Birthday Celebrations in Germany

Birthday celebrations in Germany are a bit different from those in Japan.
You prepare the celebration yourself, invite everyone, and host them.

At work, too, you treat your colleagues in various ways.
Some people bring homemade cakes, while others prepare breakfast.

I had a colleague whose birthday was just a few days apart from mine.
We always prepared treats for everyone at the office together.
About a month before our birthdays, the two of us would plan what to do and what to prepare for that year.
We once brought German-style breakfast, Japanese-style breakfast, and even baked cakes.
Our breakfasts were a big hit with our colleagues, and they would look forward to it, asking, 'When will you make it for us this year?'
Even though we are far apart now, whenever each other's birthday comes around, we still email each other, remembering those fun days.

When I studied abroad in Germany, I arrived one day before my birthday.
On my birthday the next day, I was, of course, in no position to bake a cake.
In a city I wasn't yet used to, I searched for a bakery, bought a cake, and carried it to my student dormitory.
With my heart pounding, I knocked on each room, gathered my courage, and told them I had moved in yesterday and that since it was my birthday today, would they like to eat cake with me?

The dormitory had a shared kitchen where everyone gathered.
These were dorm friends I was meeting for the first time.
My heart racing, I began to cut the cake and hand it out to everyone.
That was when, perhaps due to my nervousness, I dropped a plate and it broke.
In Japan, breaking something is an omen of bad luck.
I couldn't help but complain about how unlucky I was to have a plate break on my first day of life in Germany and on my birthday, too.
A German student nearby immediately spoke to me.

In Germany, breaking things brings good luck, you know?
Since Dito is in Germany now, good luck has come to you!

Everyone else chimed in, saying, 'That's right, that's right! You'll be happy!'
Since my dorm friends only found out it was my birthday that day, they told me to wait a moment, went back to their rooms, and gave me various things they had on hand as presents.
Some gave me chocolate, sweets, or magazines, and one person even gave me some tableware they said they no longer used, thinking I would need it.
Someone else said they would give me the flowers they had been keeping in their room, vase and all, and presented them to me just like that.
There were even people who said they didn't have anything to give as a gift, so they would definitely buy something tomorrow.
I tried to refuse, saying I didn't need anything, but the next day I received a beautifully wrapped, lovely pink Kalanchoe potted plant.
My friend handed me the pot, saying it would brighten up my room.
That is why I still love Kalanchoe to this day.
I always keep a pink Kalanchoe close by.

That birthday was a very happy day.
I am filled with gratitude for everyone.

And so, my life in Germany began.

By the way, it is said that celebrating anything in advance, including birthdays, invites misfortune in Germany.
Therefore, I never celebrate in advance, nor do I offer early birthday wishes.

Once, when I tried to tear off a wall calendar at work after finishing my end-of-month tasks, a German colleague, an older woman, told me to wait until tomorrow because it invites misfortune.
Since then, I haven't been able to flip the calendar until the 1st of the next month.
Every month, whenever I flip the calendar, I remember that woman.

One year on my birthday, I invited my partner's parents to a restaurant.
As requested, it was a traditional German restaurant where you can drink Munich beer.
The staff were wearing traditional German costumes, which were very cute.
I had the veal schnitzel. It's like a cutlet.

My partner's parents ask me every year what I want for a present.
I always ask if we can go out on our bicycles together again.
The parents would look troubled, saying that's not really a present and that it's something we always do, but then they would laugh and say they knew I would say that.
They would say, 'All right, if that's what makes Dito happiest, let's go again.'

My partner's parents bought electric bicycles a little while ago.
Both of them love going out on their bikes, and they go out almost every day unless it's raining.
They were planning to get rid of their old bikes, but they still keep them for me and my partner.
I love our bicycle trips, riding next to my partner's mother and listening to her explain things while pointing here and there.
And in front of us, my partner's father and my partner are riding.
We ride along, watching the two of them from behind, saying things like, 'You two really look alike.'

Sometimes I ride next to my partner, watching the backs of my partner's parents.
The two of them look so happy that I find myself whispering that I want to grow old like that, too.
Then my partner replies, 'Yeah, me too.'

My partner had secretly told his parents about a room lamp I had seen in town and said was cute, and they gave it to me as a present.

I asked timidly, 'Are we not going for a bike ride?'
My partner's mother laughed and replied, 'We're going even if Dito doesn't ask.'

I was so grateful for the surprise gift and everyone's kindness that even though it was still bright out, I turned on the lamp I had received and just gazed at it.
My partner came over to my side and secretly told me a secret.
It seems my partner's father had bought three different light bulbs to test which one made the transparency of the ceramic look the most beautiful.
When my partner's father heard this, he felt embarrassed and laughed, saying, 'What a chatterbox.'
I joined in, saying, 'It really is chatty to secretly tell someone about a lamp I said was cute.'

But thanks to that chatty partner of mine, I am spending such a happy day.

My partner's father said he bought a spare lamp, so I should just let him know whenever I need it.
Honestly, I am always surprised at where this kindness keeps coming from, one after another.

I have that lamp displayed in my living room now.
Every time I switch the lamp on, I am reminded of their faces.
The light bulb my partner's father chose has a very warm and gentle color.
That lamp doesn't just brighten the room; it warms my heart as well.

Just as my German friend said at my first birthday party in Germany, a great deal of happiness has truly come my way.

Thank you for everything, as always.