Unmarried individuals in Denmark who turn 25 are often doused with water and showered with cinnamon by their friends on their birthday. Upon reaching 30, the tradition shifts: friends throw pepper or place large, national flag-painted metal pepper mill replicas in their yards.
Caroline Nyvang, an expert at the Danish National Archives of Folk Memory, explains that this tradition began in the 15th century, when the spice trade was a key economic pillar. "Spice merchants often traveled the world, rarely settling long enough to marry," Nyvang said.
The customs of these merchants led locals to refer to unmarried young men as Pebersvend (pepper lad) and unmarried women as Pebermø (pepper maiden). This also led to the practice of placing pepper mill models outside the homes of those turning 30 and still single.
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Young Danes are covered in cinnamon when they turn 25 and are still unmarried. Photo: @DasSabrine/X |
About 60 years ago, the custom expanded to include sprinkling cinnamon on those turning 25. This practice began in northern Jutland and spread nationwide in the 1980s, driven by media coverage.
Today, many Danish businesses offer cinnamon spraying equipment rentals or sell kits. These kits, priced at 285 DKK (approximately 792,000 VND), include 2,5 kg of spice, protective goggles, and tape.
Statistics in Denmark show that men in the country marry for the first time at an average age of 34,5, while women do so at 32. Consequently, most 25-year-olds are unmarried, making the cinnamon throwing a form of birthday entertainment.
Minh Phuong (According to The Local, Insider, Bustle)
