77]

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

[@OracleAnne]

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

[@TotesCoolBeans]

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

[@TheSage555]

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

[@GraniteHowl]

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

[@GraniteHowl]

hey, my parents were pretty strict :P

[@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.

[@arregaca4762]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@eldarauko]

Happy Birthday, Mental Floss!

[@jayharbor5070]

That Yoda line has me cracking up each time.

[@alexChenAUS]

fairy bread cut into triangles is a must

[@melissaegan2779]

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

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

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

[@OrisStories]

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

[@daisysanchez1351]

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

[@Raphtyr]

You cut fairy bread into *triangles* you monster!

[@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.

[@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. :)

[@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

[@angelazheng6343]

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

[@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.

[@Remuji]

Two facts about Australia: 1. There are no strict rules about how to eat fairy bread. 2. You're never too old to eat fairy bread.

[@Adam-wz7nb]

YOU HAVE THE BULLDOG!! Thats awesome

[@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

[@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.

[@DanieDrummer]

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

[@merchantfan]

The joke about the dog being beyond material possession was great.

[@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.

[@grainofredstone]

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

[@Crypptiid]

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

[@heathersalamone2352]

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

[@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 ...

[@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!

[@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

[@BeakerInShortShorts]

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

[@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

[@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...

[@sendookoo25]

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

[@SwagMcPuffin]

Congratulations! Happy birthday!

[@wacka.]

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

[@bloodenjoyer]

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

[@user-rd8xg2um4w]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 🎉🎊🎈🎂

[@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!

[@JenkemSuperfan]

Canadians do not spread butter on noses What even

[@VaellinTheBard]

Canada - Greasing the nose with butter or margarine. In Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland) the birthday child is ambushed and their nose is greased for good luck. The greased nose makes the child too slippery for bad luck to catch them. This tradition is reputed to be of Scottish decent. Birthday punches. In Quebec the birthday person receives a punch for each year they are alive and then one for good luck. So it's not all of Canada, just parts I guess. Like how where I grew up we did hugs, not punches, for our birthdays. Or spankings, we also did spankings. Often both.

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

Also in Mexico, oftentimes when the cake is served the guest of honour will do what's called 'mordida,' which is taking the first bite directly out of the cake. Oftentimes another partygoer will smash their face into the cake, leaving a wonderful face implant on the cake as well as cake all over the person's face.

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

Happened to me on my 16th birthday. My Mexican cousins didn't explain it beforehand either. Actually I once went to a party where the guest of honour, rather than getting his face pushed into the cake, actually faceplanted himself. It was hilarious.

[@choirfandomcookingrantsand496]

The smashing of the face in the cake is true THATS WHEN TRUST ISSUES START the times I been cake smooshed

[@manofworld16]

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

[@xThuby]

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

[@xocutievxo]

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

[@IvliaC]

happy birthday :)

[@xocutievxo]

IvliaC thanks :)

[@gingram2]

Happy Birthday! :D

[@xocutievxo]

gingram2 thank you!!!

[@fastimes420]

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

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

Happy birthday!

[@kostmoney]

John Green smashing a cake. What a time to be alive.

[@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!

[@HLoneheart]

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

[@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.

[@reeseb.9072]

Wow, John did that smash cake imitation surprisingly well....

[@recklessroges]

This had my favorite MBQ to date. Thank you.

[@musicaljulie]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@ohyeahgroovy]

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

[@ElVindicto]

They're not called hundreds and thousands in America? Your childhood must've been tragically devoid of wonder

[@janettebaker5577]

We call them sprinkles, but some people call them jimmies. We don't talk to those people, though. ;)

[@lucymumma8840]

I call them sprinkles, but I'm only twelve so...

[@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 :)

[@gl00my.kayamomme]

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

[@danielinnes6223]

As a representative of New Zealand, I must say that your fairy-bread making skills have a long way to go :P

[@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)

[@joeytje50]

I'm Dutch, and I've never heard of crown years. I've also tried googling 'crown year', and I didn't find anything. What source did you guys have for this crown year thing?

[@amberfriend839]

#28 reminds me of how the Airbenders found out Aang was Avatar...anyway, Happy Belated Birthday Mental Floss!

[@katjatezak5816]

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