Hunter's One-Month Celebration

[Ryan H.]

Spent all this time making this topic for my forum last week, figured I may as well share it here now that I'm back:

For those who don't know what that is (I imagine most people, including me up until about three weeks ago) it's an old Chinese custom:

The first important event for the newly born baby is the one-month celebration. In Buddhist or Taoist families, on the morning of the baby's 30th day, sacrifices are offered to the gods so that the gods will protect the baby in his subsequent life. Ancestors are also virtually informed of the arrival of the new member in the family. According to the customs, relatives and friends receive gifts from the child's parents. Types of gifts vary from place to place, but eggs dyed red are usually a must both in town and the countryside. Red eggs are chosen as gifts probably because they are the symbol of changing process of life and their round shape is the symbol of harmonious and happy life. They are made red because red color is a sign of happiness in Chinese culture. Besides eggs, food like cakes, chickens and hams are often used as gifts. As people do in the Spring Festival, gifts given are always in even number.

During the celebration, relatives and friends of the family will also return some presents. The presents include those which the child may use, like foods, daily materials, gold or silver wares. But the commonest are some money wrapped in a piece of red paper. Grandparents usually give their grandchild a gold or silver ware to show their deep love for the child. In the evening, the child's parents give a rich feast at home or a restaurant to the guests at the celebration.

We didn't do most of that, but we did do the dyed red eggs and most of Dawn's family members gave 'lucky money' which is basically just cash in fancy little packets. Others gave baby clothes. Mostly we just ate catered food from Kim Lee Restaurant. Would have cooked ourselves but we had almost 30 people over

Also, we used today to officially celebrate Hailey's birthday. Anyway, pics:

Hunter and his cousin Mahtilda, side by side. Mahtilda is not quite three weeks older than Hunter:



Hunter being a big baby:



Dawn and Hunter:



Hunter's uncle Pat with his newborn daughter, Mahtilda:



Suzie (the kids' babysitter) and our friend Stanley and his girlfriend:



Hailey and aunt Taylor:



This is ALL Austin and his five year old cousin Kyle did today:



Suzie and Hunter:



Hailey and Hunter's birthday cake, already partially cut because I'm a retard and forgot to have someone get a pic first:



Pat, Edith, Lukas and Sandy (Sandy's the one showing off her ass on the left):



From left: Dawn's uncle (visiting from Norway, whose name I can't pronounce because he never took an American name), uncle Harry and uncle Conrad:



Raymond, Taylor, Sandy and Judy:



Edith, Pat and Dawn's aunt (can't pronounce her name, either, which works out fine because she doesn't understand English so I don't have to fake it):



All in all a pretty fun day but damn I am tired.

[Mr. SunburnMan]

Nice. Congrats on the healthy baby.

I say that because I'm uncle of a baby that had lots of complications at birth (she was hospitalized for well over a month in intensive care) - so trust me, you are very lucky!

[The Benny (Macho)]

I've not heard of the custom before. Sounds like it was a great day. Hunter and Mahtilda look seriously damn cute next to each other there.

Sorry to hear about your niece, Sunburn, that couldn't have been fun. I found looking after a healthy baby scary enough, always feeling the urge to check breathing and the like.

[Ryan H.]

Originally Posted by Mr. SunburnMan

Nice. Congrats on the healthy baby.

I say that because I'm uncle of a baby that had lots of complications at birth (she was hospitalized for well over a month in intensive care) - so trust me, you are very lucky!

Hunter was almost born 7 weeks early so I know we dodged a bullet on that one. Hope your niece is doing well!