The Western idea of celebrating a birthday with cake and candles has certainly caught on in other parts of the world, but many cultures have long-standing traditional ways to celebrate that donât involve a sugar rush.
The practices found are not entirely representative of every household or individual, THANK GOODNESS! Many of them are more traditional and hypothetical than reality, but if you happen to be in Germany and see a group of men with a broom on the steps of city hall, youâll at least know what theyâre up to.
1. Canada: Nose Grease
On the Atlantic side of Canada, birthday boys and girls are sometimes "ambushed" and their noses are greased, usually with butter, to ward off bad luck. Someone who lives in Pictou said "the butter got worse as you got older. It was good luck as much as torture as I remember it." We would imagine so!
2. China: Long Noodles for Longevity
In China, some families celebrate a personâs birthday annually; others don't start celebrating until a person turns 60. Chinese birthday tradition maintains that one should symbolize their longevity by eating a plate of long noodles and slurping them in as far as possible before biting. Sounds appetizing...not!
3. Germany: Sweeping the Streets of City Hall
When single men in Germany turn 30, an old tradition is for them to sweep the steps of their local city hall as their friends toss rubble onto them. The "ordeal", meant to embarrass, is supposed to carry on until the birthday boy is able to plant one on a passing woman. You buy drinks for your friends on your birthday, unlike in Canada, where it is the other way around.
4. Ireland: Hit the Deck
Think the Irish had a few when coming up with this one? :) A child is held upside down and "bumped" on the floor once for every year of their age plus one for good luck. Weâre guessing lawyers would have something to say about this in Canada. Geez!
5. Jamaica: Modern Day Antiquing
Jamaicans think dousing their friends with flour is fun. Regardless of age, tradition calls for the birthday boy or girl to be âantiqued,â or coated with flour, by friends and family, either at an organized party or as part of an ambush.Â
6. Mexico: The Birthday Piñata
Mexicans sure know how to have a good time, and itâs no surprise that they have what is, in my opinion, the most fun tradition for children: the birthday piñata is filled with candy. Grab a blindfold and a broomstick, and let the celebration begin! I donât know about you, but certainly I would trade my birthday cake for a piñata any day.
On the other hand, I think this birthday girl will stick with the tradition of celebrating with a fun outing, a delectable meal, a birthday cake, and being sung "Happy Birthday"! 
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via mental floss