Kultur - Geburtstag Feiern (Celebrating Birthdays)

Like in the United States, birthdays are very important to people in German speaking countries. In the United States a normal birthday celebration might include going out for dinner with family and friends. Not so in Germany!

It is common, even expected, for Germans to throw their own birthday parties. They pick up all costs for food, drink and entertainment for their birthdays. Not bad for party goers, but it can be quite expensive for the birthday boy or girl. A very typical way to celebrate birthdays is to have friends come over for coffee and cake.

Now, let's hear a typical version of the German birthday song, Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!

Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!

Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!

Zum Geburtstag liebe(r) [name or relation, for ex., lieber Opa, liebe Oma, lieber Martin, liebe Sonja]

Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!

Germans have some special rules about birthdays. One of them is pretty much unbreakable!

Germans consider it bad luck to give birthday wishes before the official birthday begins - that is at 0:00:01 (12:00:01 AM for those who do not use a 24-hour clock) on the anniversary of the day you were born. Occasionally people have their birthday celebration the night before their birthday. This is technically a no-no. However, as long as there are no gifts, no birthday wishes, no cake, until the stroke of midnight, it is an accepted practice.

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