What does "The Joy of Rice and Noodles" mean?

Congratulations on the new baby!

To congratulate a newborn, why should we eat thin noodles and why should we wait for rice noodle guests? Traditional childbirth customs confuse many young people today.

In fact, when a baby is born, the whole family rejoices, and people sincerely praise and bless the birth of a new life. A series of traditional fertility customs, such as eating thin noodles, sending rice and noodles, announcing good news and adding happiness, have condensed people's desire and joy for the reproduction of offspring for thousands of years, and incorporated people's blessings for newborns and their mothers.

Eat a bowl of thin noodles to increase the joy

Congratulations to the newborn begin on the third day after the birth. On the third day after the birth of the newborn, the mother and baby were relatively safe, so the family of the newborn notified all households in the village (mostly elderly women and children) to come home to eat happy noodles that day. One is to convey the good news of the birth of a child to the neighbors, and the other is to let everyone "bite disaster" for the child. Xi Noodles are thin noodles made under clear water with chopped green onion and scrambled eggs. Thin and thin noodles are both happy, and the noodles symbolize longevity. It is a simple expression of gratitude by the host family to the neighbors who come to visit and congratulate the family, adding a bit of excitement and joy. Of course, most people who go to eat Ximen are not empty-handed. They usually bring some brown sugar and eggs, and some also give children clothes, hats and even diapers. In the past when there was little food and drink, eating noodles was a joy for many children and even adults.

On the day of eating happy noodles, the family of the child will send someone to the child’s grandmother’s house to announce the good news. Those who give birth to a boy bring a rooster, and those who give birth to a girl bring a hen. Grandma's family can tell whether it is a boy or a girl by looking at the chicken held by the messenger. Another important task of announcing the good news is to agree with the maternal family face to face on the date of "waiting for rice and noodles".

It is the 12th day after the child is born to wait for rice noodles. The maternal family members bring rice, noodles, eggs, clothes, toys, etc. to express condolences and congratulations. Because most of the gifts given are rice and noodles that are urgently needed by babies and pregnant women, they are called rice noodle guests. At this time, after breastfeeding, the child's metabolic function becomes increasingly normal, and the ability to resist diseases is gradually enhanced. In addition, according to the "Twelve Earthly Branches" of the ancient calendar, the twelve days after the child is born are called "little full moons". Therefore, the days of waiting for the rice noodles are scheduled for the baby. The twelfth day after delivery.

Send rice and noodles, add rice and noodles to bring blessings

On the day when you receive rice and noodles, relatives and friends of the child’s grandmother’s house, you have a ladle of white noodles, I have a liter of rice, and he adds some eggs. You send some dried noodles, and when these are gathered together, they become one or several loads of rice, noodles, and eggs. The child's grandfather and grandmother should also wear children's clothes, hats, shoes, mattresses, as well as "longevity locks", gold bracelets, silver necklaces, etc., plus a "hug skirt", which means that the daughter will hold a group of children. , more children, more blessings.

After the rice noodle burden is synthesized, place the eggs one by one on the top of the rice noodle, then cut some flowers from red paper and stick them on the eggs, which is particularly festive and dazzling. Several strong men carried rice noodles full of eggs, led a group of newly dressed relatives and friends, and walked into the newborn baby's home. On that day, the baby has to put on a red hood and a little red hat for visitors to see and praise. The family sets up a "whole house" to entertain guests grandly, which is called "treating guests with rice and noodles".