LOL I remember being invited to a German classmate's birthday party. The party started the night before his actual birthday, and since we came from all sorts of cultures (an international school in Europe), you could see him standing at the door, greeting everyone as they arrived while telling the non-Germans to shut it with the wishes because it's not his birthday yet. That was definitely stricter than a bouncer in front of a club.
God damm right! Don't wish us Germans "Happy Birthday" before our Birthday and don't make a fuss out of it. BUT don't forget the birthday neither!! AND, bring your cake to work!!
So what's the custom for a group meal, does the birthday person pay for everyone or does everyone contribute to pay for the birthday person? Til today me and my mum can't agree on this and we're from the same household 😅
@tmar8959 since in my friend group, everyone wanted to give group presents but noone organised them so I was always the Idiot who had to come up with something and then it was a hassle to collect the money, I just refused group presents at some point and said we should all just collectively pay the birthday person's dinner. But nobody really was for it... I think it's nice, if you go out with friends for your bday and get invited. I'd say the general rule is this: everyone pays for themselves but if we are out longer and have a few drinks, usually people will take a drink from the bday person on their bill at the end. And say "hey, I paid for a beer, just so you know". The only exception is if a friend throws a big party. Like, really booked a restaurant room and such. Then they will let you know on the invite like "hey, come to my party, beer and wine is on me, anything else is paid separately" or something. My last friend who did this (more like his mum) even paid for food but everyone was surprised because it was like a 60 ppl group... That's not the norm.
As a German who’s moved to the US, not having to bring my own home-made cake or cupcakes to work on MY own birthday, and instead having my boss pay for a nice fancy cake for me, is amazing.
We're expected to bring home made cake/cookies/pastries to work in Sweden too. I've always thought that's very backwards, in every other situation YOU are the one getting gifts or are treated to something! It's pure exploitation😅
At my old job we were expected to bring in treats for our birthdays. I hated it. It's a very Dutch area in the US and this sounds like where the practice comes from.. Not where I grew up!
In my country it’s at least for primary school students, we bring small giftbags (usually a some small packets of snacks and candies) for our classmates, favourite teachers and other friends who are not in the same homeroom class. The richer kids will bring their birthday cakes to cut it after lessons. I never did it though, cuz when i asked my mom why cant we prepare these gifts for them, she said ‘it’s your birthday, why should you be giving gifts when you should be receiving them?” 😂 I thought it was embarrassing not to do it as a kid, cuz everyone else was doing it, but now that i’m older… i totally agree with my mom. 😂
@@JanetSmith900During my childhood years in The Netherlands it started for me at kindergarten (toddler school it was called back then), I always had to take tangerines, other fruits or little boxes of raisins (no candy allowed) to school to distribute in class. And even now at work you take cake or cookies to put at the coffee corner for colleagues.
Same in Latvia - we bring our birthday cake ourselves and at school we used to bring sweets for the whole class. And it’s also considered “bad luck” to wish happy birthday early.
School is different. You can't expect the teacher/school to pay for all those kids. This is a case when your parents are expected to deliver the goods for the class. In high school, it's up to your friends to do this for you, but usually, they'll just take you out because no one has the same classes and all that jazz. Your family will do something separate. As an adult, it's family, friends, and coworkers If you're close to them. But generally, people call in sick or arrange to take a holiday/PTO day on their b-day to do whatever Except be at work. If you have a close department, there is sometimes cake or a small party before you vanish for your b-day or birthday weekend
@@LA_HA Which country are you talking about? Coz it depends. At work we also brought our own cake and even if someone else from work organised something in addition, the birthday person still brought something for the occasion. You couldn’t arrive just empty handed.
Ich bekomm von meiner Chefin n Geschenk😂😂😂 und weil ihr Sohn an dem Tag auch Geburtstag hat, muss ich keinen Kuchen mitbringen 😂😂😂 (manchmal mach ichs... wenn ich Lust auf Backen hab oder mein b-day am Wochenende vorher war und ich da gefeiert hab)
I took a vacation day on my birthday too be we'll usually bring something afterwards either way, my coworkers prepare something (ask me what I wish for) + sweets and they sing once everyone is present (usually Fridays since that's really the only day where everybody is at work at the same time)
office-worker problems, mot in handwerk, und 2auf m bau". But intresting, that the angle saxoinians did nt know, not to wish happy birtday im voraus. strange people these island af...ecters.
The deal is really simple: If you bring cake, you get birthday wishes. If you don't, you don't. There's nothing wrong with bringing the cake to work the next time you're there if you're absent for the actual date (it's heavily encouraged); if you delay any more things get awkward and you should apologize (twice: once on the day where you were supposed to bring cake, and then again when you bring the delayed cake).
EXACTLY! I have worked as a judge in Germany for six years. At your birthday, your colleagues expected you to bake at least two cakes and have snacks and drinks at your office. Then you had to spend all day at the office catering for your coworkers. It was so stressful that many people decided to take a vacation at their birthday.😅
Yes, that's all so true but didn't those coworkers collect money and bought you a nice gift? I worked many years in a bank in Germany. This is what happened to me. It was lovely. By the way, German here living in Wales, UK. 🙋♀️
@Rosebud2503 mist Germans list completely any sense of holidays. My husband (German) had a big round date last year. We invited people and organised some small table in the restaurant feeding guests and entertaining them. Let's say, my husband as a German was ignorant to his fate till thhr last moment, so, basically, I ran around along some prep so he can have memries, but closer to the party I noticed he actually wanted to have proper birthday. I guess smth is wron gwith this nation maybe because they don't want to spent money or they wait that somebody makes a surprise , but when it comes to other person's birthday they prefer to be served than to suprise that guy. So, back to my husband's birthday. His German best friends came to the even as if they worked form bar to bar or passed by just bevaus etheir house door was next to the venue. None! Absolutely nobody of that best friends had any present. They even didn't prep any nice wished or so. Even more, none of them brought anything in our wedding. Always as if they pass by to have bunch of beer for free. And that are directors, top managers etc. they have money, they have assistants, they have opportunities at least to make some small thing for their old good friend. My husband had several years with me by that moment, do, only that year he realised how bad German behaviour is. All the years before I had to train))) him to celebrate new year, make surprises and value family events. The first year our employers bought flowers and cake on my birthday and gave that to me as if my partner prepared that. Stories about Dutch are even worse. Actually, Bavarians are similar to Dutch in such a regard..eastern Germans still can have a bit of romantic behaviour.
@@Timesobserver_XeniaGerman behavior is not bad and Dutch is not even worse. It is different than you are used to. Stop taking out your frustration with your husbands' friends on a whole country. We read these messages too, it's not nice. I loved bringing treats in primary school for the whole class when it was my birthday. 🎉
Oh this is so familiar! Like Germany, the Netherlands and Norway have all sorts of customs and etiquette relating to The Birthday, it's all such a minefield that I NEVER mention when mine is.
@@lisaschurmann5949 It was the same in my old workplace here in Switzerland. I miss it :-( It was so funny. There was even a guy who sang it. He was on a choir and he was in deed really good.
I'd hate to ask about wishing a belated birthday. 🤔😂 I'm Mexican. We have birthday months 😂. Where everyday that month is a b'day party. Also, don't eat the month prior because abuelitas and tías will be making way too much food and sweets for you. The cousins will visit unannounced and bring beer. It's chaos and we love it!
@EmmaT27 same. I grew up in predominantly Mexican neighborhoods and any reason to celebrate is a reason to have a massive party. My conservative Irish catholic raised butt is just grumpy thinking "that's all so wasteful... it's a 1 year old birthday.. they won't even remember this 500 person party..."
My husband's from Mexico and they barely acknowledge anyone's birthday. Your Mexican family sounds more fun than my husband's 😞 My family's American and birthday's are a BIG, HUGE deal!
Living in Norway as a German, wishing happy birthday (and even celebrating it before the date!!) is completely normal here and makes my inner German scream in horror.
German here as well, I cant say that celebrating it prior is uncommon here, it all depends on the work schedules of your friends etc und reinfeiern happens even more often. Theres a few of either case every year for me.
@@xkathygee Just wanted to write the same. I mean the term "Reinfeiern" -> Celebrating into it already shows what it is about. Maybe it depends a bit on where you are from but I do not know a single person that would consider celebrating early. Not really because of "bad luck", thats more an old peoples thing but simply because its rude. Gives the vibe that you see yourself as so important that your birthday can not wait a bit.
For how little modern germans care about superstitions, the "you can't wish someone happy birthday before the actual birthday" thing is taken very serious. I took and internship at a grammar school once and a child broke down completely, when I asked her what's wrong she told me that someone wished her happy birthday before her birthday on purpose so her actual birthday would be awful due to bad luck. The entire class was absolutely mortified on how someone could be that evil.
Yea pretty much, lol. Its very bad luck, like they tell u now because you might not live to get the birthday. At least thats how i understood it. However partying prior (or most often into the actual birthday reinfeiern) is the norm, especially if other ppl can't make it on a target after the actual birthday due to work or other factors
Rotten little brats. My mother always said not to wish an early birthday to someone and I’ve never done it. Except where I live now, here no one cares. But for children to do that in school to a classmate is just nasty and evil. Now this little girl can do the same back to her class for the coming year. Hopefully that will give her some satisfaction. Don’t bother telling me two wrongs don’t make a right. Satisfaction is more important. Haha
I left Germany 25 years ago and I still feel uneasy celebrating my birthday before my actual birthday but at this point I celebrate my whole birthday week 😅
One of the weirdest things Americans complain about in Germany is the fact people throw their own parties and bring cake themselves… as if that’s not exactly how it’s done 90% of the time in America. Unless someone in the office or your friend group has a thing for party planning, you’re doing everything yourself
@@alfa_kenny_body Yeah... I'd feel so bad if someone organized it for me and THEN I should still expect gifts? That's completely unneeded financial pressure for someone else! I do exchange birthday gifts with my boss and sometimes I bring a few muffins for everyone (but since our staff is a bit different every day of the week, I feel strange only bringing for one day and not the next... also a son of my boss has the same birthday as me, so they have cake that day anyway😅)
If you don't want unwelcome surprises just do it yourself. I mean what if you come to the office and then no one made a cake or there are too many cakes. Do people plan who makes a cake at someone's birthday? Absolute madness.
That’s exactly what we always did (and still do) here in Bangladesh… kids bring their own birthday cakes to school to share with their teachers and their friends. Grown-ups bring their own birthday cakes to work to share with their boss and their colleagues. 🎂🎊🇧🇩 [A quick little edit] : Wishing somebody “Happy Birthday”, a few days in advance before the exact date of the person’s birthday here in Bangladesh is okay but… you can’t wish somebody “Happy Birthday” after the exact date of the person’s birthday !! Unlike Germany, who consider advanced birthday wishes to be “bad luck” or “bad omen”, here in Bangladesh, it’s the late birthday wishes that really make most of us… upset and if anybody here who forgets our birthdays completely… we don’t invite them back on our next birthday ! 🤷🏻♀️
@@KS-yn5zw Eu sou de SP. 😅 Aqui só pode desejar no dia e depois. Nunca antes. 😅 Pelo menos as pessoas que eu conheço. Esses vídeos ajudam quem estuda alemão. Muito bons! 😂
spot-on. In Germany, at least in corporate, a LOT of employees actually do take the day off on their birthday...me too...in order to avoid this BD crap in the office... :-)
As an American 🇺🇸 I interned in Germany. Luckily I knew this rule of bringing your own cake. Idk about baking it myself but I brought a variety of sweets from the bakery and my team was very happy 🥳 they were so nice so I was happy to bring them cake
@salmagtz7110 nope, the birthday guy buys the cake, drinks or whatever to work, at his home or at a restaurant to give to his friends I don't know how americans do it, but in Europe only kids are bought cakes and things Presents are another thing, people are supposed to bring something to the guy
As an American, I still find German accents terrifying so I’d bring a cake every day just in case, so as not to make them angry. In fact, all Americans should send Germany cake.
Off-topic just a bit. I remember cracking everyone up when it was my last day at work and a few people brought in some snacks to celebrate my last day. 🎉One girl told me where I can put them, so everyone can have some.🥳 I told her, "Hey, I'm not sharing. These are all my favorite snacks!" 😋
@@anafrischen24 acho que o absurdo é vc ter que comprar, como se fosse uma obrigação kk. Se fosse algo que você escolhe fazer ou não, sem nenhuma consequência, aí também não acharia nada demais.
Der Vorteil daran ist, dass man, durch das Kuchenmitbringen, anderen zeigt, dass man Geburtstag hat. So muss sich niemand merken wer wann Geburtstag hat. Man sagt einfach dem, der den mitbringt, "Herzlichen Glückwunsch" und man hat seine Pflicht getan.
But honestly, everyone bringing the cake themselves makes sense. This way it's always clear who gets to bring cake when and you can choose which type of cake you want. Also the amount of work is equal and no one is stuck being the birthday cake person. Furthermore, if anyone is actually good at baking, they can always still bring a cake as a present.
That's what I thought! There's so many stories out there of good bakers becoming stuck with the cost and work for everyone's birthday! That's just unfair. This way nobody gets forgotten and it's equal work. At my office everyone else decorated the birthday guy's table and pitched in to buy a small present.
At my old work, the company bought the cake and the 'Geburtstagskind' would send the email to everyone as if they'd provided it. I do remember I brought my own cake before I knew that was the case. 😅 Now I live in Scotland and panic whenever people wish me a happy birthday before the actual day! 🤣
This is reminding me so much of that one "The office" Episode 😂 Where Michael decides to merge all birthdays into one big party to avoid his employees from the party planning committee to spend too much time on organizing parties for everyone 😂
@@dmitripogosian5084 if you have a secretary, probably there is enough money for the bakery. If a cake is more expensive, they invest in more decoration. Nobody needs that. Wedding cake is especially expensive but not especially tasty.
That's a good idea, more practical not celebrating the birthday. I think in Brazil ppl love having an excuse for having a party for eating, drinking and dancing
"Happy Birthday for tomorrow then" was the exact point in this video which will be remembered by future generations. Aka the point when Liam got banned in Germany.
My birthday was yesterday and I brought some chocolates for my friends at uni and they were confused about why I am the one giving them something while it was my birthday. xdd
I lived out there for 7 years in the 90s as a squaddie and then as a wife of a squaddie. I do miss it, stunning country. A lot of weirdly odd rules and regs yes but a lot do make sense. Love seeing it all from another Brit perspective 😂. Videos are hilarious.
Well man Italian friend from the South, us Germans and you Italians were united at the height of the Holy Roman Empire. Perhaps our modern similarities are coming from our united past
same in Eastern Europe. own cake and no celebrations and wishes before the birthday. it would be considered as the wish to live your life faster and die earlier.
I'm not German but I grew up in Germany, my friend took us to a restaurant at her bday and I was still culture-shocked when she made everyone pay for themselves lol
I'm from Poland and in my work no one even knows or remembers when my birthday is, or maybe rather no one cares about others' birthday lol😅 if I bring some sweets or cake then everyone congratulates me but to be honest, I don't like it at all. Only our boss has our names with our birthday dates and gives us packets of sweets or chocolates and coffee etc. But it's always few days after our birthdays, you know, no time or more important things to do haha
In the lawyer's office where I used to work, you didn't just have to bring a cake, you had to cook for the entire staff. It was kind of horrifying. Also, I'm usually not a superstitious person, but I am convinced that wishing someone Happy Birthday in advance will increase the risk of not making it to your Birthday up to 79,9%.
Depends on the work environment. In most cases, you don't get a cake for or from work. There's also a stigma around openly celebrating your birthday because it's often done by attention seekers but you just gotta keep it low key
Welll, your birthday isn't everyone else's burden to carry. And people who need longer to celebrate and need to tell every single damn soul around them annoy the frick out of me.
A few weeks ago, I was talking with some friends from the US. When I told them my birthday was coming up the next day, they wished me happy birthday in advance. That was such a strange feeling 😅
It’s not only in work, I’m living in Germany and I have to bring my own cake to school when I have birthday and then the whole class sings “happy birthday” but the bad thing is that they don’t give me presents
I felt the advanced happy birthday on a spiritual level... I greeted a german colleague happy birthday a week before the date. I felt like a dumbass when she told me that its bad luck for them haha
I did that as a german once too (okay I was young) Then imidetly came a story with an accident, because someone wishes happy birthday before the birthday... Said really fast "okay, I take it back" Idk •-•"
Hahahahaha this is so funny and accurate. 😅😂 I guess germans bring their own birthday cake so nobody feels bad if the forgot about your birthday and they can still celebrate together. 🤭
I really love this. 😂 German here, living in the UK. I always tell people not to wish Happy Birthday in advance. But there is one thing in Germany, all your colleagues collect money for a present and then they expect a nice cake etc. of you. Which is fair enough, I find. 😄
Its not about the cake.. its about not making your colleagues feel bad, when they notice that its your birthday and they didnt give you congrats first, because they didnt know. With a cake or something else, you show them "hey, its my birthday, but calm down guys..its ok, you didnt know" :) Im not good im baking cakes, but im a really good bread baker. So i always bring breakfast with different types of bread and cheese and so on.. Its just a polite way, germans get a little extra attention on their special day, without imposing on anyone.
@@anatomia.3966 Its not a sad thing :) we just make a hard difference between family and friends (they have to know your birthday date! 😅) and colleagues, which do not have to know, when your special day is. But we definetely make them notice it..with cake!
@@Hirotoro4692 Exactly because it is your day (speaking not as a German, but as a Russian) Your party, your treat. You invite people to celebrate with you and you treat them. You do not have to, you can keep it unmentioned ( then some friend will come - hey isn't it your birthday today, where is the party ? but you'll brush him off :) Same with house parties. If you are invited, you expect to be treated. If you closely know people, you will ask what to bring. They may say something non-commital, like dessert will be fine, but more probably the answer will be nothing is needed. Then you will bring alcohol. You have to be really close to be requested something substantial. If you are not close to people that have invited you, you bring alcohol. And flowers for lady of the house. It is considered iffy to bring food, because it kind of hints that the host food is not too good or plentiful and then it can destroy the menu, host may be in awkward situation to fit your food into the plans. Something small and fancy, like box of chocolates is fine.
When I was in school, people had to bring cake or chocolates for the entire class to school when it was their birthday. Sometimes the birthday kid would forget and our teacher would keep reminding them days later that they still owed the class some cake for their birthdays... 🤣 I never thought of it as strange until I saw this... 🤣🤣
In Italy too it's unlucky to wish someone a happy birthday in advance. I suppose it's because technically it's never certain that they won't be dead by then and that they will in fact have a birthday. You never wish anybody anything in advance in general.
😂😂😂Oh the old guy nearly had a heart attack 😅 And I am german. I don't get why I have to bring cake for my birthday! Makes no sense! Also, my cake hasn't ever been eaten up. Ever. I sure thought about getting a store bought a few years. But...why is it that everyone is always 🎉🎉 when someone else has birthday...but when I bring cake...they don't react whatsoever and are suddenly so busy with work? No matter where I worked. I also used to bake a cake in the first weeks of starting somewhere new. You know...so see if they like my baking, or if I should do another recipe. But never worked. You guys think it has got to do with me taking a vacation around my birthday? I used to do this, so that I would have a chance to see my twin on my birthday who had moved away for university. But then it got just tradition for me to be able to relax and enjoy my birthday. Working in health care makes it weird to work on your birthday for ne
ich muss zugeben, ich mach das tatsächlich 🙈 aber auch nur weil meine beste freundin grade mal 5 tage vor mir auf die welt gekommen ist und wir haben vor jahren eine tradition angefangen, unsere geburtstage gemeinsam zu feiern und zwar immer an dem wochenende, was normalerweise dazwischen liegt. und da hab ich halt die arschkarte gezogen, dass ich die jüngere von uns beiden bin und muss somit meinen geburtstag leider vorfeiern während sie nachfeiern darf 😆
OMG!! This is SO accurate. As a latina living in Germany more than 20 years I suffered every single of my birthdays at the office.... you have to bake AND eventually invite everybody for a lunch/dinner.... the solution is to take the day off
i’m like the old guy when it comes to happy birthday before the birthday!!! here in italy it’s also bad luck (but some ppl my age don’t care that much…I DO)
In South Africa we do bring cake to work on our birthdays, but you will probably get some gifts from your colleagues and boss. Often everyone will pitch in to get you a gift certificate and a card and might treat you to a drink after work or a coffee at lunch or something. It just depends on the culture you have in your office. So you are still made to feel special even if you have to bring the cake. It's not a big deal to wish someone a happy birthday ahead of time. Better early than late!
Never got this german birthday traditions either (I am German), I am thinking about taking a vacation day on my birthday just so I don't need to bring something to work. :D And honestly, it's so unessecary to wait an extra day, maybe forgetting about it, to gratulate someone.^^
This is indeed a custom here in Germany. But I've only ever encountered it in office environments. And personally i couldn't bother letting my colleagues know about my birthday, let alone baking cakes for them... 😂🎉 But I do value the other custom. Wishing somebody happy birthday too early is almost as bad as not making eye contact when clinking... 😐
Yeah the Tradition to Bring your own cake or stuff is definitely a weird one 😂 thankfully everywhere i worked it was tradition to Bring some sweets and then your Friends and coworkers still were the one who baked a cake for you ☺️ and also decorated your place for your Birthday. I think that is pretty Common, more common than having to Bake yourself.
Why you should bring your "own" cake? Because it's _your_ party and you are serving your guests. 😁 Und ja, _vorher_ gratulieren bringt _definitiv_ Unglück! 😂
It’s not only in work, I’m living in Germany and I have to bring my own cake to school when I have birthday and then the whole class sings “happy birthday” but the bad thing is that they don’t give me presents
Hah, reminds me when I was new at work and knew that my German's coworker bday was coming up but I wasn't sure about the date. So I bought some chocolate for her and was like, is it your birthday today? And she is like, nah it's tomorrow. And I'm like:"well, I've already gotten the chocolate, so I may as well give it to you. Happy birthday lol" and my also German manager was present too and they both audibly fuckin GASPED. And I'm like huh, is it so surprising, that I'm congratulating you?? And the manager is like "no, but it's a really BAD luck to wish someone before the birthday". I've never felt more shitty about wishing someone happy birthday:)))
There's a Holiday coming up in Germany soon, it's called Fronleichnahm (called "Feast of Corpus Christi" in english according to wikipedia) , but since it sounds so similar to "Froh-Leichnahm" when pronounced my dad always had this joke about calling it "Happy Corpse Day / Happy Cadaver Day".
The part of bringing your own cake is what we do too in the Netherlands haha. Although I don’t think we think of it as misfortune to wish someone a happy birthday in advance…
Same here in the Netherlands. First thing my colleagues ask when it's my birthday is: "So, what'ya have for us?" It's fun when the American expats think we're making a joke, while in reality we realise he's just not adapting to the culture and should have his work visa revoked cause he didn't bring us a cake.
In Greece we bring both in birthday and in name celebration day, not only at work, but at school as well. Although it's not a cake. It's single candy treats, like small fruit tarts or chocolates, and all greek patisseries make those for this purpose. So you give one to each person at work and you are to make sure there are enough for anyone who works with you. And it doesn't matter if you were absent that very day, next time you go to work, you are bringing treats for everyone.
@@attiasprouse682 the name of our patron saint. My name is Eleni so my patron saint is St Helena, and the date is 21st of May. So it's some christian celebration days you go back home from work or school with a tilted stomach, because it's St John's day for instance, and there are plenty of Yannis in Greece, so no lunch is required :)
In Italy, it's no different. Ugh, why do I have to bring all these fancy pastries for my colleagues? I'll just keep quiet about it being my birthday and play it cool 👀
Yup, that's exactly why I don't tell anyone at work my birthday and when they ask I just say "doesn't matter" or "it's only coming up again next year", even if it's a lie.
Here in Canada at my work place there is no expectation that something will happen on your birthday one way or another. But if you bring a cake, people will appreciate. If not, nobody will be upset.
Yo, that's wild. i like to make my own cake, too. I feel like im more productive and well received by others untill the next birthday. And i can get crazy with it
@@Blessedandforever well, you a lucky boi then. Many, if not the majority of your fellow german citizen did^^ I personally dont mind tho' as I do not celebrate it^^
Omg no!! My friend! I would be heartbroken for you! I would make you a party 🥳 🥳 🥳 🎉 🎉 🎉 😅😂. When I go to work in Germany, I'm bringing the party so be ready! Because I'm bringing the cake the music and tons of hugs!! ❤🎉😂🇲🇽❤️ For you, me and everyone! I don't care how many serious faces I get lol 🤣🤣🤣 ❤
This is true in Slovenia too. When you have birthday you need to treat others or bring something to eat to school or work. People also do that for other occasions such as buying a new car, graduating, having a baby ...
In NZ, in the workplace, you are expected to bring your own birthday cake in too! But it's different if you visited friends or relatives, they would have made you a cake or bought you one.
I had the goofiest thing happen this year for mine. So, my former step mom used to always be on top of birthdays. But since getting ill she has sort of lost track of things. We still talk despite my dad disliking it. Anyway, she messaged me the day before saying happy birthday. I knew she had been having trouble and thanked her. But I did tell her it was the following day. Her response, "Omg I'm totally losing it!" Lol i think I only ever say an esrly birthday when I know I won't be seeing someone. Or if I might be busy and forget. Especially then.
As a German, this is all extremely accurate
😂thats cruel
As a German
I can confirm 😂
@@ahmadzaki-xl7sh idk why it should be cruel. Everything else would be pretty weird.
@@ValentinoMPro as a german, i can confirm double😂 heheheha
@@taijin.9473 Great, now hand in the document at a competent authority, so the confirmation can be confirmed
LOL I remember being invited to a
German classmate's birthday party. The party started the night before his actual birthday, and since we came from all sorts of cultures (an international school in Europe), you could see him standing at the door, greeting everyone as they arrived while telling the non-Germans to shut it with the wishes because it's not his birthday yet.
That was definitely stricter than a bouncer in front of a club.
Aww thats a classic "reinfeiern" :D
😂😂😂😂
God damm right! Don't wish us Germans "Happy Birthday" before our Birthday and don't make a fuss out of it. BUT don't forget the birthday neither!! AND, bring your cake to work!!
The layers of Germanness baked into one birthday bash.
#Levels 😂😂😂
But where in Europe are you from? In most countries here the same superstition exists about birthdays.
All of germany suddenly gasped when he said Happy birthday in advance
I really did xd
Me too, and I am not even German 🤣
So what's the custom for a group meal, does the birthday person pay for everyone or does everyone contribute to pay for the birthday person? Til today me and my mum can't agree on this and we're from the same household 😅
Everywhere I lived (Europe) usually the bitthday person pays for everyone else, I never heard other way around..
@tmar8959 since in my friend group, everyone wanted to give group presents but noone organised them so I was always the Idiot who had to come up with something and then it was a hassle to collect the money, I just refused group presents at some point and said we should all just collectively pay the birthday person's dinner. But nobody really was for it... I think it's nice, if you go out with friends for your bday and get invited.
I'd say the general rule is this: everyone pays for themselves but if we are out longer and have a few drinks, usually people will take a drink from the bday person on their bill at the end. And say "hey, I paid for a beer, just so you know".
The only exception is if a friend throws a big party. Like, really booked a restaurant room and such. Then they will let you know on the invite like "hey, come to my party, beer and wine is on me, anything else is paid separately" or something. My last friend who did this (more like his mum) even paid for food but everyone was surprised because it was like a 60 ppl group... That's not the norm.
As a German who’s moved to the US, not having to bring my own home-made cake or cupcakes to work on MY own birthday, and instead having my boss pay for a nice fancy cake for me, is amazing.
We're expected to bring home made cake/cookies/pastries to work in Sweden too. I've always thought that's very backwards, in every other situation YOU are the one getting gifts or are treated to something! It's pure exploitation😅
Willkommen in Amerika 🇺🇸 😁
You see, isn't the American way nice? 😁
At my old job we were expected to bring in treats for our birthdays. I hated it. It's a very Dutch area in the US and this sounds like where the practice comes from.. Not where I grew up!
In my country it’s at least for primary school students, we bring small giftbags (usually a some small packets of snacks and candies) for our classmates, favourite teachers and other friends who are not in the same homeroom class. The richer kids will bring their birthday cakes to cut it after lessons.
I never did it though, cuz when i asked my mom why cant we prepare these gifts for them, she said ‘it’s your birthday, why should you be giving gifts when you should be receiving them?” 😂 I thought it was embarrassing not to do it as a kid, cuz everyone else was doing it, but now that i’m older… i totally agree with my mom. 😂
@@JanetSmith900During my childhood years in The Netherlands it started for me at kindergarten (toddler school it was called back then), I always had to take tangerines, other fruits or little boxes of raisins (no candy allowed) to school to distribute in class. And even now at work you take cake or cookies to put at the coffee corner for colleagues.
Same in Latvia - we bring our birthday cake ourselves and at school we used to bring sweets for the whole class. And it’s also considered “bad luck” to wish happy birthday early.
Oh wow, sweets for classmates! I forgot about this one 😂 cheers from Poland!
School is different. You can't expect the teacher/school to pay for all those kids. This is a case when your parents are expected to deliver the goods for the class.
In high school, it's up to your friends to do this for you, but usually, they'll just take you out because no one has the same classes and all that jazz.
Your family will do something separate.
As an adult, it's family, friends, and coworkers If you're close to them. But generally, people call in sick or arrange to take a holiday/PTO day on their b-day to do whatever Except be at work.
If you have a close department, there is sometimes cake or a small party before you vanish for your b-day or birthday weekend
@@LA_HA Which country are you talking about? Coz it depends. At work we also brought our own cake and even if someone else from work organised something in addition, the birthday person still brought something for the occasion. You couldn’t arrive just empty handed.
@@ines_uk Apologies. I meant to state that I'm American
@@ines_ukthat's really weird that the birthday person has to buy a cake for themselves. What's the point??
Rule No. 1: Dont Go to work on your Birthday, because you have to bring Breakfast for all Employees 😢🎉
Dann musst du ihn aber am nächsten tag mitbringen!!
@@vierkantbonsai7450 Deshalb nehme ich mir rund um meinen Geburtstag immer 2 Wochen, damit da auch niemand mehr dran denkt. 😂
Nice life hack :-)
Ich bekomm von meiner Chefin n Geschenk😂😂😂 und weil ihr Sohn an dem Tag auch Geburtstag hat, muss ich keinen Kuchen mitbringen 😂😂😂 (manchmal mach ichs... wenn ich Lust auf Backen hab oder mein b-day am Wochenende vorher war und ich da gefeiert hab)
Or dont tell anyone when your birthday is and nobody will ever expect anything
I always take vacation when it's my birthday. Like this nobody can complain to me why I didn't bring any cake to work.
I took a vacation day on my birthday too be we'll usually bring something afterwards either way, my coworkers prepare something (ask me what I wish for) + sweets and they sing once everyone is present (usually Fridays since that's really the only day where everybody is at work at the same time)
👏🏼
I do that, too. I want peace and quiet on my birthday
office-worker problems, mot in handwerk, und 2auf m bau".
But intresting, that the angle saxoinians did nt know, not to wish happy birtday im voraus.
strange people these island af...ecters.
The deal is really simple: If you bring cake, you get birthday wishes. If you don't, you don't. There's nothing wrong with bringing the cake to work the next time you're there if you're absent for the actual date (it's heavily encouraged); if you delay any more things get awkward and you should apologize (twice: once on the day where you were supposed to bring cake, and then again when you bring the delayed cake).
EXACTLY! I have worked as a judge in Germany for six years. At your birthday, your colleagues expected you to bake at least two cakes and have snacks and drinks at your office. Then you had to spend all day at the office catering for your coworkers. It was so stressful that many people decided to take a vacation at their birthday.😅
But then they have to bring it after the holiday 😅
Yes, that's all so true but didn't those coworkers collect money and bought you a nice gift? I worked many years in a bank in Germany. This is what happened to me. It was lovely. By the way, German here living in Wales, UK. 🙋♀️
@Rosebud2503 mist Germans list completely any sense of holidays. My husband (German) had a big round date last year. We invited people and organised some small table in the restaurant feeding guests and entertaining them. Let's say, my husband as a German was ignorant to his fate till thhr last moment, so, basically, I ran around along some prep so he can have memries, but closer to the party I noticed he actually wanted to have proper birthday. I guess smth is wron gwith this nation maybe because they don't want to spent money or they wait that somebody makes a surprise , but when it comes to other person's birthday they prefer to be served than to suprise that guy. So, back to my husband's birthday. His German best friends came to the even as if they worked form bar to bar or passed by just bevaus etheir house door was next to the venue. None! Absolutely nobody of that best friends had any present. They even didn't prep any nice wished or so. Even more, none of them brought anything in our wedding. Always as if they pass by to have bunch of beer for free. And that are directors, top managers etc. they have money, they have assistants, they have opportunities at least to make some small thing for their old good friend. My husband had several years with me by that moment, do, only that year he realised how bad German behaviour is. All the years before I had to train))) him to celebrate new year, make surprises and value family events. The first year our employers bought flowers and cake on my birthday and gave that to me as if my partner prepared that. Stories about Dutch are even worse. Actually, Bavarians are similar to Dutch in such a regard..eastern Germans still can have a bit of romantic behaviour.
@@Timesobserver_XeniaGerman behavior is not bad and Dutch is not even worse. It is different than you are used to. Stop taking out your frustration with your husbands' friends on a whole country. We read these messages too, it's not nice. I loved bringing treats in primary school for the whole class when it was my birthday. 🎉
Jesus Christ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Oh this is so familiar! Like Germany, the Netherlands and Norway have all sorts of customs and etiquette relating to The Birthday, it's all such a minefield that I NEVER mention when mine is.
I can relate so much xD.
We have a calendar with everyone's birthday on it in the office kitchen🥴😂
@@lisaschurmann5949 It was the same in my old workplace here in Switzerland. I miss it :-(
It was so funny. There was even a guy who sang it. He was on a choir and he was in deed really good.
I'd hate to ask about wishing a belated birthday. 🤔😂 I'm Mexican. We have birthday months 😂. Where everyday that month is a b'day party. Also, don't eat the month prior because abuelitas and tías will be making way too much food and sweets for you. The cousins will visit unannounced and bring beer. It's chaos and we love it!
Oh my gosh I want to be Mexican 😂❤
@EmmaT27 same. I grew up in predominantly Mexican neighborhoods and any reason to celebrate is a reason to have a massive party. My conservative Irish catholic raised butt is just grumpy thinking "that's all so wasteful... it's a 1 year old birthday.. they won't even remember this 500 person party..."
I wanna be Mexican now
Thanks for sharing. I had no idea!
My husband's from Mexico and they barely acknowledge anyone's birthday. Your Mexican family sounds more fun than my husband's 😞
My family's American and birthday's are a BIG, HUGE deal!
Living in Norway as a German, wishing happy birthday (and even celebrating it before the date!!) is completely normal here and makes my inner German scream in horror.
German here as well, I cant say that celebrating it prior is uncommon here, it all depends on the work schedules of your friends etc und reinfeiern happens even more often. Theres a few of either case every year for me.
@@m4xw499Reinfeiern isn't really celebrating early. People still won't wish you a happy birthday until it's midnight.
@@xkathygee Just wanted to write the same. I mean the term "Reinfeiern" -> Celebrating into it already shows what it is about.
Maybe it depends a bit on where you are from but I do not know a single person that would consider celebrating early. Not really because of "bad luck", thats more an old peoples thing but simply because its rude. Gives the vibe that you see yourself as so important that your birthday can not wait a bit.
@@ArxInvicta It is certainly odd.
@@xkathygee sure, but partying a week prior isn't uncommon
"Why would I bring my own birthday cake?" 😂😂😂..so true
In Poland we also do it - bring our own birthday cake.
@@aniaz5972ironically in the uk too this is very common
Same in Sweden
И в России так же. И заранее не поздравляют.
@aniaz5972 I always thought that bringing cake for other's birthday is more of a favour than a norm
For how little modern germans care about superstitions, the "you can't wish someone happy birthday before the actual birthday" thing is taken very serious.
I took and internship at a grammar school once and a child broke down completely, when I asked her what's wrong she told me that someone wished her happy birthday before her birthday on purpose so her actual birthday would be awful due to bad luck. The entire class was absolutely mortified on how someone could be that evil.
Yea pretty much, lol. Its very bad luck, like they tell u now because you might not live to get the birthday. At least thats how i understood it. However partying prior (or most often into the actual birthday reinfeiern) is the norm, especially if other ppl can't make it on a target after the actual birthday due to work or other factors
Rotten little brats. My mother always said not to wish an early birthday to someone and I’ve never done it. Except where I live now, here no one cares. But for children to do that in school to a classmate is just nasty and evil. Now this little girl can do the same back to her class for the coming year. Hopefully that will give her some satisfaction. Don’t bother telling me two wrongs don’t make a right. Satisfaction is more important. Haha
ok but just because you met some weird kids it doesn't mean that all Germans would be devasted if somebody does so.
Stimmt, ist eine wichtige soziale Norm. ❤
That is a rule in Italy too; do not wish a happy birthday before the actual date
Love these...1st generation in America with German Mom...So many memories...LOVE GERMANS!
Why?? These are terrible!
I left Germany 25 years ago and I still feel uneasy celebrating my birthday before my actual birthday but at this point I celebrate my whole birthday week 😅
😂 yeah I'm from the US and I am pretty sure I offeded everyone before learning this
Birthday month here! Lol
who would celebrate it before? if you cant ecelebrate it on the day you do it later. never before only after at best
@@Wolf-fighter to each their own but all month for some of us
You had me with "Happy birthday for tomorrow then". This is something I've never expierenced in my whole life. No german ever said this once. Hahaha
that's the point
you dont even do this as a joke. Its like telling someone that you want him dead.
@@neutronenstern. That's literally crazy.
We do in England
We do it all the time here in south America. Dumb superstitions
I never recognized how crazy it is to bring your own cake 😅
@@landofwolvesYeah, day drinking is so adult, and really shows one's maturity!
@@landofwolves you dont like cake? wtf are you? everyone loves cake
@@landofwolveswe will remember that when we give you the Balkan back
@landofwolves At least cake doesn't make you act like an idiot, and destroy your liver. Because, you know, drinking is so mature.
@@jessreinhardt4408 Right? Some people are like, "Watch me destroy my liver and act like a fool because I'm a grownup".. Cake is better😆
One of the weirdest things Americans complain about in Germany is the fact people throw their own parties and bring cake themselves… as if that’s not exactly how it’s done 90% of the time in America. Unless someone in the office or your friend group has a thing for party planning, you’re doing everything yourself
Isn't that the best part about your birthday, inviting your friends and sharing a good time celebrating, eating and drinking?
@@alfa_kenny_body Yeah... I'd feel so bad if someone organized it for me and THEN I should still expect gifts? That's completely unneeded financial pressure for someone else!
I do exchange birthday gifts with my boss and sometimes I bring a few muffins for everyone (but since our staff is a bit different every day of the week, I feel strange only bringing for one day and not the next... also a son of my boss has the same birthday as me, so they have cake that day anyway😅)
If you don't want unwelcome surprises just do it yourself. I mean what if you come to the office and then no one made a cake or there are too many cakes.
Do people plan who makes a cake at someone's birthday? Absolute madness.
but he from UK I think it's different 😅
That's what I always considered wearied since my training on the job. Since I studied afterwards I'm glad, I never heard this again
That’s exactly what we always did (and still do) here in Bangladesh… kids bring their own birthday cakes to school to share with their teachers and their friends. Grown-ups bring their own birthday cakes to work to share with their boss and their colleagues. 🎂🎊🇧🇩
[A quick little edit] :
Wishing somebody “Happy Birthday”, a few days in advance before the exact date of the person’s birthday here in Bangladesh is okay but… you can’t wish somebody “Happy Birthday” after the exact date of the person’s birthday !! Unlike Germany, who consider advanced birthday wishes to be “bad luck” or “bad omen”, here in Bangladesh, it’s the late birthday wishes that really make most of us… upset and if anybody here who forgets our birthdays completely… we don’t invite them back on our next birthday ! 🤷🏻♀️
In Brazil, we also bring our own cake to work and never wish happy birthday before the day! 😊
Desejamos sim
@@KS-yn5zwNa minha família e todos que conheço não. Sempre achamos que dá azar.
@@elainer8288 eu nunca ouvi falar disso, sou do rs
@@KS-yn5zw Eu sou de SP. 😅 Aqui só pode desejar no dia e depois. Nunca antes. 😅 Pelo menos as pessoas que eu conheço. Esses vídeos ajudam quem estuda alemão. Muito bons! 😂
@@elainer8288 sim, por isso falei do estado. Pode variar de regiao para regiao
spot-on. In Germany, at least in corporate, a LOT of employees actually do take the day off on their birthday...me too...in order to avoid this BD crap in the office... :-)
Just do Home-Office😂
Out of curiosity how many days off per year do you get in germany? A fresh guy just starting to work?
@@danijel124 30 workdays
@@danijel124 24 to 30.Its up to what they yoffer. I wouldn't take an offer for less than 30 though😅
In slovenia its arround 23 days for everyone starting to work loolz. Our country is scamming us...
In Portugal, we also don't wish happy birthday earlier. People avoid it. And it's expected the birthday person to provide its own cake.
Russian here, all the same.
@@juliadaimio7445 Indeed, it is the job of the birthday person to treat others
@juliadaimio7445 and also, you bomb children hospitals
Bleh
@@juliadaimio7445yup , I was looking for this comment.
I actually just gasped in shock, when you wished the german guy a happy birthday BEFORE the birthday!
SAME
exactly
I'm gonna wish happy birthday before the actual day when I can't go to the party
As an American 🇺🇸 I interned in Germany. Luckily I knew this rule of bringing your own cake. Idk about baking it myself but I brought a variety of sweets from the bakery and my team was very happy 🥳 they were so nice so I was happy to bring them cake
It's common sense to bring your own, why'd you expect for others to buy one for you
It's a special present for the ones that love You...singing ..clappiing ..whising the best for you ..cause you are so special in their lives...❤
@Cormano980
That is a joke...Right?
@salmagtz7110 nope, the birthday guy buys the cake, drinks or whatever to work, at his home or at a restaurant to give to his friends
I don't know how americans do it, but in Europe only kids are bought cakes and things
Presents are another thing, people are supposed to bring something to the guy
As an American, I still find German accents terrifying so I’d bring a cake every day just in case, so as not to make them angry. In fact, all Americans should send Germany cake.
Same in Sweden. Always found it absurd to have to buy a cake for everyone at work when it's your birthday.
Off-topic just a bit. I remember cracking everyone up when it was my last day at work and a few people brought in some snacks to celebrate my last day. 🎉One girl told me where I can put them, so everyone can have some.🥳 I told her, "Hey, I'm not sharing. These are all my favorite snacks!" 😋
You buy your own cake? 😭
On the plus side, there’s never that awkward sadness when no one remembers or bothers to make you a cake.
Não é um absurdo "ter que comprar um bolo"
A ideia é você estar feliz e chamar todo mundo para compartilhar a sua felicidade
@@anafrischen24 acho que o absurdo é vc ter que comprar, como se fosse uma obrigação kk. Se fosse algo que você escolhe fazer ou não, sem nenhuma consequência, aí também não acharia nada demais.
Der Vorteil daran ist, dass man, durch das Kuchenmitbringen, anderen zeigt, dass man Geburtstag hat. So muss sich niemand merken wer wann Geburtstag hat. Man sagt einfach dem, der den mitbringt, "Herzlichen Glückwunsch" und man hat seine Pflicht getan.
"Man hat seine Pflicht getan" klingt nach einigen Arbeitskollegen von mir 😅
@@psyckwhoever4197
Willkommen in Deutschland.
Genau so!
oder man hat zufällig eine woche woche urlaub, in die der geburtstag fällt... dann braucht einem niemand auf den sack gehen !
@@Vanillevirus Natürlich nicht.
the way she drops the baby every single time...i am laughing tears
I never noticed 😂 thanks 👍
There is a baby 😂?
@@gunitsharma6997 it gets even funnier day by day! yes, the bundle of blankets "she" is holding is a baby. you can hear it cry!
I thought it was a cat
But honestly, everyone bringing the cake themselves makes sense. This way it's always clear who gets to bring cake when and you can choose which type of cake you want. Also the amount of work is equal and no one is stuck being the birthday cake person. Furthermore, if anyone is actually good at baking, they can always still bring a cake as a present.
Deutsche Effizienz!
@@ExFragMaster definitiv,auch wenn wir derzeit echt ineffizient sind 🤣🤣🤣
That's what I thought! There's so many stories out there of good bakers becoming stuck with the cost and work for everyone's birthday! That's just unfair. This way nobody gets forgotten and it's equal work.
At my office everyone else decorated the birthday guy's table and pitched in to buy a small present.
Good Arguments 😅
Thats german
At my old work, the company bought the cake and the 'Geburtstagskind' would send the email to everyone as if they'd provided it. I do remember I brought my own cake before I knew that was the case. 😅 Now I live in Scotland and panic whenever people wish me a happy birthday before the actual day! 🤣
This is what we do in England too Liam! Then everyone has to pretend to care about your bday so they can have a donut/cake 😅
"You don't wisch someone happy birsday before the birsday" 😂😂
Everybody throwing one party per year. Much more efficient than beeing involved in throwing 20 parties together with 19 others and nobody is the Boss.
This is reminding me so much of that one "The office" Episode 😂
Where Michael decides to merge all birthdays into one big party to avoid his employees from the party planning committee to spend too much time on organizing parties for everyone 😂
And then it end ups with some secretary buying the cheapest cake around :)
@@dmitripogosian5084 if you have a secretary, probably there is enough money for the bakery.
If a cake is more expensive, they invest in more decoration. Nobody needs that. Wedding cake is especially expensive but not especially tasty.
Der Rentner ist einfach der Geilste :D
Erinnert mich an Biden
Omg the last part is so relatable! Bc even in Italy if you wish happy birthday before the actual day it brings misfortune!
In Poland, we simply don't celebrate birthdays, especially when we are older than 20 years.
Really? I'm over 40 and still have cake and baloons on my birthday! 😅 I'm from Brazil. Everybody celebrates all birthdays.
@@elainer8288same here in Caribbean and and Hispanics islands , we celebrate doesn’t matter how old. Usually another person buy the cake too!
That's a good idea, more practical not celebrating the birthday. I think in Brazil ppl love having an excuse for having a party for eating, drinking and dancing
"Happy Birthday for tomorrow then" was the exact point in this video which will be remembered by future generations.
Aka the point when Liam got banned in Germany.
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag ☘️🙏👍Danke für die tollen Videos 👍☘️☘️
My birthday was yesterday and I brought some chocolates for my friends at uni and they were confused about why I am the one giving them something while it was my birthday. xdd
I lived out there for 7 years in the 90s as a squaddie and then as a wife of a squaddie. I do miss it, stunning country. A lot of weirdly odd rules and regs yes but a lot do make sense. Love seeing it all from another Brit perspective 😂. Videos are hilarious.
Similar in the UK. This is why I take the day off on my birthday, I'm not bringing other ppl a cake, especially when they haven't bought gifts 😂
Ahaha, as Italian living in the UK, I do the same, lol
As Italian, I didn't expect we had so similar habits and customs
Well man Italian friend from the South, us Germans and you Italians were united at the height of the Holy Roman Empire. Perhaps our modern similarities are coming from our united past
same in Eastern Europe. own cake and no celebrations and wishes before the birthday. it would be considered as the wish to live your life faster and die earlier.
Same as russian
Io l'ho scoperto quando ho viaggiato negli USA, non me lo aspettavo, ma abbiamo più cose in comune con i tedeschi che con gli amerricani
@user-eg1kz9og7s we dont wish anyone happy birthday before their birthday in England, don't know what this guy is on about
I'm not German but I grew up in Germany, my friend took us to a restaurant at her bday and I was still culture-shocked when she made everyone pay for themselves lol
I live in Germany my coworker took a day off yeasterday because he had birthday and didn't want to bring cake.
dennoch würde eigentlich überall erwartet werden, dass nachträglich ein Kuchen mitgebracht wird 😅
Bad coworker
I'm from Poland and in my work no one even knows or remembers when my birthday is, or maybe rather no one cares about others' birthday lol😅 if I bring some sweets or cake then everyone congratulates me but to be honest, I don't like it at all. Only our boss has our names with our birthday dates and gives us packets of sweets or chocolates and coffee etc. But it's always few days after our birthdays, you know, no time or more important things to do haha
I have to admit as a German: It’s totally true - although I have never seen it from that point of view ! 🤣👍🏻
Vorher gratulieren bringt Unglück 💯!
Jo,stimmt 😢
In the lawyer's office where I used to work, you didn't just have to bring a cake, you had to cook for the entire staff. It was kind of horrifying.
Also, I'm usually not a superstitious person, but I am convinced that wishing someone Happy Birthday in advance will increase the risk of not making it to your Birthday up to 79,9%.
The German absolutely set him up for that misplaced happy birthday lmao
Now I want to go to Germany and wish every stranger I see a happy birthday.
My German professor told me never to wish anyone an early happy birthday 😂😂 was funny
Happy Birthday vorträglich is a German sin 😮
Nachträglich kein Problem!😂
I'm really curious... Is it common in other countries that coworkers organise a birthday cake??
Here in the Netherlands we do
no doubt only those in office i guess
Depends on the work environment. In most cases, you don't get a cake for or from work. There's also a stigma around openly celebrating your birthday because it's often done by attention seekers but you just gotta keep it low key
Here in NL you bring everything yourself
Welll, your birthday isn't everyone else's burden to carry.
And people who need longer to celebrate and need to tell every single damn soul around them annoy the frick out of me.
I'm German myself but I have to honestly say we're really weird in some things 😂
not in this case :) it's actually pretty common in other countries too
In china is the opposite, celebrate before the actual birthday is considered great, after would “bring bad luck”
A few weeks ago, I was talking with some friends from the US. When I told them my birthday was coming up the next day, they wished me happy birthday in advance. That was such a strange feeling 😅
It’s not only in work, I’m living in Germany and I have to bring my own cake to school when I have birthday and then the whole class sings “happy birthday” but the bad thing is that they don’t give me presents
Its your birthday but they gain something 😂 backwards
And after the Song they mobbing me again !!😂
@@helgafrahmann4201 *bullying, but ill take it.
I felt the advanced happy birthday on a spiritual level...
I greeted a german colleague happy birthday a week before the date. I felt like a dumbass when she told me that its bad luck for them haha
I did that as a german once too (okay I was young)
Then imidetly came a story with an accident, because someone wishes happy birthday before the birthday...
Said really fast "okay, I take it back"
Idk •-•"
Dear Liam, if you want to take your level or Germanization to ze next level. You have to bring a Mettfrühstück for your coworkers on your Birthday! 🎉😂
Hahahahaha this is so funny and accurate. 😅😂 I guess germans bring their own birthday cake so nobody feels bad if the forgot about your birthday and they can still celebrate together. 🤭
I really love this. 😂 German here, living in the UK. I always tell people not to wish Happy Birthday in advance. But there is one thing in Germany, all your colleagues collect money for a present and then they expect a nice cake etc. of you. Which is fair enough, I find. 😄
Weird
Same in NL, although store bought cake (pref from a cake shop or bakery, not fromnl the supermarket) is also accepted
In Denmark, colleagues also collect money for a birthday present but only when you turn 20, 30, 40 etc.
All true. It is just all true.
Vielen Dank! :D
Its not about the cake.. its about not making your colleagues feel bad, when they notice that its your birthday and they didnt give you congrats first, because they didnt know.
With a cake or something else, you show them "hey, its my birthday, but calm down guys..its ok, you didnt know" :)
Im not good im baking cakes, but im a really good bread baker. So i always bring breakfast with different types of bread and cheese and so on..
Its just a polite way, germans get a little extra attention on their special day, without imposing on anyone.
😢
@@anatomia.3966 Its not a sad thing :) we just make a hard difference between family and friends (they have to know your birthday date! 😅) and colleagues, which do not have to know, when your special day is. But we definetely make them notice it..with cake!
If it's your special day why would you be expected to give everyone else cake? 😂
@@Hirotoro4692 Exactly because it is your day (speaking not as a German, but as a Russian) Your party, your treat. You invite people to celebrate with you and you treat them. You do not have to, you can keep it unmentioned ( then some friend will come - hey isn't it your birthday today, where is the party ? but you'll brush him off :) Same with house parties. If you are invited, you expect to be treated. If you closely know people, you will ask what to bring. They may say something non-commital, like dessert will be fine, but more probably the answer will be nothing is needed. Then you will bring alcohol.
You have to be really close to be requested something substantial. If you are not close to people that have invited you, you bring alcohol. And flowers for lady of the house. It is considered iffy to bring food, because it kind of hints that the host food is not too good or plentiful and then it can destroy the menu, host may be in awkward situation to fit your food into the plans. Something small and fancy, like box of chocolates is fine.
When I was in school, people had to bring cake or chocolates for the entire class to school when it was their birthday. Sometimes the birthday kid would forget and our teacher would keep reminding them days later that they still owed the class some cake for their birthdays... 🤣 I never thought of it as strange until I saw this... 🤣🤣
Ich hatte nie genug Geld um meiner Klasse was mitzubringen mir war das total unangenehm und vielen geht es vielleicht so
After living in Germany for 16 years, I still can't bring myself to say happy birthday before the day even though I've moved back to the US 😅
In Italy too it's unlucky to wish someone a happy birthday in advance. I suppose it's because technically it's never certain that they won't be dead by then and that they will in fact have a birthday. You never wish anybody anything in advance in general.
Lol I definitely felt uncomfortable when he was wishing him an early happy birthday 😅
i usually try to not be at work on my birthday. cant be bothered to bring a cake to work
there's only one rule: YOU bring gifts on your birthday
But where is the logic?🤔😅
@@annamichniewski2120 do you really Question The German Logic?
Better dont
@@annamichniewski2120 if you want to celebrate with the others you have to start the party
@@Barrne_ thats a fact.
@@ThePlagueDoctor1490 hmm its the same idea in my country. I allways had to get the sweets asking how come since i need to be getting gifts😅
😂😂😂Oh the old guy nearly had a heart attack 😅
And I am german. I don't get why I have to bring cake for my birthday! Makes no sense! Also, my cake hasn't ever been eaten up. Ever. I sure thought about getting a store bought a few years. But...why is it that everyone is always 🎉🎉 when someone else has birthday...but when I bring cake...they don't react whatsoever and are suddenly so busy with work? No matter where I worked.
I also used to bake a cake in the first weeks of starting somewhere new. You know...so see if they like my baking, or if I should do another recipe. But never worked.
You guys think it has got to do with me taking a vacation around my birthday?
I used to do this, so that I would have a chance to see my twin on my birthday who had moved away for university.
But then it got just tradition for me to be able to relax and enjoy my birthday. Working in health care makes it weird to work on your birthday for ne
I learned about this when a German coworker brought her cake to work. Fascinating
Soll sogar Leute geben, die ihren Geburtstag vorfeiern - also nicht rein-, sondern richtig einige Tage vorher feiern 🤷♂️ Sakrileg!!!
ich muss zugeben, ich mach das tatsächlich 🙈 aber auch nur weil meine beste freundin grade mal 5 tage vor mir auf die welt gekommen ist und wir haben vor jahren eine tradition angefangen, unsere geburtstage gemeinsam zu feiern und zwar immer an dem wochenende, was normalerweise dazwischen liegt. und da hab ich halt die arschkarte gezogen, dass ich die jüngere von uns beiden bin und muss somit meinen geburtstag leider vorfeiern während sie nachfeiern darf 😆
@@airenyah7243 Hihi...verstehe ich gut 🙂
Aber geht gar nicht!!! 🤬😜
@@airenyah7243na und?? Ist doch okay!
OMG!! This is SO accurate. As a latina living in Germany more than 20 years I suffered every single of my birthdays at the office.... you have to bake AND eventually invite everybody for a lunch/dinner.... the solution is to take the day off
I have never invited the people from my office to lunch on my birthday, never heard of that either🤔😆
I don't understand the "you have to" comments. What if you don't do anything? Are you going to become a pariah at your job?
@@noemita494probably not😂 at least not in my office😏
Going to a birthday party (outside of official work) is already work enough.
i’m like the old guy when it comes to happy birthday before the birthday!!! here in italy it’s also bad luck (but some ppl my age don’t care that much…I DO)
In South Africa we do bring cake to work on our birthdays, but you will probably get some gifts from your colleagues and boss. Often everyone will pitch in to get you a gift certificate and a card and might treat you to a drink after work or a coffee at lunch or something. It just depends on the culture you have in your office. So you are still made to feel special even if you have to bring the cake. It's not a big deal to wish someone a happy birthday ahead of time. Better early than late!
Never got this german birthday traditions either (I am German), I am thinking about taking a vacation day on my birthday just so I don't need to bring something to work. :D And honestly, it's so unessecary to wait an extra day, maybe forgetting about it, to gratulate someone.^^
Just do not tell them your birthday and problem solved.
Lol what, if I know a colleague had his birthday on the weekend I still expect him to bring cake afterwards.
@@UL1999 I work in a little company, they know. :D
@@Kuliwa That's your problem than.^^
@@tschaytschay4555 Mein Beileid.
What's funny about this is he's showing how they don't have much of a sense of humor, but he's so funny.
Which is not true. The thing about humor😂
This is indeed a custom here in Germany. But I've only ever encountered it in office environments. And personally i couldn't bother letting my colleagues know about my birthday, let alone baking cakes for them... 😂🎉
But I do value the other custom. Wishing somebody happy birthday too early is almost as bad as not making eye contact when clinking... 😐
Yeah the Tradition to Bring your own cake or stuff is definitely a weird one 😂 thankfully everywhere i worked it was tradition to Bring some sweets and then your Friends and coworkers still were the one who baked a cake for you ☺️ and also decorated your place for your Birthday. I think that is pretty Common, more common than having to Bake yourself.
Hahaha in Poland we also bring our own to share with everyone 😂
Why you should bring your "own" cake?
Because it's _your_ party and you are serving your guests.
😁
Und ja, _vorher_ gratulieren bringt _definitiv_ Unglück!
😂
It’s not only in work, I’m living in Germany and I have to bring my own cake to school when I have birthday and then the whole class sings “happy birthday” but the bad thing is that they don’t give me presents
Hah, reminds me when I was new at work and knew that my German's coworker bday was coming up but I wasn't sure about the date. So I bought some chocolate for her and was like, is it your birthday today? And she is like, nah it's tomorrow. And I'm like:"well, I've already gotten the chocolate, so I may as well give it to you. Happy birthday lol" and my also German manager was present too and they both audibly fuckin GASPED. And I'm like huh, is it so surprising, that I'm congratulating you?? And the manager is like "no, but it's a really BAD luck to wish someone before the birthday". I've never felt more shitty about wishing someone happy birthday:)))
There's a Holiday coming up in Germany soon, it's called Fronleichnahm (called "Feast of Corpus Christi" in english according to wikipedia) , but since it sounds so similar to "Froh-Leichnahm" when pronounced my dad always had this joke about calling it "Happy Corpse Day / Happy Cadaver Day".
Happy Kadaver. The hollyday every German dad loves to joke about
@@IISheireenII And for the English d(e)ad, too.
The part of bringing your own cake is what we do too in the Netherlands haha. Although I don’t think we think of it as misfortune to wish someone a happy birthday in advance…
Same here in the Netherlands. First thing my colleagues ask when it's my birthday is: "So, what'ya have for us?"
It's fun when the American expats think we're making a joke, while in reality we realise he's just not adapting to the culture and should have his work visa revoked cause he didn't bring us a cake.
In Greece we bring both in birthday and in name celebration day, not only at work, but at school as well. Although it's not a cake. It's single candy treats, like small fruit tarts or chocolates, and all greek patisseries make those for this purpose. So you give one to each person at work and you are to make sure there are enough for anyone who works with you. And it doesn't matter if you were absent that very day, next time you go to work, you are bringing treats for everyone.
That´s sounds Beautiful, I guess but also it takes alot of energy, to fulfill this each time.
Blessings to You
Name celebration? Is that the day of your baptism? Or the name of your patron saint?
@@attiasprouse682 the name of our patron saint. My name is Eleni so my patron saint is St Helena, and the date is 21st of May. So it's some christian celebration days you go back home from work or school with a tilted stomach, because it's St John's day for instance, and there are plenty of Yannis in Greece, so no lunch is required :)
@@EleniKallimorou Happy Solemnity of The Passion of Saint John the Baptist & thank you for answering my question.
I pray you eat well today.
What if you work with 200 people? You're supposed to buy 200 treats? Ridiculous.
In Italy, it's no different. Ugh, why do I have to bring all these fancy pastries for my colleagues? I'll just keep quiet about it being my birthday and play it cool 👀
Yup, that's exactly why I don't tell anyone at work my birthday and when they ask I just say "doesn't matter" or "it's only coming up again next year", even if it's a lie.
Here in Canada at my work place there is no expectation that something will happen on your birthday one way or another. But if you bring a cake, people will appreciate. If not, nobody will be upset.
You kniw what it is about his videos it’s the baby yelping the everyday noises and gasping it’s too funny 😂, honestly I can’t get enough of
Yo, that's wild. i like to make my own cake, too. I feel like im more productive and well received by others untill the next birthday. And i can get crazy with it
You just get us, Liam.
edit: my boss bakes us cake for our birthdays tho :O
I wouldn't want to wörk in set grumpy office
zat*
Your english is so bad as mine!!😢
@@ArkaniproMAthat
My god, this is accurate af
I never worked at my BD im not stupid
@@Blessedandforever well, you a lucky boi then. Many, if not the majority of your fellow german citizen did^^ I personally dont mind tho' as I do not celebrate it^^
@@Pumuggl93 why lucky? If you can talk with ur boss and hes nice he wont let you work at ur BD 👍🏻
@@Blessedandforever cause having a nice boss is lucky in itself^^
@@Pumuggl93 its not. Everyone itself is able to make this happen if you gonna change that.
Yep, same in Italy and I had to inform my British colleagues about the earlier bd wishes 😅
Omg no!! My friend! I would be heartbroken for you! I would make you a party 🥳 🥳 🥳 🎉 🎉 🎉 😅😂. When I go to work in Germany, I'm bringing the party so be ready! Because I'm bringing the cake the music and tons of hugs!! ❤🎉😂🇲🇽❤️ For you, me and everyone! I don't care how many serious faces I get lol 🤣🤣🤣 ❤
Yes, never mention your birthday at work unless you have cake or candies for everyone.
This is true in Slovenia too. When you have birthday you need to treat others or bring something to eat to school or work. People also do that for other occasions such as buying a new car, graduating, having a baby ...
Moraš da ih počastiš. Nemci to ne rade.
Ja, das machen wir auch so, z.B. zur Hochzeit, Geburt etc. 👍
I Just learned this today. Thank goodness my birthday falls on a day off. 😂🤣
Then you can celebrate it when you are back in the office. Everyone expect it 😂
@@Pirrata123 Noooooooo!!!! I will Just have to change jobs every year. 😂🤣
In NZ, in the workplace, you are expected to bring your own birthday cake in too! But it's different if you visited friends or relatives, they would have made you a cake or bought you one.
I had the goofiest thing happen this year for mine. So, my former step mom used to always be on top of birthdays. But since getting ill she has sort of lost track of things. We still talk despite my dad disliking it. Anyway, she messaged me the day before saying happy birthday. I knew she had been having trouble and thanked her. But I did tell her it was the following day. Her response, "Omg I'm totally losing it!" Lol i think I only ever say an esrly birthday when I know I won't be seeing someone. Or if I might be busy and forget. Especially then.