February is the birthday-month for me. Not that mine falls in February, but many others do: my mother's, my sister's, my father-in-law's, and some of my best friends'.
Birthdays are of course celebrations, but they are not celebrated the same way everywhere around the world. As I have learned since I've been living in the Netherlands. No dramatic difference with French birthdays, but still...
The traditional birthdays, like the ones you experience at your in-laws, go this way: the birthday boy or girl will stay home all day in case anyone would show up unannounced. There will always be coffee, tea and cake available. If it's not a special birthday, don't expect an invitation, but know that you will be expected! And if it's your birthday, know that you are supposed to have cake in the house!
As I already said, coffee, tea and cake will be the main ingredients of the birthday. That's what you will be welcomed with. You will usually get one piece of cake, with one cup of tea or coffee, before moving on to salty snacks along with sodas, beer and wine. That's about it!
If you go out for drinks or food, know one more thing: you are expected to treat others for your own birthday! Yep, the other way around!
But still after 12,5 years living in the Netherlands, there is one birthday tradition I can't get used to. First of all, you don't really say 'Happy Birthday' to the birthday boy or girl, you congratulate them with their birhday: 'Gefeliciteerd (Congratulations) met je verjaardag (with your birthday)'. But the strange thing is that you congratulate their family, as well as any other person attending the birthday party. Really?! Why?! This still remains a mystery to me...
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