Birthdays: never congratulate early
Geburtstag
In Germany it is bad luck to wish someone a happy birthday before the day. And at work, the birthday person brings the cake.
Many Germans believe that congratulating someone before their birthday brings bad luck. Wait until the day, or until midnight at a party (reinfeiern, "celebrating into" the birthday).
At work and at school it is the other way round from many countries: the person whose birthday it is often brings cake or snacks for colleagues.
The usual words are „Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!“ or „Herzlichen Glückwunsch!“. Big birthdays are the round ones: 18, 30, 40, 50.
This is a custom, not a rule; families differ.
You may hear
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!Happy birthday!
India and Germany
In India friends often treat the birthday person, or the birthday person gives sweets to everyone, a bit like the German cake at work. Early wishes are normal in India, but not in Germany.
German words for this
- der Geburtstag · birthday
- gratulieren · to congratulate
- das Geschenk · present
- reinfeiern · to party into a birthday at midnight
This is a custom, not a rule: families and regions differ.
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