13 Birthday Traditions That Would Be Controversial Today
These 13 old-school birthday customs might have been fun back then, but they’d raise eyebrows or go viral for the wrong reasons today.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Birthday parties have evolved throughout the years. Some traditions we saw as harmless would be considered questionable today. From safety concerns to cultural shifts, these celebrations highlight how times have changed. Here are 13 birthday traditions that would likely spark controversy if anyone tried them now.
1. Cake Face-Smashing
Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Pushing someone’s face into their birthday cake was once a playful prank, but now it’s seen as messy, wasteful, and even dangerous. Frosting in the eyes and choking hazards make it less funny as adults.
2. Pin the Tail on the Donkey with Real Pins
Daa Nell on Flickr
Before soft Velcro versions, kids were actually blindfolded and handed sharp pins. One wrong move could turn a party into a trip to the ER. Today, most parents wouldn’t even consider letting children near a needle game.
3. Clown Entertainment
Nishant Aneja on Pexels
Clowns were once a birthday staple, but between horror movies and “creepy clown” news stories, they’ve lost their charm. Many kids now find them terrifying instead of funny.
4. Candles Without Supervision
lil artsy on Pexels
Lighting a mountain of candles and letting a group of sugar-hyped kids hover nearby used to be standard. Now, the fire hazard alone would make most parents nervous.
5. Party Favors with Candy Cigarettes
Julie Pimentel on Flickr
Handing out candy that encouraged smoking was considered normal decades ago. Today, the idea of giving kids a faux pack of cigarettes as a “treat” would be scandalous.
6. Blindfolded Piñata Swings
Oscar Aragon on Unsplash
Piñatas are still popular, but the old-school approach of blindfolded kids swinging a bat in a crowded backyard is a recipe for disaster. Parents today worry about injuries far more than candy showers.
7. Musical Chairs with Hard Falls
camknows on Flickr
This game seemed innocent, but the aggressive version often led to shoving and tears. Hardwood floors and sharp corners didn’t help.
8. Homemade Cakes with Questionable Ingredients
Jasmine lew on Pexels
Decades ago, neighbors would whip up cakes for parties without much concern for allergies or food safety. Modern parents are hyper-aware of gluten, nuts, and cross-contamination.
9. Water Balloon Fights Indoors
Mark Surman on Flickr
Believe it or not, some parties involved indoor balloon chaos, soaking carpets and furniture. Parents shrugged it off back then, but now, property damage and cleanup costs make it unthinkable.
10. Party Games with Real Prizes Like Pocket Knives
Tiham Ul Haq on Pexels
Some kids’ parties once gave out shockingly adult “prizes” like mini pocket knives or sharp trinkets. It was seen as a rite of passage rather than a hazard.
11. Birthday Spankings
Ryan Joy on Flickr
The tradition of giving a kid “one swat for each year” was meant to be playful. However, in today’s world, physical punishment at a party would be labeled abusive.
12. Party Photography with No Privacy Concerns
Rafael Pires on Pexels
Camcorders rolled freely, and no one thought twice about sharing kids’ faces with the neighborhood. Today, posting a video of a birthday online without parental consent could stir up privacy concerns.
13. Letting Kids Roam the Neighborhood Alone
Chris Hardy on Unsplash
Many parties ended with kids running around the block unsupervised, playing tag or riding bikes. Now, “free-range birthday parties” would worry neighbors and trigger safety discussions.