7x this is what they eat to celebrate birthdays in different countries
When you think of a typical Dutch birthday, what comes to mind…? Right, a circle birthday. One of those awkward little circles in which a single conversation takes place that everyone has to listen to. Horrible. But when I think about what we eat at a birthday, I already feel a lot happier, because who doesn’t love cake?!
For us, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like to have a birthday without cake. Yet in other countries, people celebrate their birthdays very differently. And those birthday traditions sound at least as delicious.
How other countries traditionally celebrate their birthdays
1. South Korea: Seaweed soup
If it’s your birthday in South Korea, there’s a good chance you’ll be served Mi-yeok-guk (미역국) — and you’ll get it in the morning. But it’s not only birthday children who have this soup for breakfast on their birthday. It’s also very common for new mothers to eat this soup. That’s because the soup is said to be very healthy, making it perfect for regaining strength after giving birth.
2. Russia: Homemade cake with your name on it
This is somewhat similar to our tradition: having cake on your birthday. But in Russia, they often make it themselves and personalise it for the birthday boy or girl, for example by writing their name on it with dough. This can also be a savoury pie, by the way; it doesn’t have to be sweet! As long as the pie is homemade and has a personal touch.
3. China: Noodles
When it’s your birthday in China, you get Chang Shou Mian (长寿面), or Longevity noodles. That’s because the long noodles represent the long life you hopefully still have ahead of you. Aww, how sweet. They’re served in chicken broth with egg. Very simple, but also delicious and highly symbolic.
4. Australia: Fairy Bread
I wasn’t familiar with this concept yet, but I soon discovered that we have it in the Netherlands too, only it has a much less cheerful name. It’s simply white bread with butter and sprinkles on top—the kind we normally put on soft-serve ice cream. Sprinkles on bread actually sounds pretty good. I’m going to try this soon. Perhaps on my birthday.
5. Sweden: Princess cake
This tradition sounds good to me too: a gigantic cake every year on your birthday. It’s somewhat similar to our tradition, but we don’t automatically eat a princess cake when we blow out our candles. A Swedish princess cake is essentially a gigantic cream cake with fondant on the outside and some marzipan inside too. Remarkably, they mainly eat it for breakfast. Fine by me—a birthday breakfast in bed with a gigantic piece of cake.
6. Ghana: Oto
To be honest, I had never heard of oto before. But it certainly sounds delicious: it’s a yam purée (similar to a sweet potato), with egg, fried in palm oil with onions. Sounds wonderful—I’m going to make this at home too.
7. Mexico: Arroz con Leche
Rice pudding. Yesss, and I really like that too. You can also find it on the shelves at Jumbo for 0.59 cents each, and you’re really doing your wallet a disservice if you don’t give it a try; they’re pretty good.
Well, I have little to complain about when it comes to our traditions involving cake, but in other countries, turning another year older is certainly no punishment either. Especially not when the treat is served first thing in the morning.
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