Birthday Traditions Around the World
This religious group does not celebrate birthdays, believing them to be of pagan origin.
What is Jehovah's Witnesses?
This historical figure’s birthday falls on February 22, but is nationally celebrated each year on the third Monday of February.
Who is George Washington?
In the Harry Potter series, this birthday marks adulthood, when wizards and witches are allowed to practice magic outside of school.
What is 17th?
This small group member’s family had a t-shirt that said “Today is my birthday” that each child had to wear all day on their birthday.
Who is Patrick?
This birthday party staple was originally made from animal intestines.
This traditional Chinese birthday food symbolizes longevity, a practice dating back to the 6th century.
What are longevity noodles?
Albert Einstein’s birthday falls on this date, and is often celebrated by schools and pastry lovers.
What is March 14?
This fictional eccentric salesman decorated a birthday party with a banner that said, “IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY.”
Who is Dwight Schrute?
These two small group members were both born at home.
100 points for each correct answer.
Who are Andrew and Patrick?
The monarchs of this country have an actual birthday and an official birthday, to ensure good weather for public celebrations.
What is the UK?
In the 18th century, this country first popularized the tradition of birthday cakes as spiritual protection, believing that children were more susceptible to evil spirits on their birthdays.
What is Germany?
Anne Frank received her diary as a gift for this birthday.
What is 13th?
This famous birthday song mentions sipping Bacardi.
What is "In Da Club" by 50 Cent?
This small group member was once disciplined in the middle of church by the pastor (their dad) on their birthday.
Who is Amy?
This percentage of our small group has birthdays on an odd day of the month.
What is 60%?
In this country, it is common to surprise someone on their birthday by dumping flour on them. This tradition is called “flouring” or “antiquing.”
What is Jamaica?
Marilyn Monroe sang the song, “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to this U.S. President in a massive televised performance in Madison Square Garden.
Who is John F. Kennedy?
During this birthday, Bilbo Baggins gives his famous speech in The Fellowship of the Ring.
What is eleventy-first? (111th)
This small group member once had a boat-shaped Noah’s Ark birthday cake, complete with dinosaur cookies aboard.
Who is Zach?
This is the age of the oldest living person today, who attributes her longevity to this: “I listen and I do what I like.”
What is 116 years old?
An Argentinian birthday tradition involves affectionately tugging on this body part, once for each year of life and sometimes an extra tug for good luck.
This date is the most common birthday in the world, including such notable people as Adam Sandler, Leo Tolstoy, and Colonel Sanders.
What is September 9?
This was the original title of the “Happy Birthday” song, written in 1893 as a kindergarten morning greeting song.
What is "Good Morning to All?"
This small group member’s birthday falls on the anniversary of a famous maritime string performance of “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”
Who is Shelby?
This phrase refers to the statistical phenomenon where individuals are more likely to die on or around their birthday.
What is the birthday effect?