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But before the children can dig into the cake, they sing a song for the birthday boy. | Photo (detail): © Adobe “Many happy returns of the day!”- birthday cake and songsĮven most adults would agree: no birthday would feel complete without cake and plenty of sweets. The birthday party starts with opening presents. The first gift is opened, and the spinning continues until every child has had a turn to give Jonas their gift. The bottle is spun, and whoever it is pointing to when it stops is the first to go. The children sit in a circle around a bottle around on the floor. A traditional game will decide who has the honour of handing their gift to the birthday boy first. Once everyone is gathered in the living room decked out in festive streamers and balloons, the first thing Jonas wants to do is unwrap his presents. Six boys and girls from Jonas’ kindergarten have arrived. With an island, pirate and treasure chest, they hint at the exciting treasure hunt to come. His parents helped him send out the hand-drawn invitations to his big day weeks ago. Jonas has been looking forward to his birthday for a long time, and imagining the loads of presents he will get. We were invited to help Jonas celebrate his fourth birthday with all the best known and loved birthday party traditions.

Like their parents and grandparents before them, it just wouldn’t be a birthday without cake, candles and presents, Topfschlagen, and sack and egg-and-spoon races. And while today older children would rather celebrate turning a year older at the pool, with a football tournament, or playing laser tag, the little ones are still often treated to a more traditional party.

Similar scenes have been taking place for generations, when birthday parties were unthinkable without the beloved traditions. Have you ever crawled across the floor blindfolded in search of a saucepot? Or climbed into a burlap bag and hopped your heart out to be first to cross the finish line? Most Germans will associate feeling around for a pot on all fours or tripping over their own feet in a scratchy sack as formative childhood memories, memories of their earliest birthday parties. Jonas is looking forward to playing the classic games and a delicious birthday feast to celebrate turning four. In Germany, a traditional children’s birthday party includes Topfschlagen, literally ‘hitting the pot’, and egg-and-spoon and sack races.