I love how birthdays are celebrated in the workplace here in Germany. Every single person in the office, even the ones you don\u2019t see very often or talk to but once a year, come to visit you, shake your hand, give you a hug, and wish you a happy birthday. Honestly, it is such a nice gesture and something I hope to bring back to the workplace in the states. In my office of 30 coworkers, we have a calendar of birthdays hanging on our bulletin boards to make sure we don\u2019t miss anyone.<\/p>\n

Oh, and did I mention? The birthday boy or girl brings the cake or doughnuts for everyone to eat. Every. Single. Time. Having a decade birthday? Then the celebration just got better. Several times a year we have huge lunches for my coworkers turning 40 and 50, and the birthday boy or girl pays for the whole meal! Complete with a celebratory small glass of Prosecco or beer.<\/p>\n

Also in Germany it is considered bad luck to wish someone a happy birthday before their actual birthday. Same with baby showers. No baby showers until after <\/em>the baby is born. And instead of asking \u201cHow old are you today,\u201d in my office they say, \u201cHow young are you today\u201d?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m curious: How do you celebrate birthdays at work? Do you keep a list as well? Take the birthday gal or guy to lunch? Would you consider treating your whole office?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mandy Byron is a budget analyst, climber, DIY addict, and world traveler who was born in Germany and moved every three years thereafter with her three sisters. She blogs weekly at <\/em>www.wethreemothers.blogspot.com<\/em><\/a>. \u00a0After getting her MPA and working as an environmental consultant, Mandy decided to pursue her passion for traveling and started a federal career in Bavaria, Germany.\u00a0A few years later and a few moves later, she and her husband, Frank, have returned to the Bavarian countryside with their children, Cooper and Lily.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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