Traditions ...

I don’t know about other races but I find that the Chinese has a lot of interesting traditions.

Take celebrating birthdays for one. Once a man hit his 49th year, he can “celebrate” this on a grand scale while the ladies can start once they hit their 50th year. I don’t think there is a Western term for this sort of celebration. The closest would be an anniversary celebration.

And how do the Chinese count their age? They start immediately the year you were born; e.g. if you were born in 2000, you’d be 6 this year.

My mom is 70 years old (according to Chinese) and we wanted to celebrate her birthday on a grand scale. All six siblings agreed to do it and by 19 Aug 2005, the home-coming was completed.

The following night was the big “do”. We only called our closest relatives and a bunch of Mom’s best buddies – 64 pax (including my family of 20).

Another weird tradition is that the boys of the family will pay for the dinner while the daughters will pay for the birthday cake. It used to be “pau” (buns) with red writing of prosperity and happiness. Some still have the buns and the birthday cake. Usually, the cake is tiered.

My mom is one cool lady but she told my sister and me firmly that she will only want a single-tiered round cake and on her 90th birthday, we can get her a nine-tiered round birthday cake.

Widows do not have any standing in the Chinese society. Since my dad passed on a few years ago, any invitation to my family will be addressed to my eldest brother. If it’s to my mom personally and from the relatives, it’s addressed to the “mother of my eldest brother”. Hence, my mom’s birthday dinner was listed under my eldest brother’s name instead of my mom’s.

Tough to change such deep-seeded traditions.