Taboos
In old days when a baby was born, people put up a curtain with strips of red cloth on it to cover the door of delivery room, indicating that visitors were avoided. If neighbors, friends or relatives called on, when they saw the strips of red cloth, they stopped entering. Even if members in the family had to stay outdoors for a certain period before stepping in, when returned after being long out and away. All though, this custom came from superstition, it was good for lying-in woman and the baby to have good rest and prevent epidemic disease. It has been popular up to now.
Bathing
On the third day after birth of the baby, the delivery room was heated warmer sill, then the baby was bathed in water with Chinese mugwort. It was the baby's first bath after birth, while, food was prepared to feast invited guests for celebration. This custom still continues today.
Confinement
In old days because of poor life and bad sanitation in countryside, a woman usually gave birth, rested, slept and fed baby on heat-able brick bed covered with sand which was called “zuo yue zhi” meaning child birth confinement which lasted a month, then sand was swept away, the lying-in woman changed into clean clothes and the baby could be taken outdoors. This custom is no longer in existence, but it sill prevails to celebrate a baby's completion of its first month of life.
Trial
On the child's first birthday, adults in the family dressed him up and let him pick up willingly things on a table such as coin, pen ; abacus and whip, while adults stood by, watching what he took first. They said it could tell the future of his career. It is absolutely ridiculous, but being a kind of game, some people still do it. |
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