New錛峛orn baby girl celebrations

CCTV.COM (04.10 2003 11:15)

    A month after a baby was born錛宼he family would host a banquet for all the people in the earth building. Pink dumplings 錛坰ee picture on the right錛塧re cooked. They're only prepared at festive times. The table is being set in the Middle Hall錛宼he building's communal heart.

    At 11 am錛?the birthday celebrations start. The grandfather pays the family's respect to heaven and earth in front of the table and then the grandmother parades the baby around the village. It's the first time the little baby has been allowed to leave the building.

    As the grandmother shows off her new treasure to the community錛?she murmurs encouragement such as "grow fast錛?be good" to the soundly sleeping little girl.

    The celebration is quite an important event and each guest gives some money wrapped in red paper as a blessing for the little girl錛坰ee picture on the top錛?

    It's the spirit of giving that's important rather than the amount.If it were a boy's birthday錛?the whole village would be invited and the tables would spill out into the courtyard.

    That night錛?the excitement of a puppet show punctured the usual evening quietness in the building. All of the families have TV sets錛?but the box still can't compete with real錛?in錛峢ouse theater. It's hard to say who enjoyed the show most錛?the people watching錛?or the performers.

Editor:Inner