Happy Birthday to You!

How people around the world celebrate birthdays for young and old.

Happy birthday to you, the latest installment of our Small World Series. Today with the help of our digital reporters around the world, we are gonna take a look at birthday traditions across the globe, from Korea to Lebanon.

I am Joohee Cho in Seoul. When it comes to spending on a first birthday party, sky is the limit for most Korean parents, and the Chung family is no exception.

“I spent about $6,000 and I just have only one baby and this baby is very precious to me.”

The first birthday is considered a major milestone, because in the past, so many didn’t survive the first year of life. For the main ceremony, baby Eun-Suh wears a han bo(韩服), the traditional costume. The highlight of the party is when the baby must choose an object that will symbolize her future. Family friends add cash to the choices. Looks like Eun-Suh will be in the money.

I am Karen Russo in Mumbai /. With India's growing economy, the middle and upper class have more disposable income. And with that comes spending on elaborate events like the increasingly popular western-style birthday parties.

This party for five-year-old Ruansh has a carnival-type atmosphere with face-painting and prize-winning games. There is even a magician.

One Indian tradition remains constant, parents feeding their children the first piece of cake for good luck. Although it appears to be a tradition this naughty boy doesn’t care to follow.

I am Lara Setrakian in Lebanon, there is an old tradition in the Middle East to not just celebrate birthdays but celebrate name days.

Today, Elias and his wife Elian are celebrating theirs. It’s the feast of prophet Elijah. So for people with a name derived from Elijah, it’s their special day. They are the guests of honor at mass. But for Elias and Elian, the real party starts in their living room. Complete with cake. At nightfall, fireworks on the rooftop, a dinner with friends mark their special day.

参考中文翻译：

世界各地的人们怎样为年轻人和老年人庆祝生日的呢？

现在，由于世界各地数码摄影记者的帮助，我们可以一览全球各地的生日传统，从韩国到黎巴嫩。

我是Joohee Cho，现在在首尔。当人们举办第一个生日派对时，父母毫不吝惜，Chung的家庭也毫不例外。

“我为孩子的第一个生日花费了6，000美元。我只有一个孩子，这个孩子对我来说非常珍贵。”

第一个生日被认为是人生一个重要的里程碑。因为在过去，很过孩子根本活不到一岁就夭折了。为了这个重要的庆祝会，小宝宝Eun-Suh特意穿了传统的韩服。晚会的高潮是宝宝“抓周”，宝宝随手抓到的物体象征的他的未来。亲朋好友会在所有的选择中加上现金，象征着小宝宝以后会很有钱。

我是孟买的Karen Russo。随着印度经济不断增长，中低阶层的人们拥有越来越多的可支配收入，可以花费钱财来举办一些豪华的盛宴，比如越来越受欢迎的西方风格的生日派对。

为5岁的Ruansh举办的生日派对很有狂欢节的气氛，人们脸上都化装，还有赢奖的游戏，甚至还有一个魔术师。

印度的一个传统仍然很普遍，父母喂孩子吃第一块蛋糕，代表好运。然而这个淘气的小男孩似乎不想遵循这个传统。

我是黎巴嫩的Setrakian。中东地区有一个古老的传统，不仅要庆祝生日，还要庆祝他们的名字。

今天，Elias和他的妻子Elian 正在为他们的孩子举行庆祝活动。这是预言者Elijah的盛宴，所以对所有以Elijah命名的人来说，今天是一个特别的日子。他们是受人尊敬的客人。但是，对Elias and Elian来说，他们真正的派对在客厅里举行，全部都是蛋糕。黄昏时，屋顶燃放烟花，与朋友共进晚餐来度过特别的一天。