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Celebrating Birthdays in Chinese Culture

In traditional Chinese cultures, age is based on the Chinese Lunar New Year. Babies are said to be one year old when they are born, and they turn two as soon as they enter the New Year – regardless of how many months ago they were actually born.

Not all birthdays are important in traditional Chinese culture, but the birthdays of the very young and the elderly have special significance.

Early Birthdays

The first important occasion is the 30^th day celebration. Buddhist or Taoist families offer sacrifices to the gods, and the child’s parents give red-dyed eggs as gifts to relatives and friends. The red color symbolizes happiness in Chinese culture, and the eggs’ round shape symbolizes a harmonious life.

During the celebration, relatives and friends of the family will give presents of food, daily necessities, or gold or silverware, or money wrapped in red paper. Gifts are always given in even numbers. It is believed that tigers protect children, and in some traditions, friends and family members bring newborns gifts of clothing or toys decorated with tigers. In the evening, the parents host a dinner celebration at home or at a restaurant, and guests eat long noodles, whicy symbolize a long life.

A Chinese girl or boy’s second birthday is also an important event. A variety of objects and toys, such as coins, dolls, or books are placed on the floor around the child. It is a traditional Chinese belief that the object that the child chooses symbolizes the profession that he or she will pursue in life.

Celebrating the Elderly

Traditionally, Chinese people do not pay much attention to birthdays after the newborn celebrations until they reach 60 years of age. The 60th birthday is seen as a big milestone and occasion for a big celebration. In traditional Chinese culture, 60 years completes a life cycle and 61 is regarded as the beginning of a new life cycle. After the 60th birthday, a celebration is held every 10 years. Generally, the older the person is, the more elaborate the celebration.

Customarily, the adult children celebrate and host their elderly parents’ birthdays to show their respect and express thanks. At these celebrations, parents are offered foods with auspicious connotations. On the morning of his or her birthday, the father or mother eats a bowl of “long-life noodles.” Another traditional food for this occasion are dishes made with eggs. Typical birthday presents might be two or four of each of the following: eggs, long noodles, artificial peaches, tonics, wine, and money wrapped in red paper.

In China, it is considered unlucky to give someone a clock for a birthday present—the Mandarin word for “clock” is similar to the word for death.

生日快乐

shēng rì kuài lè

Happy Birthday!

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