德國慶生大忌！可別太早祝賀了！Don't give your best wishes too early!

因為最近有家人過生日，忽然想到初到德國時被提醒的慶生大忌，

也另外寫上來和大家分享一下！

Because recently one of family members celebrated his birthday, it suddenly reminds me the taboo of celebrating birthday, which I was taught when I first came to Germany.

So, here is a reminder to share for everyone!

在台灣，我們和友人過國曆生日、與家人過農曆生日，似乎是相當平常的事。

但是家裡老一輩的都會說，不可以晚過！

就我的想法，或許是認為這種慶祝大事不該怠慢吧？

In Taiwan, we usually celebrate our birthdays based on western calendar with our friends, and the ones based on lunar calendar with our families.

However, grand parents or even parents might remind you that you shouldn't celebrate your birthday after your actual date of birth!

In my opinion, they may believe that this kind of event shouldn't be slighted.

在德國，自然沒有我們所謂的農曆。

而且，「怠慢」反而是種美德（當然不是要你幾個月後才祝賀喔！）。

德國人有句俗語：「Du sollst den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben.」，

直譯的話就是人們不該在夜晚來臨前讚美白晝，

也就是說，我們不該在事情肯定之前說破，不然就有可能不會實現了！

要是甲提前祝乙生日快樂，就代表慶生會不會到來，也就間接地代表乙可能提前發生意外而無法過生日了！

（或許就雷同我們所謂的折壽？）

In Germany, there's no lunar calendar like us.

Besides, it's a virtue to "slight" (Of course, it doesn't mean you should gratulate your friends after couple of months!).

There's a saying in Germany: "Du sollst den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben.", which means, you should praise the day before the night comes, in the other word, we shouldn't say anything, before the things are settled, otherwise, it might not come true!

If A gives B his/her birthday wishes to early, it might mean his/her birthday might not come, and indirectly indicates that B might have an accident, so that he/she cannot celebrate his/her birthday!

圖片來源：geburtstagswunschee.com

下次想幫德國有人慶生時，可別忘了這項禁忌喔！

Next time, if you want to hold a birthday party for your German friends, don't forget this taboo!