Happy Birthday! A Cultural Countdown By Michelle Nott www.gn-st.

com

Each day, everywhere in the world, a child is born. Each year, everywhere in the world, children wait eagerly for their birthday party. So, let the countdown begin!

It's Sunday night. I go upstairs, close my curtains and put on my pajamas. How many more bedtimes until the birthday party, Maman? (7) Sept, she says. Dors bien, cheri.

It's Monday night. I go upstairs, close my curtains and put on my pajamas. How many more bedtimes until the birthday party, Papa? (6) Sez, he says. Slaap lekker, meisje.

It's Tuesday night. I go upstairs, close my curtains and put on my pajamas. How many more bedtimes until the birthday party, Mamulya? (5) N [pyat] , she says. Spokynoy nchi, sladki.

It's Wednesday night. I go upstairs, close my curtains and put on my pajamas. How many more bedtimes until the birthday party, Papi ? (4) Quatro, he says. Buonas noches, amante.

It's Thursday night. I go upstairs, close my curtains and put on my pajamas.

How many more bedtimes until the birthday party, [m ma] ? (3) [san], she says. [shu gehojio], : [irn].

It's Friday night. I go upstairs, close my curtains and put on my pajamas. How many more bedtimes until the birthday party, babba ? (2) [tenayn] , he says. [ nam jeyid], habibi

It's Saturday night. I go upstairs, close my curtains and put on my pajamas. How many more bedtimes until the birthday party, Mummy ? (1) One, she says. Sleep well, dear.

It's Sunday! We run downstairs in our pajamas...

Bon anniversaire! Gelukkige verjaardag! (S dniom rodenija)! Feliz cumpleaos! (sangyaht faailohk) Eid milad sa'id Happy Birthday!

What do you think? *Do you like to go to birthday parties? What do you like to do on your birthday? *What are other special days you look forward to? How do you count down to the big day? *Can you guess which culture matches each child?French, Dutch, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic or English.