20 Birthday traditions around the world you might not know about

Ever wondered how people celebrate birthdays in other countries? This infographic from the Council of Europe's European Day of Languages (26 September) takes us on a tour of 20 fascinating customs. In China, you're already one year old at birth. In Denmark, children wake up to a room full of gifts. In Ireland, they get "birthday bumps". In Mexico, no party is complete without a piñata, and in Germany, wishing someone a happy birthday early is considered bad luck.

You'll also discover the surprising origins of "Happy Birthday to You", the ancient Greek roots of birthday cakes, and what happens when you're born on 29 February. Whether you're a language lover, a curious traveller, or just planning your next party, these traditions are a fun reminder that cultural awareness starts with the little things, like knowing when (and how!) to say "happy birthday".

https://www.ecml.at/Portals/1/documents/ECML-resources/EDL-infographic-2025-EN.pdf

2024 European Day of Languages: Europeans and their languages

The European Day of Languages is an opportunity to promote language learning and linguistic diversity. This year, the European Commission is hosting an event to discuss the 2024 Eurobarometer results on Europeans and their languages, comparing them with the 2012 results. Countries with positive outcomes, such as Finland, Portugal, and the Czech Republic, will be featured.

Speakers include Iliana Ivanova, EU Commissioner for Innovation, and various Directors General from the European Commission. The event will take place on 26 September from 12:00 to 13:00 CET and will be livestreamed with subtitles in all EU languages on this page:

https://education.ec.europa.eu/event/2024-european-day-of-languages-europeans-and-their-languages

Celebrate the European Day of Languages (also in your English class)

Do you want to work on the importance of learning and using other languages in your classroom? One of the resources offered by the Council of Europe to celebrate the European Day of Languages is a series of posters in English (also available in other languages) that you can share with your students.

The European Day of Languages has been celebrated every year since 2001 on 26 September and promotes plurilingualism in the whole of Europe. Diversity is a tool for achieving greater intercultural understanding and a key element in the rich cultural heritage of Europe.

Download it on:

https://edl.ecml.at/Portals/33/documents/poster/EDL-infographic-languages-2022-EN.pdf 

https://edl.ecml.at/Portals/33/documents/poster/EDL-infographic-languages-EN.pdf 

More resources on:

https://edl.ecml.at/Home/tabid/1455/language/en-GB/Default.aspx