Australian expat in US shocked by detail in his happy birthday

There are many things that shock Australians about life in America, but there is one slight detail one woman “never had to think about”.

Brittany Nash was at a party in the United States when it was time to sing the song “Happy Birthday.” But at the end of the song, there was only “silence.”

The Australian, expecting a “hip hip hooray”, asked her friend why no one had shouted that phrase, only to receive a blank stare.

Two photos of Australian expat living in the US, Brittany Nash, who was shocked to discover that it's not common practice to say — Brittany Nash, an Australian expat living in the US, was shocked to learn that it wasn’t common to say “hip hip hooray” after singing the Happy Birthday song. Source: TikTok

“She said, ‘What are you talking about?’” Brittany said in her recent TikTok.

“In Australia, when you sing Happy Birthday, afterwards – and you never know who it’s going to be, usually the alpha of the group – you shout ‘hip hip’ and everyone says ‘hooray’. And we do that three times.

“I wasn’t going to say it because I don’t know a lot of people there,” she said. “I met everyone that night. And I was like, ‘Oh, everyone’s really introverted, no one wanted to be that person.’ Because it’s so normal for us, I never had to think about it. But I love it, and I feel like there’s something missing without it.”

The “Hip Hip” movement started in England

The woman, who “did not know that it was not a universal thing,” prompted others to comment on whether it was a custom in their own country.

“This is a British custom that we Australians and New Zealanders do,” one person commented. “That’s South Africa saying it!” another said. “It’s also a custom in Denmark,” a third person added.

Americans also confirmed in their comments that they don’t say “hip hip hooray.” “Here in the US (Texas) I’ve never heard of it, but I love it!!!,” one person said.

“I’m an American! I went on a cruise and they sang happy birthday to my sister and said hip hip after and we were super confused. It makes sense now,” another person said.

The term — originally derived from the phrase “hip hip” used to toast — was first recorded in England and is commonly used in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Do you have a story idea to tell us? Email: [email protected].

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tick Tock And Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store Or google play.