A baby’s full moon – How do you celebrate?
May 3rd, 2006 by Lilian
It just occured to me. I think only the Chinese make a big deal out of a new born baby’s full moon or a month old celebration.
First, the baby will be given a shave or at least to cut off some of the hair. This is to remove the bad luck. Heh, the old folks said that the womb is a dirty thing so after being in the womb for the past nine months, the baby is to remove some of the bad luck. Don’t gape, this is just old Chinese folklore.
Then, the mother is finally allowed to bath. Urggh….of course, no one sane will stay ‘un-bath’ for one complete month.
And when both mother and child are adorned in new clothes, or at least the baby is in new clothes, they will offer to their ancestors (Taoist practice) some of these:
Followed by distributing packets of them to colleagues, friends and relatives.
So, I wonder how do other races celebrate this full moon or do they even celebrate it like the Chinese do?
The Malay Muslims commonly have ‘kenduri’ after the confinement period of 44 days. It is called the ‘cukur jambul’ whereby the baby’s hair is trimmed, often shaved. This occasion is usually also marked by a prayer recitation session (‘doa selamat’) that’s done for the good health and well-being of the child. Sometimes parents may also organise an ‘aqiqah’ session whereby goats/cows are sacrified and its meat distributed among relatives, friends and neighbours. This practice carries a significant religous symbolic importance for Muslims.
Hope readers find this enlightening!;-)
mamajay – Thanks a lot for the enlightening info. I am learning each day.