Happy Birthday!!!

Today Ana turned 2!   In the spirit of celebrating apart, I set out to discover how the Chinese celebrate birthdays.  Here's what I have discovered --10 interesting facts about Chinese birthday celebrations.  Enjoy!

1.  The Chinese don't typically celebrate birthdays.  Only newborns (at age one month, called a red egg and ginger party) and then not again until a person reaches the age of 60.  Between these ages, birthdays are celebrated on the first day of each Chinese New Year.

2. Many Chinese slurp one long longevity noodle for longevity and good luck.  Family and close friends who cannot attend the birthday celebration will often eat long noodles to bring longevity to the person celebrating his or her birthday.  The noodles are meant to be slurped until no more can be stuffed into a person’s mouth before they are bitten.

3. Red envelopes stuffed with money is a typical gift.  Dyed red eggs are given out to guests at a red egg and ginger party.

4.  It is considered unlucky to give someone a clock for their birthday.  The word "clock" in Mandarin is similar to "death".

5.  The Chinese believe the baby is born one year old. At 2 years old, a child's fortune is told.  The baby is placed in the center of a group of objects such as coins, a doll, or a book.  The family waits to see which object the baby picks up. If the baby picks up a coin he/she might become rich. If the baby reachs for a book he/she might become a teacher. If the baby reaches for the doll he/she might have many children.

6.  The animal which rules the year you were born in is said to influence your life.  In case you were wondering, Ana was born in the year of the tiger.  They are said to be noble and fearless and respected for their courage. 

7.  Birthdays must be celebrated before or on the actual birthday.  Belated celebrations are considered a no-no. 

8.  Women do not celebrate their 30th birthday.  It is considered a year of uncertainty and danger, so to avoid bad luck they remain 29 another year  (Isn't this nice!).  They also do not celebrate their 33rd year.  This is considered  troublesome and dangerous.  So to counteract bad luck, they must buy a piece of meat, hide behind the kitchen door and drop the meat 33 times to cast all the evil spirits into the meat.  The meat is then thrown away.  Sixty-six is another no-no.  This time the daughter or closest female relative must drop the meat.

9.  To men, 40 is a no-no.  They remain 39 another year. 

10. To announce a baby's birth, a new father will pass out red dyed eggs to friends and family.  An odd number of eggs for a boy and an even number for a girl. Money and wine are given to his wife's family.  The ribbons tied on the bottle indicate the gender.