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Celebrating a Friend’s Birthday
by Yvette, Lotus Travel
Advisor
Looking
at the calendar, I find that my friend’s birthday is coming up soon.
Her birthday is on the 5th of the month according to the lunar calendar.
Corresponding with the solar calendar, it should be on the 26th. Unlike
Westerners, most Chinese usually celebrate their lunar calendar birthday.
This can be more challenging, since the birthday will be shown on a different
date according to the solar calendar each year. But some people just
celebrate their solar birthday since it shows the same date on the solar
calendar and it is easier not to miss it that way.
Speaking of birthday celebrations, birthday cake immediately comes to mind.
But I decided to do a traditional way this year. In my hometown, a baby’s
first month birthday calls for a celebration. The guest will prepare the “Lucky
money” to put in the red envelope. Many delicious foods will
be offered to entertain the guests and a red-dyed egg will be sent home
with the guests as return present. It is a happiness party for the parents
to share joyful news, the birth of the child, and receive the blessing
from the relatives and friends. When the child is getting older, families
will prepare the red-dyed egg for the child to eat. In Chinese
traditional ways, the egg is significant and symbolizes good fortune and
renewal of life. Rolling the egg on the body symbolizes collecting
fortune. It also shows the best wishes for the child as they start
their life and wishes for it to go smoothly as the round egg rolls without
obstruction. Now, I have decided to prepare boiled eggs for my friend. It
will mean to her that she can catch special meaning of the egg and also
will make her feel at home.