It's Charlie's birthday today, but he isn't feeling happy. No one wishes him a happy birthday. Mother says nothing about his birthday. She just tells Charlie to play outside. At lunch time, his mother calls, "Come in for lunch, Charlie!" Charlie slowly walks into his house. But the living room looks different. Charlie sees a big "Happy Birthday" banner (横幅). Then, he sees a birthday cake, balloons, presents, and all of his friends. "Happy birthday!" everyone shouts. Charlie's face lights up. He is happy and surprised (吃惊). No one forgets his birthday after all!
Many children have a birthday cake1 candles on their birthday. In some countries, 2England and Scotland (苏格兰), there is another custom (风俗), 3. There people spank (拍打) or hit the child 4 his/her birthday. This may hurt a little, but they say it is 5lucky (幸运的) for the child. The child must 6cry. The custom says that if you cry, you will cry all year.
The reason 7 birthday spank is to make the bad spirits (情绪) go away. The harder you spank, the better it is. In Belgium (比利时), 8country in Europe, the custom is9different. There a parent goes into the children's bedroom early in the morning with a needle (针). As soon as the children wake up, the parent pricks (刺) the children 10the needle. This is for good luck.
