Singles after 25 punished with egg, cinnamon in Denmark

In Denmark, reaching the age of 25 while remaining unmarried comes with a unique—and messy—tradition. Locals who are still single at 25 may find their birthday celebrated with eggs and cinnamon, smeared over them by friends in a playful, centuries-old ritual.

The custom, which dates back to the 16th century, originally honored the solitary lives of traveling spice merchants who often married late. Over the years, it has evolved into a lighthearted rite of passage.

The ritual begins with eggs, chosen for their stickiness, covering the person tied to a lamppost or tree. Once coated, cinnamon is sprinkled over the eggs, creating a sticky mixture that can linger for days.

Locals say, “Without eggs, cinnamon is just dust, but mixed together, it becomes a lasting fragrant mark of friendship.”

Although the tradition may seem like public humiliation to outsiders, Danish youth view it as a fun and symbolic test of friendship. With the country’s average marriage age now between 34 and 35, almost every Dane experiences the “egg-and-cinnamon bath” at some point.

While it can be difficult to clean off, the ritual remains a celebrated part of Danish culture—a playful nod to tradition and friendship for those still single at 25.