A basic celebratory meal is a bowl of noodle (soup) with 2 eggs. The noodles symbolize long life, while the eggs symbolize birth and renewal. Oftentimes, the two eggs are hard-boiled and colored in an auspicious red color. These days, there is more flexibility, and many people enjoy their birthday eggs pan-fried too.
The importance of birthdays in Chinese culture
For example, eating long noodles on one's birthday is believed to bring long life, while red eggs symbolize joy and renewed life. The act of gift-giving, particularly the giving of red envelopes filled with money, is also a significant part of the birthday celebration.
Today, some Chinese people may celebrate to two birthdays. This is because China uses two calendric systems – i.e. the common calendar used in much of the world (the Gregorian calendar) and the traditional Chinese calendar (the Lunar calendar, which records time according to astronomical phenomenon).
Chinese Birthday Food
According to Chinese birthday celebration traditions, there are two kinds of food that are important to serve on Chinese birthdays: long noodles and red eggs.
In many Asian cultures including Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean cultures, a baby's first year celebration includes a fortune-telling ceremony. During this ceremony, a variety of objects are placed in front of the baby and the adults watch to see which 3 objects he/she reaches for and spends the most time with.
Gifts are very important in Chinese culture. Gifts are generally given at Chinese New Year, weddings, births, and, more recently, birthdays.
In China, you can give gifts to people on their birthdays. Here are some suggestions: Red packets, cosmetics, clothes, dinner, mugs with inscriptions, traditionally engraved pens, and body lotions all count. It is important to know the recipient and what works for them.
Chinese birthdays has a tradition where the celebrants family wear red, the color of luck, happiness and prosperity. You wear red and a Chinese birthday party and expect a red envelope with money inside. When you are given a red envelope, you are given a little luck.
Birthday cake is popular, but so are noodles
In addition to receiving a cake, many Chinese birthday celebrants also receive a complimentary bowl of longevity noodles. These noodles are made with egg, wheat flower, and soda water, lending them a spongy texture.
Chinese birthdays must be celebrated before or on the actual birth date. Belatedly celebrating a birthday is considered taboo. Depending on a person's gender, certain birthdays pass without acknowledgment or require special handling. Women, for example, do not celebrate turning 30 or 33 or 66.
Origin and folklore
Similar to Western Easter eggs, in Chinese culture eggs symbolize birth or a new start; thus, it is of paramount importance for eggs to be served to guests during an important birthday (such as the first month or first year). The color red symbolizes prosperity and good fortune to the Chinese.
The written characters representing Happy Birthday in Chinese are: 生日 快乐. The word birthday [shēngrì] is written as 生日 and the word happy [kuàilè] is written 快乐.
In Chinese culture, 60 years makes a cycle of a life and 61 is regarded as the beginning of a new life cycle. When one is 60 years old, he is expected to have a big family filled with children and grandchildren. It is an age to be proud of. That's why elderly people start to celebrate their birthdays at 60.
Where the Gregorian calendar remains consistent, the lunar calendar changes year to year because it revolves around the moon cycle.
In the Chinese culture, the color red [Hokkien: Áng-sek (红色)] symbolizes joy, and of course, good fortune.
Pink In Chinese. Pink is considered to be a shade of red. Thus holds all the same meanings of good fortune and joy.
RED. As a symbol of joy, celebration, vitality, success and good fortune, red is the luckiest color in Chinese culture. It's famously used in important events such as weddings and festivals like Chinese New Year. You'll see everything from red lanterns lining the streets to red outfits and red letters pasted on doors.
In traditional Chinese symbolism, purple symbolizes divinity and immortality. In modern times, purple is used to represent love or romance. Use purple in your kitchen to attract love and affection.
Red envelopes, 红包 (hóngbāo) in Chinese, are a popular gift people give during important festivals and celebrations in China and some other Asian countries. Red envelopes can be given at weddings, graduations, birthdays or as a work bonus, but they're especially widely seen during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year).
Likewise, when receiving a gift, you should accept it with both hands and say thank you. It's a sign of respect for the other person--a way of communicating that they have your full attention.
A Chinese person may decline receiving a gift two or three times out of politeness before accepting. Gifts are not opened immediately or in the presence of the gift-giver. Careful attention is paid to the wrapping of a gift, as the first impression it gives is very important.
For example, in China, which uses the nominal age-counting system, a person is considered 1 year old on the day they are born, and they gain a year on the Lunar New Year.
In fact, it's because that in China, two calendric systems are being used. One is the common calendar that is used around the world, i.e. the Gregorian Calendar, and the other is the traditional Chinese calendar, also known as the Lunar Calendar (Nong Li, the farming calendar or Yin Li).