Birthdays are something people celebrate all over the world, but the way they are celebrated can look a little different depending on where you are. Here in Perú, I have six host siblings—as well as their spouses and children—which means I’ve been lucky to celebrate many birthdays during the nine months I’ve been here. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that birthdays are about much more than just cake and presents.
Recently, I attended both my host mom’s birthday and my host niece’s birthday, and these celebrations gave me a closer look at local traditions. From the food to the time spent together, I was able to see how birthdays here bring people together and reflect what the community values most.
One tradition I learned about is how birthdays in Perú are celebrated with a strong focus on family and community. Instead of just a quick party, birthdays are often full-day events that bring together relatives, neighbors and friends to share food, music and time together. In my community, people usually prepare a special meal and everyone takes time to celebrate the person whose birthday it is.
