The Story Behind Birthdays: How the World Celebrates Getting Older

Yolandi Botes
May 13
5 min read

Updated: May 14

🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

Birthday candles, cake, gifts, singing, selfies, or even a cinnamon shower, we’ve come a long way in how we celebrate birthdays. But where did it all begin? Why do we celebrate the day we were born, and how did that evolve into the fun-filled, social-media-worthy events we know today?

From ancient temples in Mesopotamia to modern selfie booths in Potchefstroom, birthday traditions have deep roots and diverse branches. Let’s take a journey through history and across continents to discover how birthdays became one of the most universal (and uniquely celebrated) events in the world, and how local flair like SelfieBox North West is adding a modern twist in our own backyard.

Where It All Began: A History of Birthdays

The earliest birthdays weren’t about balloons or cake. In fact, they were about power, gods, and survival.

Ancient Civilisations and Royal Birthdays

Thousands of years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, royal children’s births were marked with special meals and rituals. Similarly, in ancient Egypt, the “birthdays” celebrated were usually those of the pharaoh, but not their actual birth day.

Instead, it was the day they were crowned and considered to become divine. It was less of a party and more of a spiritual event. The Greeks added their own twist, honouring the birthdays of gods with offerings and cakes.

Artemis, the moon goddess, was celebrated with round cakes topped with candles — the glow symbolising moonlight. This act of lighting candles and making wishes stuck around, eventually inspiring modern birthday cakes.

Roman Revelry and Early Gifts

The Romans took birthdays from divine to personal. They began celebrating the birthdays of regular people, mostly men at first, with private parties and public recognition.

They even baked special cakes for major birthdays like turning 50. The idea of giving gifts on birthdays? Also Roman. But not everyone was on board. Early Christians saw birthday celebrations as pagan and frowned on them for centuries.

Instead of birthdays, they focused on name days, celebrating the feast day of the saint one was named after.

The Rise of Modern Birthdays

The German Kinderfest

In the late 1700s, Germany introduced the Kinderfest, the first recorded children's birthday party. A cake with candles (one for each year, plus an extra for luck) was set out in the morning, and the child made a wish after dinner. It became a symbol of joy, growth, and hope for the future.

Industrial Age & Sweet Traditions

In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution made sugar, flour, and ovens more accessible. That meant birthday cakes weren’t just for the wealthy anymore. Bakeries popped up. Candles became cheap.

The famous “Happy Birthday” song spread worldwide. Celebrations became a household tradition. And in the 20th century, birthdays became personal milestones, whether it was a child’s first party, a young adult’s 21st, or a granny’s big 90th bash.

How the World Celebrates – A Cultural Tour of Birthdays

Birthdays are now a global phenomenon, but they look very different depending on where you are.

South Korea – Doljanchi

The first birthday is especially important in Korean culture. During the doljabi ritual, the child is placed in front of items like a pencil, stethoscope, string or money.

Whichever item they pick supposedly predicts their future career or fortune.

Families also eat seaweed soup (miyeok-guk), a dish given to mothers after childbirth, to remember and thank the woman who gave birth.

China – Long Life Noodles

In China, people eat a bowl of long, unbroken noodles called shòu miàn to symbolise long life. Cutting them is avoided, it’s all about a smooth, continuous journey ahead.

Denmark – Cinnamon Pranks

In Denmark, if you’re 25 and still single, your friends might ambush you with a cinnamon attack, covering you head to toe. Turn 30 and it could be pepper. It’s playful, cheeky, and pure Danish humour.

Mexico – Piñatas and Cake Smash

Kids smash brightly coloured piñatas filled with sweets and toys. Then comes the famous “la mordida”, friends push your face into the cake while shouting "Mordida!" It’s all in good fun (and messy).

India – Respect and Rituals

Children often start the day by touching their elders’ feet as a mark of respect and gratitude. Many families visit temples to pray for blessings, and some perform a fire ritual (Āyushya Homam) for health and longevity.

Japan – Kanreki (60th Rebirth)

Turning 60 in Japan is seen as completing the zodiac cycle. The birthday person wears red clothing and is celebrated as if starting a new life chapter.

Nigeria – Water Showers

In Nigeria, friends and family might soak you with water or drinks. It’s a lively tradition meant to bless the birthday person and create a memory you definitely won’t forget.

Ghana – Oto for Breakfast

Ghanaian children wake up to oto – mashed yam and eggs – to start the day with nourishment and tradition. Some ethnic groups also include rituals to cleanse and bless the child.

United Kingdom – The Bumps

Traditionally, children get lifted and bounced once for each year they’ve lived (plus one more for luck). Known as “the bumps”, this giggly ritual still appears at many playground parties.

Spain – Ear Tugging

One tug of the earlobe for each year of age. It’s believed to bring growth and good luck, and yes, it can be a little sore!

Canada – Greased Nose

In parts of Canada, especially Nova Scotia, birthday people get their noses buttered to “slip away from bad luck.” Friends sneak up and do it without warning.

The Local Touch: SelfieBox North West 🎈

Birthday celebrations have taken a creative leap forward with SelfieBox North West. Bringing mobile photo booth fun to parties and events, SelfieBox is all about capturing memories in style. Click on the image below to learn more about SelfieBox: 👇

Whether it’s your toddler’s themed party, your teen’s 16th, or your own milestone celebration, SelfieBox sets up interactive booths with props, instant printing, and digital sharing options. Guests love it, and the birthday person walks away with unforgettable moments captured in photos.

No matter your age, having a space to snap, pose, and laugh with friends brings something truly special to the day. It's the modern twist to traditional celebration, and it fits perfectly with how we celebrate birthdays today.

Why We Still Celebrate

Birthdays are more than cake and candles. They are:

Milestones – marking how far we’ve come
Memories – shared with people who matter
Moments of gratitude – for life, growth, and connection

Whether you're in a remote village or bustling city, eating yam, slurping noodles, or blowing out candles on a drip cake, birthdays are a reason to pause and celebrate your unique journey.

So next time your big day comes around, whether you’re standing in a sea of balloons, washing icing off your face, or sharing a laugh inside a SelfieBox booth, remember, you’re part of a long, global tradition of joy, culture, and connection. 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉