Regardless of the scale of the
celebration, peaches and noodles, which are both signs of long life, are
required. But interestingly the peaches are not real. They are actually steamed
wheaten food with sweet stuff inside. They are called peaches just because they
are made in the shape of peaches. When the noodles are cooked, they should not
be cut short, for the shortened noodles can have a bad implication. Everyone at
the celebration eats the two foods to extend their best wishes to the long-life
star.
Can you imagine not celebrating your birthday until you turn 60? or only being eggs, fake peaches and noodles as birthday presents? Well in China is is the traditional way of celebrating birthdays.
Chinese people
do not pay a lot of attention to birthdays until they are 60 years old. The
60th birthday is regarded as a very important point of life and therefore there
is often a big celebration. After that, a birthday celebration is held every
ten years, that is the 70th, the 80th, etc, until the person's death.
Generally, the older the person is, the greater the celebration occasion is.
It is often the grownup sons
and daughters who celebrate their elderly parents' birthdays to show their
respect for them and express their thanks for what they have done for their
children. According to the traditional customs, the parents are offered foods
with happy symbolic implications. On the birthday morning the father or mother
will eat a bowl of "long-life noodles." In China long noodles
symbolize a long life. Eggs are also among the best choices of food taken on
the special occasion.
To make the occasion grand,
other relatives and friends are invited to the celebration. In Chinese culture,
60 years makes a cycle of a life and 61 is regarded as the beginning of a new
life cycle. When one is 60 years old, he is expected to have a big family
filled with children and grandchildren. It is an age to be proud of. That's why
elderly people start to celebrate their birthdays at 60.
The typical birthday presents
are usually two or four of eggs, long noodles, artificial peaches, tonics, wine
and money in red paper.
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