diff --git a/DOCUMENTATION.md b/DOCUMENTATION.md
index d518b95c..c3514372 100644
--- a/DOCUMENTATION.md
+++ b/DOCUMENTATION.md
@@ -2323,7 +2323,7 @@ Supported placeholders (data used from VCARD)
  * `{n:a}`: additional name (RFC6350#6.2.2)
  * `{nickname}`: nick name (RFC6350#6.2.3)
 
-Fallback is supported if placeholders inside `{...|...}` (first successful resolved one is used)
+Fallback is supported if placeholders inside `[...|...]` (first successful resolved one is used)
 
 ##### conversion_bday_description_template
 
diff --git a/config b/config
index 9c16fe65..455b481e 100644
--- a/config
+++ b/config
@@ -357,13 +357,14 @@
 #default_permissions_create_map = r
 
 # Global template for summary of conversion "bday"
-#conversion_bday_summary_template = "{{n:f} {n:g} {n:a}|{fn}|{nickname}} (BDAY)"
+#conversion_bday_summary_template = "[{n:f} {n:g} {n:a}|{fn}|{nickname}] (BDAY)"
 
 # Global template for description of conversion "bday"
 #conversion_bday_description_template = "BDAY={year}-{month}-{day}"
 
 # Global template of alarm trigger of conversion "bday"
-#conversion_bday_alarm_trigger_template = "-15H;BDAY tomorrow|9H;BDAY today"
+#  Example: "-15H;BDAY tomorrow|9H;BDAY today"
+#conversion_bday_alarm_trigger_template = ""
 
 [web]
 
diff --git a/radicale/config.py b/radicale/config.py
index 005fcf26..00871ccd 100644
--- a/radicale/config.py
+++ b/radicale/config.py
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG_SCHEMA: types.CONFIG_SCHEMA = OrderedDict([
             "help": "default permissions for map-based sharing",
             "type": rights_permission}),
         ("conversion_bday_summary_template", {
-            "value": "{{n:f} {n:g} {n:a}|{fn}|{nickname}} (BDAY)",
+            "value": "[{n:f} {n:g} {n:a}|{fn}|{nickname}] (BDAY)",
             "help": "conversion bday summary template",
             "type": str}),
         ("conversion_bday_description_template", {
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG_SCHEMA: types.CONFIG_SCHEMA = OrderedDict([
             "help": "conversion bday description template",
             "type": str}),
         ("conversion_bday_alarm_trigger_template", {
-            "value": "-15H;BDAY tomorrow|9H;BDAY today",
+            "value": "",
             "help": "conversion bday alarm trigger template",
             "type": str}),
         ])),
diff --git a/radicale/item/__init__.py b/radicale/item/__init__.py
index e14012a5..9c1151e2 100644
--- a/radicale/item/__init__.py
+++ b/radicale/item/__init__.py
@@ -509,8 +509,8 @@ class Item:
             text = text.replace(placeholder, placeholder_mapping[placeholder])
 
         # resolve {..|..} recursive
-        pattern = re.compile('(.*)({)([^|]+)\\|(.+)(})(.*)')
-        logger.trace("item/convert_vcf_to_ics: resolve {..|..} starting with: %r", text)
+        pattern = re.compile('(.*)(\\[)([^|]+)\\|(.+)(\\])(.*)')
+        logger.trace("item/convert_vcf_to_ics: resolve [..|..] starting with: %r", text)
         while True:
             match = pattern.match(text)
             if not match:
@@ -522,15 +522,15 @@ class Item:
                     if '|' in match[4]:
                         # further recursion required
                         text = match[1] + match[2] + match[4] + match[5] + match[6]
-                        logger.trace("item/convert_vcf_to_ics: resolve {..|..} match/replace/continue result: %r", text)
+                        logger.trace("item/convert_vcf_to_ics: resolve [..|..] match/replace/continue result: %r", text)
                     else:
                         text = match[1] + match[4] + match[6]
-                        logger.trace("item/convert_vcf_to_ics: resolve {..|..} match/replace/final result: %r", text)
+                        logger.trace("item/convert_vcf_to_ics: resolve [..|..] match/replace/final result: %r", text)
                         break
                 else:
                     # resolved variable
                     text = match[1] + match[3] + match[6]
-                    logger.trace("item/convert_vcf_to_ics: resolve {..|..} match/replace(resolved) result: %r", text)
+                    logger.trace("item/convert_vcf_to_ics: resolve [..|..] match/replace(resolved) result: %r", text)
         return text
 
     def trigger_to_timedelta(self, trigger) -> Union[datetime.timedelta, None]: