As a teenager, your 18th birthday is something that you spend a number of years looking forward to and often is seen as the start of adulthood. People tend to celebrate their 18th birthday more so than other ages and this is for a few reasons (not only because of this being the legal drinking age in the UK!). Keep reading to find out why 18th birthdays are so special and how birthdays are celebrated all around the world.
Why 18 is Special
So, why exactly is turning 18 such a big deal? In most countries around the world, you are officially an adult at this age and this is a reason to celebrate! Often, people can make decisions and take on life responsibilities at 18 that they could not before and this level of freedom and independence is a reason to celebrate. This means that the 18th birthday is often seen as the ending of one chapter and the start of another.
Celebrating in the UK
As mentioned in the intro, in the UK, 18 is also the legal drinking age and as a result, it is common for people to go out drinking with their friends in pubs, bars and nightclubs. These days, an increasing number of young adults are abstaining from drinking, but there are still many that see the 18th as a chance to spend a night on the town. Of course, birthday cake and birthday cards are popular ways to celebrate special ages and an important tradition for many families.
Piñata
Another well-known birthday tradition that is common in Spain and Latin America is “piñatas”, which are a tradition that is enjoyed at any age but mostly for kids birthday parties. This tradition involves a birthday piñata filled with candy and treats that the person must beat with a broomstick while blindfolded until the candy falls out.
Buttered Noses
In Canada, a popular birthday tradition is buttered noses (also known as grease face). As the name suggests, this involves greasing the person whose birthday it is nose with butter supposedly to ward off bad luck.
Antiquing
In Jamaica, antiquing is a birthday tradition that people enjoy, but not the person whose birthday it is so much. Essentially, antiquing is throwing flour at their friend either at an organized party or by ambushing them. This is taken to another level in Brazil where they also throw eggs!
The 18th birthday is a special one that young people always look forward to and this is because it is the start of adulthood and you can often do things that you could not do before. Birthdays are celebrated in many ways around the world and it is interesting to see the fun traditions that are enjoyed in different countries.
:strip_icc()/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_bc8228b6673f488aa253bbcb03c80ec5/internal_photos/bs/2022/Q/p/Y8fIp6S3qYTYAO2sl62A/newell.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
