Birthdays

Birthdays are something many kids look forward to every year. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we celebrate everything about birthdays! From candles and cakes to songs, games, and traditions around the globe, our Kids Crew explores what makes a birthday special in different places and cultures. We also find out how birthday customs have changed over time, and where ideas like singing “Happy Birthday” or hitting a piñata came from. Find the episode page at https://childrenshour.org/birthdays/ You’ll hear about birthday traditions in places like Vietnam, where everyone celebrates on the same day during Tet; and in India, where kids wear new clothes and honor their parents. In Brazil, kids get their ears gently pulled—once for every year! In Egypt, birthday parties are full of flowers and even more than one cake. The Kids Crew also takes us to Denmark, where the whole neighborhood knows you’re celebrating because your family flies a flag outside your house! Back in New Mexico, we talk about quinceañeras, where turning 15 is a big deal for girls in Mexican and Hispanic cultures. We also learn the history behind the birthday song and find out where the tradition of putting candles on cakes started. And we take time to remember kids who celebrate the day they were adopted. If you’ve ever had a birthday, or wanted to know how others mark theirs, this show is for you! This episode of The Children’s Hour was written and produced by Katie Stone, Executive Producer and Host with production support from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., distributed by Native Voice One, and supported by listeners like you. Find more at ChildrensHour.org/birthdays © 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.