Many people, both young and old, love celebrating their birthday. In Germany, like in most countries around the world, cake, presents, family, and friends bring in the fun for such a special day.
In general, birthday customs in Germany are similar to American birthday celebrations, with a few peculiar exceptions sprinkled here and there throughout German-speaking countries.
If you aren’t married by age 30 in Germany, don’t expect a big party. If you live in northern Germany and happen to be single going on thirty, a few chores may be expected from you.
There is a way to be freed from such menial tasks, however — by a kiss from someone of the opposite s*x. Of course, if you don’t want to be so mean to your friend, there are alternatives. For instance, the doorknob chore is sometimes executed by having the birthday girl clean a series of doorknobs attached to a wooden board instead.
But you can’t let them off so easy; it is also tradition to comically dress the birthday girl and boy as they perform their tasks.
