ONE WORLD: One Big Birthday Bash 

 
Note: Games can either have winners if you have enough prizes or can be “non‐
competitive”…everyone wins/no losers 

I am different from my head to my toes

(point to self then to head and toes)

I am different from my eyes to my nose

(point to self then eyes and nose)

I come from a place that is far and wide

(point to self then spread arms wide open)

A place where we all smile instead of cry

(act like you are tracing your lips into a smile
and bring hands down eyes as if you were crying)

I am very different as you can see

(point to self then at a friend)

But I still have a lot of YOU in me!

(point to self place hand over the heart
then hug yourself)

SHARED COMMON TRADITIONS in most countries:

Child is given whatever they want all day…make it a “happy day”…no chores
Allowed to stay up later than usual
Made to feel special if go to school (School in Spain do not honor birthday child)
Children wear beat clothes (except in Israel wear they don’t dress up)
Child gets special foods & treats (most include some form of candy/sweet fruit)
Special cake with candles (make a wish & blow out) or dessert. The 1st piece
goes to the birthday child.
Sing traditional “Happy Birthday” song or receive a special birthday greeting
Birthday child is never reprimanded or spanked on birthday
 AFRICA

EGYPT: Birthday parties are full of singing & dancing. Decorate home w/chains of
garland that look like snowflakes.
GAMES:
Unofficial:
Mummify the birthday child by wrapping them in toilet paper.
“Walk like an Egyptian” song (dance & act out)
“King Tut” song by Steve Martin (dance & act out)
Balance towels on head relay (Egyptians carried everything on their heads)
CRAFT: Snowflake garlands
Sheets of paper or foil cut in squares. Fold each square twice so you’ll be able to cut into
snowflakes. Make about 2 dozen for each garland & tape them together.
 
GHANA: On their birthday, children wake to a special treat called “oto” (AH-toe) which is a patty
made from mashed sweet potato & eggs fried in palm oil. Later at their party they have a treat
called “kelewele” (kelly-welly), fried plantain (similar to bananas) chunks.
GAME: Ampe (AM-pay) - played by two or more players. (6-12 best)
Children stand in a circle. The birthday child is the leaders & stands in the center. The leader
selects the 1st player & faces that child. The leader & player clap their hands. They jump into the
air, & each chooses a foot to kick forward. If the leader & the player have both kicked out
different feet, the leader scores a point. If the leaders & the player have both kicked out the
same feet, the leader doesn’t get a point. The leader then goes on to the next player, until he
has jumped with each player. (or until the leader has earned a pre-determined number of points)
Then another player becomes the leader & claps & jumps w/each player in the circle. The game
ends when each player has had a turn to be the leader.

KENYA: When baby is born, the mother takes that baby strapped to back into the thorny
enclosure where the cattle are kept, and there, her husband & the elders wait to name the child.

NIGERIA: The 1st, 5th, 10th & 15th birthdays are extremely special events. On these, there is a
huge party with up to 100 or more guests with a feat consisting of an entire roasted cow or goat.
Birthday child gives presents to everyone. Doesn’t get any presents.
GAME: Pass the parcel – Select a prize: a book, a small stuffed animal, an inexpensive game or
lots of small prizes. Wrap the main prize in many layers of newspaper. Tape each layer closed.
If using smaller prizes, tuck them into the newspaper layers. Everyone sits in circle. Turn music
on. As music plays, guests pass the parcel. From time to time, the music stops. The child
holding the parcel unwraps it until the music starts again. The last child to unwrap the parcel
keep the main prize. (more exciting if include smaller prizes throughout the layers because more
guests have chance to unwrap a prize. Be sure to have enough extra little prizes though so
everyone ends up with something.)

SOUTH AFRICA: parties are usually outside because of warm weather. Children are given a
paper basket filled w/candies. Birthday cake is frosted fruit cake w/candles. Ice cream,
puddings, jellies (jello), lemonade, Coke are favorite treats. But, trifle (layers of custard & pieces
of sponge cake, w/whipped cream & maraschino cherries & nuts on top) is a must. Gifts are
usually toys, clothes, books or money from family.
GAMES:Wolf: Children line up on 1 side of the room. The other side of the room is the “Den”
(safe area). The “Wolf” stands in the middle. When the “wolf” calls: “Run” the children run to the
“Den”. If the “Wolf” tags someone before they reach the “Den”, that child becomes the “Wolf”.
Hide the item: a variation on the HOT or COLD game. Several items (small gifts/favors) are
hidden instead of only 1. The birthday child, hides the gifts (instead of playing) & calls HOT or
COLD to the other children as they try to find the gifts which each child will take home.

SUDAN: Children who live in the cities celebrate their birthday whereas in the country they
don’t. Children usually drink a red punch called “karkady” made from hibiscus flowers , have a
cake w/candles & eat pizza. Children may not receive gifts like toys or clothes but might be
given money instead.
GAME: The Sheep & the Hyena – 6-20 players.
Birthday child chooses 1 child to be the sheep (“sheep” sign around their neck) & another to be
the hyena (“hyena” sign around their neck). The other children form a circle. The “sheep” goes
into the middle. The “hyena” stays outside the circle. The children move around in a circle, trying
to stay close to one another so that the “hyena” can’t sneak into the circle & catch the “sheep”.
When the “hyena” enters the circle, he becomes the “sheep” & the “sheep” becomes part of the
circle. Another child is then chosen to be the “hyena”. Game ends when everyone has had a
turn to be the hyena.

ANTARCTICA
GAME: Unofficial:
Insert small pieces of paper into white balloons w/prize on each. Children must sit on balloons to
pop them & they get prize listed on paper inside.

ASIA

CHINA: When a baby is born, traditionally he/she is already one year old. It is a very important
event. Parents might set the baby’s fortune by placing the baby in the center of a group of
objects & wait to see which object the baby picks up. Chinese people believe the first year of life
is unsafe because in past history babies often got sick or maybe even died. Historically,
everyone celebrated their birthday on Chinese New Year even if it isn’t the official date of birth &
everyone would turn another year older. However, families today, celebrate twice after a baby
is born…at one month old & then again at one year old, when the family believes the baby is
now out of danger & healthy. The family has a party (Chinese “feast” of at least 12 main dishes).
During following years, the family celebrates on the child’s actual birthday. Everyone eats extra-
long noodles & boiled eggs, both symbols for long life. The egg shells are dyed bright red for
good luck. Birthday child wears new bright colored (red, green, blue & yellow) silk clothes &
shoes…it is important for the birthday child to wear new things to show that a new year of life
has begun. Brilliant red is also important because it symbolizes prosperity, life, fire & joy. Child
is given an extra-long noodle representing a long life & good luck for breakfast on birthday
morning. People in China don’t eat many sweet things. They might have a “birthday peach”
(steamed dumpling made of flour & water that is a little bit sweet) instead of birthday cake. The
“peach” has a red dot on it, standing for good luck. Sometimes, there is a surprise inside
too…maybe coins. Guests bring presents: paper money folded & tucked into small, red
envelopes. The envelope is red for good luck & is called a “red bag”. Jade w/a symbol cut into it
representing a long life/good luck is a common gift for babies. Believe that jade keeps them
safe.
GAMES:  Chase the dragon’s tail game
Chinese Whispers - Whisper a long phrase (to one person, that person whispers to the next, the
last person announces what they heard) I had the girls whisper “San Yat Fy Lok”, which means
Happy Birthday in Chinese.
Chinese Chances (Chinese are famous for their belief in luck and good fortune and this game is
all about that). For this game you will need 2 confetti filled eggs for each child invited to the
party (one egg filled with one colored confetti - an unlucky color, the other egg will be filled with
a different color of confetti - a lucky color). The person who gets the unlucky egg will get a task -
make it a silly, or funny task... The person who gets the lucky egg will get a small treat!
Chinese Fortune game - Set objects on a table: book, pen, spool of thread, videocassette/dvd,
wooden spoon, computer disk, music cd, coin, doll, etc. Blindfold child & let them reach for an
object. Choosing these objects might predict: coin=wealth; doll=children; pen=writer/journalist;
book=teacher/scholar; thread=designer/tailor; video/dvd= film producer; music cd=musician ;
wooden spoon=chef; computer disk=programmer/computer specialist; abacus=business etc.
Unofficial:
Red Balloon stomp- attach a balloon on string to the ankle of each child. Children try to stomp
each other’s balloon without letting theirs get stomped. Set rules because they do get excited.
Red balloon “pop”…inflated balloons are scattered on the floor. Children “sit” on the floor & have
to pop the balloons with their “bottoms”.
Noodle “slurp” contest w/spaghetti noodles? Who can “slurp” the longest length? Children bite &
swallow their “slurp” & leftover piece is measured. Who has smallest “leftover” length?
Children pick up gummy fish/marshmallows with chop sticks.
Balanced Chopsticks 4 Players stand around a stool, blindfolded, each is given a chopstick.
They are asked walk around the stool and balance their chopstick on the top of the stool. The
first one to complete the task wins.
Chop Sticks Pick-up: Need enough pairs of chop sticks for everyone in the small group, lots of
large cotton balls, paper plates. Description: Explain to a small group of preschoolers that not
everyone eats with forks and spoons. Introduce the chop sticks and tell children they are used
for eating. Let the children help put the cotton balls (pretend food) on their paper plates and ask
them how they could use the chop sticks to pick up the pretend food. Permit the children to
experiment with ways to pick up the cotton balls.
CRAFTS: Chinese lanterns, dragons or fans
Unofficial:
Beaded chopsticks (hair ornaments for girls’ ponytails etc…
see http://sweetspot.ca/montreal/archives/beauty/001556.php
Paint rice bowls

INDIA: On a Hindu child’s 1st birthday, his head is shaved, cleanses the child of any evil in past
lives, symbolizes a renewal of the soul. Hindu children don’t have to go to school.
All children wears bright, colorful clothes. If child goes to school, he passes out chocolates.
Afternoon meal included a dessert treat called “dudh pakh”, a rice pudding with pistachios,
almonds, raisins & cardamom mixed in. Dance with shiny “ankle bracelets”. All day long
everyone tries very hard to give the child a “happy day”…praise them & make them feel good
inside. Gifts: beads, bracelets, scarves, new records etc. Children sing & play games outside in
the garden.
CRAFT: “ankle bracelets” - bells strung on gold string.

JAPAN: The 3rd, 5th & 7th birthdays are more important. During these special birthdays, children
participated in the Shichi-go-san (“Seven-Five-Three”) Festival on Nov. 15th to say thank you for
health & strength & to ask for continued well-being in the future & a long life. Children always
dress in their finest clothes whether traditional kimonos or western-style clothing. A special treat
is a trip to buy special bags of candies with the words “Sweets for 1000 years of life” written on
them. Gifts: younger children - clothes & toys; Money to older children. To request or make a list
indicating a preference for a special gift is considered impolite. Sometimes, a birthday cake is
purchased. But, more important is “Osekihan”, a rice dish mixed w/red beans or Osushi, rice
mixed with vegetables & seasoned w/vinegar. Japanese tea or a punch are favored drinks.
GAMES: Fuku warai – (funny version of Pin the tail on the donkey) Laminate large face outline
& several sets of eyes, lips, noses, eyebrows etc. Arrange facial features on the floor & blindfold
children who try to place them onto the face.
Hanetsuki: 10 or more children.
Use 2 large toy balloons (punch balls/beach balls). Divide children into 2 groups. Each group
forms a circle & is given 1 balloon. At the signal, the balloon is batted into the air. The object is
to hit the balloon w/an open hand, keeping it up in the air & not letting it touch the ground.
Japanese tag: 4 or more.
IT tries to tag a child. A “tagged” child must put 1 hand on the “spot” touched by IT- back,
shoulder, elbow, knee etc. In this position, the “tagged” child must chase the other children.
“Tagged” child can only remove his hand from “touched spot” when he tags another child.

Unofficial:
Chopstick Relay # 1 (Pick up an object from one dish and move it to the next dish using
chopsticks. Pass the chopsticks to the next player. Objects could be jelly beans, rice etc.
Chopstick relay # 2 (Chopstick relay- Each team gets a pair of chopsticks and must carry, push
etc. a balloon to one end of the course then back to the next in line. They may not touch the
balloon with their hands.
Carry balloons w/chopsticks
Tokyo Doodles (Each player gets a sheet of paper taped to their back. The players stand in a
line, with each player facing the back of the child in front with piece of paper taped to their back.
First player draws an object on the paper of the person in front. Second player then tries to draw
the object, by only what she felt was being drawn on her back, then the 3rd player does the
same, and so forth. At the end, you compare the drawings this is quite a funny game.
Balanced Chopsticks 4 Players stand around a stool, blindfolded, each is given a chopstick.
They are asked walk around the stool and balance their chopstick on the top of the stool. The
first one to complete the task wins.
CRAFTS: Origami
Paper fans

KOREA: On the 100th day after a child’s birth, a small feast is usually held to celebrate the child
having survived this period. Celebrate with rice cakes & sweetened red & black bean cakes. It is
believed that if the rice cakes are shared w/100 people the child will have a long life & so rice
cakes are usually sent to as many people as possible to help share the happiness of the
occasion. Those receiving the rice cakes don’t return the serving containers empty, but w/skeins
of thread expressing the hope of longevity & w/ rice & money symbolizing future wealth. The red
& black bean cakes are believed to bring luck & happiness & are placed @ the four compass
points within a house.

MALAYSIA: Friends & family visit bringing and “ang-bao”, small red packet/envelope filled
w/money. Even amounts of money are considered lucky. Birthday “ribbon” cake – Alternating
layers of cake & colored butter.
GAME: Pass the box – small box wrapped in bright colored paper is passed from child to child
when adult says “stop”/music stops, the person holding box must sing a song.

NEPAL: a mixture of rice yogurt & color is placed on the birthday child’s forehead for good luck
PHILLIPPINES: early in the day, the family goes to church to say thank you. Birthday cakes
are baked in various sizes & shapes. Celebration includes extra-long noodles representing a
long life. Outside of house has blinking colored lights at night.
GAME: Cat & dog (Pusa at Aso) - 10-12 children
All children are cats except for 1. They sit in a circle around a pile of sticks, shoes, stones or
other objects which represent a pile of “bones”. 1 child is chosen to be the dog & he sits inside
the circle guarding his “bones”. He can’t move around (seat glued to floor) & can only tag the
cats by touching them from where he sits w/only his hands or feet. The cats try to steal the
“bones” w/o getting tagged. If the dog tags a cat, they exchange places. If the cats get all of the
“bones” w/o being tagged, a new game starts w/a new dog.

VIETNAM: They either don’t know or celebrate the exact day they were born. Everyone’s
birthday is celebrated on New Year’s day (“Tet” is 1st morning of New Years). A baby turns 1 on
Tet no matter what day he was actually born. Child is presented with red envelopes that contain
“Lucky Money” by parents, family & friends.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Parties are barbeques. Treats: “fairy bread”/”Hundreds & Thousands sandwich” (buttered bread
covered w/tiny candy sprinkles called “hundreds & thousands” & cut from corner to corner to
form 4 triangles); chocolate crackles (rice krispie balls covered in chocolate); lollies; lamington
(squares of sponge cake dipped in chocolate & rolled in coconut).1st slice of cake (fruitcake with
candle for each year on top) goes to birthday child. Children sing traditional happy birthday song
but clap, one for each year & one for luck. Gifts are simple things like books, hair ribbons &
toys.
GAMES in both countries:
Skippyroo Kangaroo- as many as 25 or as few as six; ages 3 and up. Kids sit in a circle and an
adult asks 1child to go into the middle-- the first Skippyroo/kangaroo. Skippyroo crouches
forward on the floor with eyes closed while the kids in the circle chant: "Skippyroo, kangaroo,
dozing in the midday sun, comes a hunter, run, run,run." At this stage an adult points to a child
sitting in the circle, who then touches Skippyroo's shoulder and says, "Guess who's caught you
just for fun?" and waits. Skippyroo tries to name the owner of the voice and if guesses correctly,
swaps places. The game continues until all the kids have had a chance to be Skippyroo.
Magic Parcel: Children sit in circle on floor. Wrap a “surprise” in lots of layers of paper & tied
string. The parcel is passed as music plays. When the music stops, the child holding the parcel
tries to unwrap it as much as possible (w/o tearing paper & knots must be untied) before music
starts again. When music starts, the parcel is passed around the circle until the music stops
again & the next child unwraps/unties until “surprise” is revealed & given to the birthday child.
Variation: insert small favors among the paper layers so that every so often a child uncovers a
favor they keep. The “surprise” is given to the birthday child. Be sure to have enough extra
“favors” on hand so each child gets to take something home.
NEW ZEALAND:
GAMES: Share the chocolate- 2 teams; 2 chocolate cakes (or enough mini cupcakes for group);
2 hats; 2 pairs of gloves; 2 knives; 2 forks. Divide items out between teams & place everything
on a table an equal distance from each team. The 1st one in line for each team runs to team’s
cake, puts on the hat & gloves, cuts off a piece of chocolate cake w/fork & knife, sets down knife
& fork, eats piece cut, removes hat & gloves & runs back to end of team’s line. 2nd child in line
repeats. Team finishing cake first is winner. Note: if using mini cupcakes, won’t need knives &
forks, but each child will need to finish eating a mini-cupcake before removing hat & gloves.
Hunt the slipper: 1 child hides a slipper. Other children must hunt for it while the child who hid it
says “HOT” (getting closer) or “COLD” (getting further away) from hidden slipper.
CRAFTS: Party hats or masks
Cardboard Boomerangs (can find instructions for several different kinds on line – cardstock too)
Aboriginal art – trace hand on black construction paper. Lay out examples of aboriginal artwork.
Children create their own “masterpiece” using construction paper crayons (or any bright colored
medium that will work on black construction paper)

EUROPE

BELGIUM: Birthday child is on the “look-out” all day because family tries to sneak up on them &
gently pick w/a needle for luck. Birthday child doesn’t have to do any chores all day & gets to
stay up later than usual. Sometimes, a special outing rather than a party.

DENMARK: Child wakes on birthday morning to find gifts lined around their bed or even stuffed
under their pillow. Child is given a small Danish flag (birthday flag that they carry around all
day). A large Danish flag is flown outside the house so everyone knows someone inside is
celebrating a birthday. Money is most common gift. Ice cream is very popular treat on birthday
& hot cocoa and soda (Sodavand). Lower grade teachers read Hans Christian Andersen story &
sometimes class will make clay figures. The birthday child brings hard candy treat for teacher &
classmates.
GAMES: Stafetlo- Relay race w/potato or hard-boiled egg on spoon.
(No Name…It’s a mess but they love it) - blindfold child who must feed himself gooey cake
and/or ice cream. Variation they enjoy even more: blindfold 2 children & they must feed on
another.
Pin the tail on the pig
Billedloterri: bingo game played w/animal pictures instead of numbers

ENGLAND: celebrate birthdays with a Fortune Telling Cake, small, symbolic objects/charms are
baked right into the cake & fortune is revealed depending on which token you get in your slice.
A ring might symbolize marriage; a thimble that you remain single; a button that you will live a
very simple or even poor life; a coin that you will have wealth. (Guests are warned before eating
cake so no broken teeth or swallowed treasures.) Birthday child is given “bumps” (child is lifted
in the air by their hands & feet or under their arms & raised up & down to the floor, 1 for each
year & 1 to grow on. Children usually drink “squash”, an orange or lemon flavored kool-aid-type
drink made from syrup not powder. Special treats: chocolate biscuits (chocolate cookies) & jelly
& ice cream (jello in a bowl w/scoop of ice cream on top & decorated w/ tiny colored sprinkles) .
Games: Musical bumps – played like Musical chairs but children can sit anywhere…sofa, chairs,
floor, etc. The last 1 to sit down is out.
Sardines: 1 child hides. Other children look for him. When they find him, they stay w/ him quietly
until the last child finally finds them all hiding together. The fun of this is not only the hunt but
also the ingenuity of the 1st child finding a hiding place where everyone can pack together & not
get the giggles giving away the hiding place.
Tray: several things are place on a tray which is shown for 1 minute to all children then removed
from sight. Children write down names of as many objects as they can remember.
Craft: Crackers (see CANADA for instructions)

FRANCE: It is rumored that it is bad luck to have leftover birthday cake. Cocoa or fruit juice
favorite party drinks.
“Makeover” party- mustaches, glasses etc. for boys; make-up, accessories etc. for girls or “mini
Monet”/art party with watercolors. Some will have costume parties. Gifts: toys, accessories but
not clothes. Clothes are considered to be improper gift.
GAMES: Monopoly
Card games
Hot potato

GERMANY: Child’s chair @ the breakfast table is pile of simple gifts (ribbon, toy, book etc.)
from the family that must be opened before child can eat breakfast. The table has a special
wooden birthday wreath containing small holes for candles & a holder in the center for the life-
candle, a taller, beautifully decorated candle which is lit each year until the child reaches ages of
12. This “light of life” candle & candles in wooded wreath are usually lit at sunrise birthday
morning & remain lit entire day. Each guest has a party hat. Sometimes small charms/surprises
are baked into the birthday cake & children keep them. A candle for each year is set in a circle
around the edge of the cake w/1 extra to “grow on”. Candy & cocoa w/whipped cream are
treats. Sometimes children are taken to puppet show. Birthday child doesn’t receive homework
on their birthday & don’t do chores.
Game: Kommando Bimberle - Everyone sits around table. 1 child commands: “Do this w/ your
hands” or “Don’t do this w/your hands” or some other command. If a child does the wrong thing,
they must put something that belongs to them on the table. When a previously specified number
of objects are on the table, the children to whom they belong must redeem them by doing
whatever “forfeit” stunts they are told. (see List included)
Chocolate Bar: (Better if group isn’t too large. KODAK moment! It’s hilarious!)
Need: hat, scarf, gloves, knife & fork, wrapped chocolate bars & dice. Children take turns
throwing dice. If get a double, child puts on hat, scarf & gloves, tries to undo the chocolate bar
w/only knife & fork & then eats as much as he can, still using only the knife & fork. Meanwhile,
the children keep taking a turn rolling dice. The child working on the chocolate bar continues
until someone else rolls a double. Then that child quickly puts on the hat, scarf, gloves & tries
his luck unwrapping & eating a new chocolate bar w/only the knife & fork.

GREECE: Greek cookies & pastries like baklava instead of cake. Ice cream is special treat—it’s
tops!

HOLLAND/NETHERLANDS: Birthdays are very important events. You will find a birthday
calendar hanging in the bathroom of almost every Dutch home to remind everyone of special
days. Birthdays 5, 10, 15, 20, and 21 are called "crown" years. The birthday child usually
receives an especially large gift (from a list that the child has made) on a crown year birthday.
Receiving a present wrapped in black & white is considered bad luck. Family decorates the
birthday child’s chair w/ flowers, paper streamers, paper flowers & balloons. Children eat
pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar and taarties (tarts made with different kinds of fillings
& covered with icing or whipped cream) served with lemonade or hot chocolate. Child brings
hard candies to school. Birthday cake but no candles.
GAME: Koekhappen (bite-the-cake) - soft cookies are hung from a dangling rope & the
children, blindfolded, attempt to eat them. Unofficial version: hang donuts; children aren’t
blindfolded but must try to eat w/hands behind their back.

ICELAND: A dish of canned fruit maybe w/whipped cream on top is special treat. Birthday cake
is covered w/whipped cream & sometimes canned fruit on top. No candles. Ponnukokur (paper-
thin pancakes folded in quarters & filled with jelly/jam or whipped cream) & kleinur (small oblong
donut-like fried cakes) are also favorite treats along with chocolate candy & hot chocolate. It
isn’t customary to give party favors or prizes for games. Gifts: money or simple things like a
book.
GAME: In & out the window – Children form circle, holding hands in raised position. ! child
stands in middle. When music begins, the child in the middle weaves in & out between children
in circle, under raised arms. When music stops, child stops in front of nearest child. That child
then holds the 1st child’s waist &, when music starts again, they both weave in tandem in & out
of the circle. Game goes on until no one is left in circle.
Spin the bottle – Children stand/sit in circle & bottle is spun in center. The child that the bottle
point to when it stops must do a stunt/forfeit. (See LIST included)

IRELAND: Tradition is to lift birthday child upside down & “bump” them gently on the floor for
good luck, 1 for each year & 1 for extra good luck. Friends are taken to a move or pantomime
sometimes instead of a party at home. Birthday cake is a round fruitcake w/white frosting &
candles. Another special treat is trifle (layers of custard & pieces of sponge cake alternated &
topped w/ “Hundreds & Thousands”…rainbow colored sprinkles)
GAME: Pass the orange – 2 teams. 1st child on each team places an orange under his chin &
puts his hands behind his back. At a signal, 1st child must pass orange from under his chin to
next person, who must receive it under his chin. No hands can be used. If orange drops, the
team must start all over.
Snap : 2 or more children. A deck of cards is dealt out, hands are stacked, face down. Children
then all turn up top card. If any child sees card of the same # as his, he calls SNAP. 1st child to
call SNAP, gets all the turned up cards. Or, if there are no doubles, the next cards are turned up
& so on. The winner is child who gets all his opponent’s cards (2 players) or the most cards
when one player runs out of cards.
CRAFT: Candy creatures – use marshmallows, gumdrops, toothpicks, licorice sticks etc. to
create creatures.

ITALY: House is filled w/flowers because flowers as gifts are old Italian custom. Clothing,
money & occasionally a toy can also be given. Children are given a “lancia” (Italian lollypop
shaped like an arrow) Children have a birthday cake but no candles. Also, plain butter cookies &
hot cocoa are treats. Parents might take birthday child to a movie as a special treat.
GAME: The wet handkerchief (Cencio Mollo) – 1 child is IT. The other children form a line.
Holding a handkerchief in his hand, IT says to the 1st person in line: “The wet handkerchief has
come to you.” The 1st person answers: “Let it come. I will not laugh.” IT tries to make the child
laugh by touching only the child’s face or head with the handkerchief. IT continues this from
child to child. Any child who laughs must pay a stunt/forfeit. (See List included)
Unofficial: make pizza bagels

LITHUANIA: Garland is hung around entire door of home. Birthday child sits in decorated chair
& family lifts them up 3 times.

NORWAY: Birthday child stands in front of class & chooses friend to share a little dance w/while
the rest of class sings Happy Birthday song. Treats: Chocolate cake w/chocolate frosting &
bowls of red jello covered with vanilla sauce.
GAME: Fishing for Ice Cream
Need popsicles or ice-cream bars, long pieces of string for fishing line & a spring-type
clothespin. Children stand on balcony (most homes in Norway have balconies) or top of
stairway or porch to pull up their treat. Attach the clothespin to the string. Each guest holds onto
the fishing line. An adult below attaches the treat to the string & child pulls it up. Can vary the
game by having children fish for candy or small toys.
RUSSIA: Birthday pie (might be a big rectangle instead of our “round” pies) with a special
birthday greeting cut/written into the crust. Birthday child’s family put masks on the table that
children take home after the party. Children might put a “show” on at the birthday party…sing a
song, tell a story…each child takes a turn while others watch. Children bring present they think
birthday child will like…flowers are traditional gift for girls. Guests pull the birthday person’s
ears…hold both ears & tug gently…once for each year. Family gives presents in a special
way…leave by child’s bed so they are there when child wakes up “birthday morning”. Russian
children love magic tricks.
GAMES: Clothesline game – Hang the clothesline across the room. Place small prizes in
decorated lunch bags. Twist the bags & tie the top closed tightly w/string or ribbon. Tie the bags
to the clothesline/rope. Blindfold each child. Lead them to the clothesline. Let each choose the
bag he wants. Have an adult help snip the bag off the clothesline.
Karavai (kah-rah-VEYE) (“the round loaf”)
Children join hands to form a circle as big as they can w/birthday child in center & sing:
For child’s name birthday we cooked karavai
A very high loaf (hands up high)
Not way down low (bend down low)
A very wide loaf(hands out to sides)
Not skinny & narrow (all move together toward birthday child in the center)
Karavai, karavai
Choose another person quick
To make more fun
The birthday child picks someone else to be in the center & the children start the song again.

Crocodile Gena’s Birthday Song: (popular birthday song featuring famous cartoon character)
Let the pedestrians walk clumsily through the puddles
And let the water run over the asphalt in a river.
It’s unclear to the passersby,
On this rainy day,
Why I’m so happy.

But I’m playing the concertina

For all the passersby to see.
Unfortunately,
Birthdays
Only come once a year.

I wish that a wizard

Would fly in, in a light blue helicopter,
And show a movie for free.
He would wish me a happy birthday
And probably, leave as a present
500 ice cream sandwiches.

But I’m playing the concertina

For all the passersby to see.
Unfortunately,
Birthdays
Only come once a year.
SCOTLAND: A child is given a pound note for every year old plus 1 extra for good luck.
Friends give soft, little “punches” for each year.

SPAIN: Cakes & pastries are rare because homes don’t have anything in them to “bake”.
Therefore, sweets “pasteles” must be purchased. It is a big event for the birthday child to go to
the pastry shop to choose the treats for their celebration which will also include hard candies &
cocoa. No birthday cake, candles or birthday song is sung. Guests greet the birthday child & try
to pull his ears as many times as years old. Gifts: toys, books, clothes, school supplies &
occasionally money.
GAME: Hit the bucket – 5 or more players.
Children form semicircle around a bucket, standing a distance of 8 to 12 ft away. Each child has
a stone, beanbag or some other object to throw. A signal to throw each player in turn tosses his
object @ the bucket. Those who miss must pay a stunt/forfeit. (See List included)

SWEDEN: Use national flag to decorate. Children are often served breakfast in bed. Entire
family comes to birthday child’s bed to wake him up & wish Happy Birthday. Neighbors come
early too to sing before child even gets out of bed. They sit on the child’s bed & have a small
party of hot cocoa & cookies. Then relatives join family members for a birthday party in the
evening. Children at the party are given “loot bags” filled w/fruit & candy. Klubba (lollypops) are
a favorite treat. Birthday cake is very fancy – molded ring made of lemon pound cake with 1
large candle (“Life Light”) in the center which stays lit until parents extinguish when party is over.
Smaller candles, 1 for each year, are placed around the edge of the top in a ring. These are for
child to blow out. Cake is served w/side dish of whipped cream & strawberries that are put on
each piece after it’s sliced. Besides the birthday cake, an ice cream cake (thin layers of cake
between thick layers of ice cream) is served. The Swedish Birthday Song is sung & a
remembrance photo of birthday child with friends is taken. If family can afford it, fireworks are
set off in the evening. On the 5th, 10th, 15th & 20th birthdays, there is a larger party & more
important, bigger gifts.
GAMES: Fiskar (“fishing”) – A wall or barrier is set up, big enough for an adult to hide behind.
Each child fishes w/a fishing line for a small gift/treat that an adult attaches to the line for the
child to pull up.
Checkers
Hopscotch

MIDDLE EAST

ISRAEL: Parties are big events of 30 or more children because all classmates are invited. The
largest room in the home is emptied of all furniture except for a serving table & 1 decorated
chair for birthday child to sit on. Children attending do not dress up. Plates aren’t used because
all food served can be held in hands. Decorative napkins are provided as favors (not for use)
because many children collect them as a hobby. Birthday child wears a crown made from
leaves or flowers and sits in a chair decorated in streamers. Guests dance around the chair
singing and raising and lowering it the same number of times as the child's age plus one for
good luck. Birthday cake is usually in the shape of a special interest of the child – dog lover=
dog; soccer=soccer field or ball; teddy bear collector= teddy bear etc. Gifts are small (candy bar,
handmade gift etc.) & are never opened while guest are still in home. Sometimes the children
will put on puppet shows or shadow plays for the guest.
GAMES: Race w/potato on spoon (or other relay games or games of skill)
2 teams/players each holding a spoon in his mouth. Someone puts a potato/hard-boiled egg on
each of their spoons. Walk across the room to finish line, hands at sides or behind back. The
team/player who reaches the finish line 1st w/o dropping the potato/hard-boiled eggs wins.
Peanuts in the bottle: a bottle is placed on the floor. Child kneels on chair w/1hand behind back.
With other hand, he tried to drop peanuts into the bottle.
Hide & seek (Israeli version): A group of children hide and object & sing as 1 child looks for the
hidden object. They sing softly when child is far from it & loudly as he get nearer to it.

MUSLIM: traditionally give gifts to the poor to say thank you. After child is a week old, its head
is shaved & family donates an amt. of silver equal to or more than the weight of the child’s hair.
Family & friends then have a feast & naming ceremony.

NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA

CANADA:(Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland) the birthday child is
ambushed and their nose is greased w/butter 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). A
wrapped coin might be found between the layers of the birthday cake (whoever finds it is the
first to get a turn at all the party games).
CRAFT: Crackers
Place a toilet paper tube at the narrow end of tissue or crepe paper. Insert small prize(s) into
tube. Wrap the tube by rolling it in the paper. When completely rolled, seal the seal w/tape. Tie
each end w/ribbon. Decorate w/stickers.

CUBA: Paper lanterns hung over strings of colored lights outside. A magician or musician
entertainer. Sometimes guests are taken to an amusement park for rides. Child doesn’t have to
go to school. The highlight of the party is a piñata (easily made by filling large paper bag or
colored-paper shopping bag w/candies, stapling or taping it firmly closed & decorating w/animal
figures or colorful designs, crepe-paper curls, ribbons etc.) Children are told stories: favorites
are La Caperucita Roja (Little Red Riding Hood) & Los Tres Osos (The three bears)
GAMES: Fishing game: a type of standing well is made big enough for an adult to hide inside.
Each child fishes in the well w/ a fishing line that has a pine attached. When line is lowered, the
adult pins a small or funny gift on the line for the child to pull out. Children love this because
they always “catch” something.
Musical chairs (variation); Players march in a wide circle far from the chairs & must run a good
distance to claim a chair when the music stops.
CRAFT: Paper lantern

MEXICO: piñata and FIESTA ideas. In Mexico, there are 2 celebrations you have for your
birthday. 1st is your name/saint’s day @ church & 2nds is @ home w/ family & friends. Birthday
cake w/candles & get 3 wishes if they blow out the candles w/1breath. Birthday child gets
“chetes” (“gentle” spanks).
GAME: Coyote & sheep – up to 12 players. 1 person, the “shepherd” is at the head of the line.
“Sheep” form line behind the “shepherd”, placing their hands on the waist of child in front of
them. Choose a child to be the “coyote”. The game begins when the “coyote” approaches &
“shepherd” asks: “What does the coyote want?” The “coyote answers, “I want a fat sheep!” The
“shepherd” answers: “Then go to the end of the line where the fattest sheep are.” The “coyote”
runs toward the end of the line, trying to touch the last sheep. The “shepherd” defends his flock
by extending his arms & running in all directions, attempting to prevent the “coyote” from
touching the last sheep. The line of sheep helps by weaving back & forth behind the “shepherd”
w/o breaking the line. If line breaks, the “shepherd” becomes the “coyote” & the next person in
line becomes the “shepherd”. The same is true when the “coyote” tags the “fattest sheep”.
Sack Race (potato sacks/burlap bags)

NATIVE AMERICAN: Tribes usually placed significance on milestones in child’s development

rather than on the day they were born. For example, the day a child takes first step, the day
accepts the responsibilities of an adult, day they get married or become a parent etc. The
Winnebago have a big birthday that begins in the evening & lasts all night long. Anyone can
attend because the invitation is spread by word of mouth. Whatever the birthday child wants to
eat is usually served even if it’s difficult to obtain because they believe it’s important to please
the birthday person. The birthday cake is a very large sheet cake & is carried around & shown
to guests. It is considered an honor to be asked to cut the cake. After the meal, the children play
hand games.
GAME: Native American Hand game – Need a stone or bone, which you can decorate if you
like. Divide into teams. 5 on a team works best. Choose somebody to hold the stone or bone.
Each team lines up separately. The first player guesses which hand the object is in. Then the
next player guesses. Sometimes 2 people are in charge of holding an object. Then 2 bones or
stones move through 4 hands, so it’s harder to guess. As the players guess, the person or
persons holding an object change which hand it’s in. The team w/ the most correct guesses
wins. A variation would be to change the “holder” each time someone guesses correctly…allows
more children chance to be the “holder”. Could play Native American music during the game if
you wanted.

SOUTH AMERICA

ARGENTINA: the birthday child receives a pull on the earlobe for each year.

BRAZIL: Decorate with paper flowers & banners. Instead of a birthday spanking and a "pinch to
grow an inch", Brazilians pull on children's earlobes for each year of their birthday. Ice cream
cake is a very popular birthday cake with different flavors of ice cream between the layers &
topped w/whipped cream. Ice cream of some kind & Coke are a must. Children eat colorful
candies shaped like fruits & vegetables. Sometimes they are almost too beautiful to eat so
children take them home to enjoy for a while before eating them. “Sweet treats” are a tradition:
Chocolate balls covered in sprinkles or coconut put in mini paper cupcake cups. Birthday
presents are opened during the party, put on child’s bed & guests go to his room later to see all
everything.
GAMES: Anel (Ring): The children form a circle & hold hands behind their backs. 1 child is IT &
stands inside the circle. Another has a ring & passes around the outside of the circle pretending
to give the ring to children. The child does finally give it to someone & IT has to guess who
really got the ring. IT gets 3 guesses & if they don’t guess correctly must pay a “forfeit”. (See
List included)
Peteca: A small leather pouch full of sand w/feathers tied to the top or a bean bag works too.
The pouch/bag is tossed in the air by 1st child & w/1 hand me must hit it back up in the air over
& over w/o letting it fall to the ground. As they do this, they recite the alphabet w/each touch.
The child who gets through the most leters before missing the bag & letting it drop wins.
Coelho na Toca (Rabbit in his house): children are paired off, holding hands. They are the
houses. 3rd child stands in front of each “house” & the “house” children circle them by holding
hands on either side. 3rd child is the “rabbit”. Need 1 “extra rabbit” to be IT. When the “rabbits”
hear, “Rabbit in his house,” all the rabbits must duck out & find a new house.The “extra rabbit”
also it trying to find a “house”. Whatever “rabbit is left homeless becomes IT.
Pin the tail on the rabbit
Apple on a string: An apple is hung on a string. W/ both hands behind their back, child must
catch it in their mouth.
Morral (Grab bag): Fill a bag w/strips of “forfeit stunts” (See List included). As each child draws
a slip, he must do the stunt.
CRAFT: Paper Flowers

CHILE: CRAFT: rainsticks

ECUADOR: On birthdays children might only receive a phone call. Not much of a celebration at
all. Saint’s Day parties (children are named after saints) are big celebrations: afternoon tea
parties w/raisin cake, fancy tea cookies & hot chocolate

PERU: Children almost always receive fancy paper hats & 2 kinds of party favors or
“recordatorio” which means souvenir. The first is a good box/bag & the second is a pin made in
honor of the event. The pins are so elaborate that children collect them. The Birthday child has
a hat shaped like a crown.
 LIST OF STUNTS/FORFEITS for GAMES

Dance around the room with a broom for a partner

Repeat rapidly BLACK BUG’S BLOOD six times

Repeat rapidly SIX SICKLY SONGSTERS SIPPING CIDER three

times

Neigh like a horse

Quack like a duck

Imitate blowing bubble gum

Spell your name backwards

Shake hands with everyone

Imitate a baby crying

Pick up a hankie from the floor with your teeth

Imitate a girl putting on make-up

Imitate a farmer calling hogs

Pretend you are a chicken

Pantomine a nursery rhyme (Little Miss Muffitt, Jack & Jill etc.)

Pretend you are a plane

Lap up a saucer of milk without using your hands

Hold one foot in your hand & hop across the room & back

Hold your nose & sing a song

Move your right hand up & down vertically, & at the same time

move your left hand back & forth horizontally

Pretend to eat a full meal (cut you meat, butter your bread, drink)
 Birthday Trivia
3774 10 Get to know how Birthdays Around RaLpHaTnEgAm 24773 trivia-discussion/ 4819

1:

What do Chinese kids have for lunch on their birthday?

hoisin

siopao

siomai

noodles
Question 2:

Kids from Russia celebrate their birthday with a chocolate birthday cake.

False

True
Question 3:

In Scotland, kids celerati their birthdayare given ₤1 for eveyyear of ther age

True

False
Question 4:

Birthday celebrants in Mexico get blindfolded and have to it a __________.

paper animal (piñata)

jar

pet dog

clay pot (palayok)

Question 5:

In Hungary, kids celebrating their birthday give out what to their classmates?

a chocolate bar

a cake

a delicious dish for lunch

a candy
 

Question 6:

On their birthday, Canadian kids get their nose greased with a margarine or butter for good luck.

False

True
Question 7:

Danish kids mark their birthdays by which of the following activities?

putting a flag outside their house

not wearing their school uniform

putting a scarf around the neck

giving their classmates chocolates one day before their birthday

Question 8:

Japanese kids always look beautiful on their birthday because they get a brand new set of clothes.

False

True
Question 9:

Everyone in Vietnam celebrates their birthdays during what holiday?

Mother's Day

Christmas Day

Father's Day

New Year's Day

Question 10:

In Italy, kids celebrating their birthday get tapped on the arm.

True

False

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WEBSITES: 
BIRTHDAY BINGO: Use www.teach‐nology.com/web_tools/materials/bingo/5 to create a set of 
bingo cards to feature birthday words. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN 161 LANGUAGES: (use those spoken in your community?) 
www.shabbir.com/romance/bday.html 
 
BIBLIOGRAPHY: 
Happy Birthday Everywhere by Arlene Ehrlbach 
Birthday Parties Around the World by Barbara Rinkoff 
 
*I contacted the Multicultural Centers, several ethnic groups in our area & local university 
groups for help with ideas 
 
 
CROSS‐CULTURAL BIRTHDAYS (book titles): 
Alicia’s Happy Day by Meg Starr 
Carolina’s Gift: a story of Peru by Katacha Diaz 
Chato & the party animals by Gary Soto 
Every year on your birthday by Rose A. Lewis 
F is for Fiesta by Susan Middleton Elya 
Fiesta Fiasco by Ann Whitford, Paul 
Happy to You! By Caron Lee Cohen 
Henry’s First‐Moon Birthday by Lenore Look 
Just a minute: a Trickster Tale & Counting Book by Yuyi Morales 
Maddy’s Amazing African Birthday by Megan K Williams 
Mama’s Saris by Pooja Makhijani 
A party in Ramadan by Asma Mobin‐Uddin 
Yoon & the jade bracelet by Helen Recorvits