Saturday, April 18, 2009
Kayla's Red Egg & Ginger Party
The Red Egg & Ginger Party is an ancient Chinese tradition. It is usually given when the baby turns one month old. The Chinese believe that both mother and child are vulnerable to illness right after birth, so you're not supposed to leave the house or have guests over for the first month. Also, in the old days in China there was a high mortality rate so it was thought that the baby had a good chance of survival if it lived to be one month. So at one month, there is a big celebration to introduce the new baby to friends and family and to welcome him/her into the world.
Here, my Grandma is snipping off a piece of Kayla's hair. The symbolism of this practice is not entirely known, but it is speculated that this is the removing of the birth hair, to mark the point of the child's independent existence.
Then they roll a hard-boiled egg dyed red for good luck on the baby's head. Eggs are significant because they symbolize fertility and the renewal of life. Also, their shape is traditionally associated with harmony and unity.
Another tradition is to have a young family member carry the baby on their back. This symbolizes that someone will always be watching out for the baby. My cousin Kianna volunteered to be Kayla's "guardian".
Posing for pictures with my mom and grandparents at the restaurant just before guests started to arrive for the party.
Devin's mom Evi flew down from Oregon to celebrate with us. You can see Kayla's gold and jade jewelry really good in this picture. Girls will traditionally receive jewelry in addition to other gifts and leesees (red envelopes stuffed with "lucky" money).
Kayla with some of her cousins: From left to right, Jake (14 months), Daniel (10 months), Kayla (7 months), and Brandon and Cameron.
Here, my Grandma is snipping off a piece of Kayla's hair. The symbolism of this practice is not entirely known, but it is speculated that this is the removing of the birth hair, to mark the point of the child's independent existence.
Then they roll a hard-boiled egg dyed red for good luck on the baby's head. Eggs are significant because they symbolize fertility and the renewal of life. Also, their shape is traditionally associated with harmony and unity.
Another tradition is to have a young family member carry the baby on their back. This symbolizes that someone will always be watching out for the baby. My cousin Kianna volunteered to be Kayla's "guardian".
Posing for pictures with my mom and grandparents at the restaurant just before guests started to arrive for the party.
Devin's mom Evi flew down from Oregon to celebrate with us. You can see Kayla's gold and jade jewelry really good in this picture. Girls will traditionally receive jewelry in addition to other gifts and leesees (red envelopes stuffed with "lucky" money).
Kayla with some of her cousins: From left to right, Jake (14 months), Daniel (10 months), Kayla (7 months), and Brandon and Cameron. 
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