Birthday celebration traditions in East Asian countries (China, South Korea and Japan) and Lithuania

Hello. 你好 . 안녕하세요. こんにちは. Labas. ^^

My name is Toma Palavenytė. I am 24 year old student from Lithuania.  Right now I am last year student studying East Asian languages and cultures in Vytautas Magnus University. I am researching birthday celebration traditions in China, South Korea, Japan and Lithuania. My work is concentrating around finding out different aspects of birthday celebrations in these countries, what celebration traditions are left, which of them were brought from other countries, etc.  I am trying to get as much information as possible about birthday celebration traditions in your country. This survey is not about the quantity of recipients, but about the amount of information I could get regarding this matter in my research. I would like you to answer the questions below as widely as possible. Imagine that I know nothing about your culture and you are my teacher and we are having a conversation with a cup of tea/coffee.  What would you tell me? Even the small details might help me a lot, because as I said, imagine I know nothing at all.

This survey is anonymous. But if you would like to share more information with me, don't hesitate and write me email at: [email protected]. I would highly apreciate it.

English language is preferred, but you can write answers in your native language as well, for example,phrases or symbols that can not be translated directly to English language. You can try to explain them as you like.

I hope you will have fun being a  part of my research, and I am really thankful for your help.

With all of my heart, THANK YOU. ^^~

Best regards,

Toma Palavenyte

What gender are you?

What country are you from?

How old are you?

Do you celebrate your birthday? Which birthday was the first one that you remember till now? Where are you celebrating them: at home, in the restaurant??

  1. No i hate my bday :((
  2. 小さい頃はいつもケーキをみんなで切って食べてました。今と違って生クリームでは無かったです。でも上回りとかのクリームが好きでした。薔薇の花に仁丹がバラバラと飾ってて豪華な感じでした。プレゼントは多くはお人形さんでした。
  3. Usually Koreans celebrate birthday with friends in a bar. They drink a lot, and throw a party. :)
  4. Yes I do. The first one which I remember is my 20th birthday. In Japan, 20th birthday is important because 20 is first year of "adult". So, I've got nice watch from my parents. Otherwise it's almost same every year. At birthday's aften, eat foods which I wish (mostly at home), and eat a hole cake with candles and sing a birthday song. All with my family(dad, mam and brother). And few days before or after, my friends celebrate my birthday in a school (with singing and present) and go to a restaurant or karaoke to have a fun^^
  5. usually not. when i was 2nd or 3rd year of elemental school, i invited my almost all class friends at home, and my mother made so much food for my friends, so i remember it until now.
  6. 庆祝我的生日，记得第一个生日是大概是6岁左右一起和家人们在家吃了饭简单的庆祝一下。
  7. Yes, my 7 yeas olds party in a famous restaurant in Hong Kong is the most impressed one. I invited all my classmates to my party.
  8. Yes. When I was 4, my mum celebrate the birthday with me ar home. We took many photos. This is the first one that I remembered.
  9. Yes,(Only until 12) When I was 9 at home
  10. Yes At 11 years old At home
…Daugiau…

Do you celebrate your birthday alone or with your relatives/friends? Why?

  1. Aloone. I hateu my bday :((
  2. 家族みんなで、でもおじいちゃん、お婆ちゃんはとなりの部屋に居たような～何故それが昔からからだで言い次がれる事なく～生まれた時からそうでした。それが当たり前だと思って育ちました
  3. I celebrate birthday with friends. We go to a bar and drink a lot. Hahah
  4. With family and friends.(Not same time) In Japan, the person who have a birthday don't organize the party. Other people organize for the person.(Often it's surprise) So, I will be with my family and friends because they organize for me^^
  5. Usually alone, because i don't prefer to celebrate "My" birthday, and the date of my birthday is summer vacation season, so we can not meet up at that time.
  6. 一般和家人或者朋友一起庆祝一下，人多比较热闹。
  7. Normally, I celebrated with my boyfriend
  8. I will celebrate with my friends. We will go out for dinner or go to the theme park
  9. with friends and family Children want to get along with their friends with some food
  10. Both They want
…Daugiau…

Based on what criteria you choose you celebration place? Does it differ from one year to another? Does the place have to have a special meaning to you?

  1. I want celebrite in China
  2. いつも‼自宅でした。レストランとかでした事はないです。小学校前まではたまに友達を家に呼んでやってました。
  3. Not really. We need fine place to have a quality time together.
  4. With family, will be just at home. With friends, will be in a school, restaurant or karaoke. There are nothing special meaning for me.
  5. As mentioned previously, i usually not celebrate, but if i need to meet up my friends, i prefer pub, because we can drink, and eat some snack easily, and for fun.
  6. 没什么特别的地方，适合聚会的地方或者是在家里。
  7. Yes, I will choose different restaurant every year . There is no special meaning, just want to try something new
  8. No, we have not the special place for celebration.
  9. no standard Just anywhere that can eat some foods Not really
  10. Depends on taste Different No
…Daugiau…

What presents do you usually give to others/receive? Tell me more about them. Are they based on some kind of tradition or not in your opinion?

  1. 小さい頃はお人形さん( ´∀`)中学校位から欲しい物を言ってたようなあまり記憶にないです。大人になってからは家族ですることはだんだんとなくなりました。
  2. Something meaningful. I guess that is very different from person to person. I know that girls do present such as cosmetics. Boys don't give or get presents. Hahaha
  3. It's really depends on what the pperson like and need to. Could be some books, towels, some character's thing, stationary, mugs, some decoration for a room, funny things, toy and so on. But for me, when it's friends to friends, often with album(fotos which took together in the past)and messages. I don't think it's traditional but what is the traditional way is when it's friend (not family member) we don't often ask the person what your wishes as a birthday present because it better be surprised^^
  4. Usually we give what they said before that they want. It's not base on tradition, as i think we don't have the tradition of the gift. And in the friend man to man, usually we don't give present, and just sometimes a birthday man pay drink and snack for his friends.
  5. 送给他们喜欢的东西，根据他们的爱好来选择。
  6. I will give something practical or fictional to my friends, such as phone, watch . Etc And I prefer to receive something practical as well.
  7. No preference. Normally we will treat the dinner to them.
  8. Regardless of tradition, Just whatever they want or something I want to show my sincerity like letters
  9. Book watch game cd Not tradition
  10. I don't think the presents are based on tradition.
…Daugiau…

What birthday traditions do you follow? Regarding food, music, presents, etc.

  1. I dont care....😑
  2. したがってないです。
  3. Usuallly at birthday we have a tradition to eat a special soup. Which is seaweed soup.
  4. As I write before, other people organize for the person surprisingly. And presents should not change afrer got that even the birthday person don't really like it. It's not polite to change it. So there is no price tag on the present. Birthday food often might be sushi, yakiniku, shabushabu, sukiyaki.
  5. we don't have as i know.
  6. 没什么特别的传统，有蛋糕就可以。
  7. I do not follow any traditions.
  8. Birthday cake and sings. My mum will give me a (red pocket money, that means pocket money). When i was young, the nursery school eill give us the red eggs.
  9. no traditions
  10. Birthday song Cake Present
…Daugiau…

You you think that Western culture has influenced your country's traditions? If yes, then how? Have you found some examples in your life?

  1. Me me
  2. ケーキを必ず食べると❗でも小学校のていがくねんの時は誕生日にケーキを食べて無かったような気がする。ナイフとフォークが使える様になってからステーキを食べてた。
  3. Maybe birthday cake or party culture. These days young people borrow a hotel and have a party.
  4. -
  5. yes, in the food we get, especially in young guys. They usually go fast food restaurant like hamburger, or pizza.
  6. 嗯，中国也开始庆祝圣诞节。
  7. Definately yes. As Hong Kong was colonised by UK for years. We have more influenced from western culture them Chinese people
  8. Yes, the birthday cake . In china, they will eat the noodles to celebrate before, now they will eat the birthday cake.
  9. I dont know
  10. Of course Cake
…Daugiau…

What aspects/traditions of birthday celebrations do you cherish/enjoy the most? Why? Are you planning to pass those traditions to you children in the future?why?

  1. 電灯〰ないです❗たのしんではいました。
  2. I think celebrate birthday with family members is the best.
  3. Stay with family and friends. Just all.
  4. We usually buy a cake to throw to face of birthday guy. it is really funny when i throw to other, not for me, because after that i should wash my face, and change the clothes.
  5. 和自己觉得重要的人在一起过生日是非常有意义的，比如家人，我希望孩子们也这么认为。
  6. As I do not follow Chinese tradition . I do not think I will pass this culture to my children
  7. Celebrate with my friends in Disneyland. And they will give the surprise to me. And my mum will buy the present and cake to me. Yes, i.will .
  8. no idea
  9. Birthday song and present It mean they think about me. Of course
  10. aspects.. i dont really enjoy or cherish some aspects of birthday celebration.. maybe blowing candles ?
…Daugiau…

Name a few traditions that you have in your country, that you think could not be found in other coutries? Does it have some special meaning?

  1. 無いです。知らないだけかもしれませんが‼
  2. I think Koreans do value age. When you meet a person for the first time, it isn't rude if you ask others age. I think that is influenced by conficianism in china.
  3. In the birthday? no. in the other, when the man marry, people hit his naked feet by dried pollack for increasing stamina before the first night.
  4. 中文的名字都不会在其他国家出现。
  5. Chinese birthday bun
  6. Red pocket money, the parents will put the money in a red pocket, it means lucky.
  7. In Korea, most people celebrate First Birthday for baby, which is called Doljanchi. With celebration, baby can choose one thing on the table: mic, money, pencil, ball... each means singer, rich, scholar, athlete.. People can guess baby's future
  8. We eat 떡 korean traditional cake Yes i think it could not be found in other countries.
  9. When we turn one year old. We have a special birthday.
  10. nothing
…Daugiau…

Do you have any traditions that you still practice, even though it has no actual meaning in todays life? Maybe your parents/grandparents know any of them?

  1. 趣味嗜好でやってる事はありますが。それでも日本人はとしての生活する上で～畳の飢えでのアルキカタ作法、おはしのもちかたさいていげんの生活は生まれながらにおやから子に継がれてると思います。
  2. I don't know about it..?!
  3. when someone change the house,marry, or opening shop, check the date by lunar calendar. It is to do something without bad ghost in the traditional faith.
  4. 在每年春节的时候放鞭炮。
  5. No
  6. red pocket money
  7. no
  8. No
  9. nothing
  10. Not sure. Sorry.
…Daugiau…

Is any of your birthdays more important than others? For example your first birthday and the others that you had?

  1. 20歳。22歳。
  2. I think some people do value their birthday a lot. But for me, when my birthday i try to give thanks to my parents. Cuz they raised me with a lot of efforts.
  3. traditionally 3rd, 5th, 7th, 20th, 60this important but I think all is important for me.
  4. as i mentioned in first question, 2 or 3rd years of elemental school.
  5. 没有觉得谁的生日更重要，都是一样的。
  6. Every birthday for me is different meaning. Depends on celebrate with who
  7. When i grow up, normally i will go to other countries to travel
  8. i do not have party
  9. No
  10. nope
…Daugiau…

If you have any relatives near you, maybe you can ask them a few questions about birthday celebrations? Maybe they can share some wisdom and tell me a little about their childhood memories regarding birthday celebrations? I would kindly appreciate that.

  1. 小学生の頃は叔母さん夫婦が来てくれてお祝いをしてくれた。また伯父さん夫婦が来てくれた。
  2. I can tell you. When i was young i called my friends. And had a party together. They gave me presents.
  3. I couldn't, because all the guys busy because of tests. Sorry about it.
  4. 在每年父母的生日，家人们都一起去聚餐简单的庆祝。
  5. N/A
  6. No
  7. Sorry, don't have any.
  8. Now many of korean people celebrates their birthday in western way. If you have any questions, feel free to ask through email. [email protected] Aciu
  9. Sorry. Good luck! :)
  10. My grandparents didn't had fancy birthday cakes as we do now. They used to get birthday tteok (rice cake) and of course seaweed soup (miyeok guk).
…Daugiau…
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