• The first German birthday tradition I’d like to share, serves as a warning as well: Never wish a German a happy birthday before their birthday. It is considered bad luck to do so. There are no well-wishes, cards or presents given before a German’s birthday. Period.
• If somebody in Germany invites you out for their birthday, the tab is on them. And don’t try insisting on paying for yourself – it won’t work.
• 16th Birthday: This birthday child should run for cover as his or her friends will undoubtedly pour flour on top of his or her head. Common in northern Germany.
18th Birthday: Cracking eggs over the head of someone turning 18.
25th Birthday: Once again - if you are an unmarried man, the whole town will know! ASockenkranz, a type of garland of socks is strung outside the home and around the birthday boy’s property leading to his party. As he follows the garland of socks, he’ll down an alcoholic drink every few meters. Why socks? In German you have the expression alte Socke (an old sock), more of a derrogatory way of saying "confirmed bachelor.”
A similar experience awaits unmarried women turning this age. They follow a garland of cigarette cartons instead (or other similar-sized cartons if they are non-smokers). These single women are nicknamed eine alte Schachtel (an old box), similar in meaning to "old maid".
• Geburtstagskranz: These are beautiful decorated wooden rings that usually contain ten to twelve holes, one for each year of life as a child. Some families opt to light candles in such Geburtstagskränze instead of on the cake, though blowing out candles on a birthday cake is frequently observed in Germany as well. A bigger Lebenskerze (life candle) is put in the center of these rings. In religious families these Lebenskerzen are given at the time of the child’s christening.
• The first German birthday tradition I’d like to share, serves as a warning as well: Never wish a German a happy birthday before their birthday. It is considered bad luck to do so. There are no well-wishes, cards or presents given before a German’s birthday. Period.• If somebody in Germany invites you out for their birthday, the tab is on them. And don’t try insisting on paying for yourself – it won’t work.• 16th Birthday: This birthday child should run for cover as his or her friends will undoubtedly pour flour on top of his or her head. Common in northern Germany.18th Birthday: Cracking eggs over the head of someone turning 18.25th Birthday: Once again - if you are an unmarried man, the whole town will know! ASockenkranz, a type of garland of socks is strung outside the home and around the birthday boy’s property leading to his party. As he follows the garland of socks, he’ll down an alcoholic drink every few meters. Why socks? In German you have the expression alte Socke (an old sock), more of a derrogatory way of saying "confirmed bachelor.”A similar experience awaits unmarried women turning this age. They follow a garland of cigarette cartons instead (or other similar-sized cartons if they are non-smokers). These single women are nicknamed eine alte Schachtel (an old box), similar in meaning to "old maid".• Geburtstagskranz: These are beautiful decorated wooden rings that usually contain ten to twelve holes, one for each year of life as a child. Some families opt to light candles in such Geburtstagskränze instead of on the cake, though blowing out candles on a birthday cake is frequently observed in Germany as well. A bigger Lebenskerze (life candle) is put in the center of these rings. In religious families these Lebenskerzen are given at the time of the child’s christening.
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