Screaming when you cut a birthday cake

[Cammel]

I remember me and my friends doing this as kids, but DH doesn't think it's a thing. Was it just my friends or does anyone else remember doing this?

Hell yeah!!!

London in the 80s!!

We still do it now.

Why?!

Because it’s FUN.

I grew up in Devon and never heard of this. Sounds like many from London DC if it but not all.

I have never heard of this. 1980s Kent and Cumbria. Even back in London and Kent for other 20 years and never known anyone do this.

Never heard of this. Grew up in the 70s/80s in Scotland. Am intrigued. What sort of screaming went on?

1980s London and never encountered it.

Grew up in Hertfordshire in the 80s 90s, never heard of it.

How bizarre.

@RavenclawDiadem

You just scream, loudly as the knife hits the plate.

It’s stupid. But it’s fun. Not everyone’s idea of fun but we loved it growing up as kids and I’m proud to say I’ve passed the tradition on to the next generation.

Northamptonshire 80s/90s and never heard of it.

Never ever and god it sounds awful.

I also really hate the American tradition of wedding cakes being shoved in the faces of the bride and groom.

I’ve lived in the north, south, east and west of England and nobody has ever screamed when cutting a cake. Not even when we took it to the Sistine Chapel as part of our packed lunch.

Milton Keynes/Buckinghamshire areas 1980’s-1990’s - never heard of it!

I can't abide gratuitous screaming.

No, never knew about this at all !

80s/90s London, never heard of it.

My DH is Australian. Growing up he said he used to cut the cake after everyone sang happy birthday instead of blowing out candles. But he didn't scream.

Instead it was this silly thing they said where if you touched the bottom of the plate while cutting the cake you'll have green babies

DH always jokes about it on our kids birthdays now

No. Never.

I was a child in the 80s (Home Counties) and have never heard of this!

@User478

Yes! Was compulsory at the first boarding school I went to, unheard of at the second. You also had to have one foot on the table as you were cutting.

Oh this is getting better and better. I love a new tradition!

Never heard of screaming with the cake. London. 70s

Can I ask some more questions:

Does just the one person scream? Just the birthday person? Or everyone around? What does everyone else do if they don’t scream- do they ignore? Clap? When do you sing happy birthday?

Mentioned as a thing in Elisabeth Luard’s lovely memoir Family Life
Her background was wealthy, Jewish and cosmopolitan.
Not sure if that helps

I grew up in London 80s 90s but have never heard of this although wish I had, it sounds like lots of fun!!!

No. I would have been told off if I had done this.

Yes - make a wish as cutting the cake and scream when it touches the bottom. Yorkshire but boarding schools Bucks and Kent.

70s/80s London/Surrey - nope, never heard of it.

@Cissyandflora

Everyone screams.

I love that this was "a thing" for so many people and yet so many other people are (like me) so baffled by it. It's great I love the differences. I'm imagining someone like full on screaming and stabbing a cake though.