Can you imagine a birthday without a birthday cake? Sounds incomplete, right? Not for everyone. While the birthday cake is the most important food for many people on their birthday, the idea of the cake is not so special everywhere. In many parts of the world, several other traditional food items are considered more important and enjoyable for a birthday celebration. Read on to learn more about these other food traditions as important as a birthday cake in different parts of the world.

Here Are 5 Birthday Food Traditions In Different Parts of the World:

1. Long Noodles For Long Life, China

Instead of cutting a cake, the Chinese prepare Chang Shou Mian on birthdays. These are long-length noodles, and the Chinese name means long-life noodles. Eating these on your birthday is a symbol of having a long and happy life. If you plan to make these noodles at home, make sure you do not break them into smaller pieces while cooking.
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2. Colourful Yogurt To Smear On Face, Nepal

A fun and albeit messy birthday tradition in Nepal, especially for children, is to smear the child’s forehead with coloured rice yogurt. The act is considered to bring good luck and health to the child. Kids may also add a cake to their birthday celebration if they want, but the enjoyable and delicious yogurt tradition is also followed.

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3. Tarts And Pies Over Cake, Netherlands

In the Netherlands, people enjoy ‘taarties’ or tarts on birthdays. These usually have fruit fillings inside and whipped cream on top. Vlaai is also a traditional Dutch dessert people enjoy on their birthdays. It is a pie consisting of pastry and a fruit filling.
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4. ‘Dreamilcious’ Fairy Bread, Australia

Fairy Bread is a beautiful and easy-to-make dessert that is popular at children’s birthday parties in Australia. To make Fairy Bread, take a triangle-shaped white bread and spread some butter on top of it. Now sprinkle lots of colourful edible sprinkles. Stack all the Fairy Breads on a big platter and serve.

5. A Thousand Layer Dessert, Chile

‘Torta de Mil Hojas’ translates to ‘cake of a thousand leaves.’ This common birthday dessert in Chile is not made of actual leaves. Rather, it means ‘thousand-layer cake,’ referring to the many thin flaky pastry layers of this dessert, with different fillings between them, such as dulce de leche (caramelized milk), walnuts, jams, and whipped cream.