Chuc Mung Sinh Nhat! Happy Birthday Vietnamese Style
Celebrate your child's first birthday Vietnamese style in this article from Chao Ban Newsletter for Vietnam Adoption.
For
your child's first birthday you might want to partake of an additional
ceremony that can be fun for everyone in your family. This custom is derived
from the Chinese ceremony, and seems to be celebrated in many parts of
Asia, for enjoyment as much as for its intrinsic meaning. In Vietnam,
it is more commonly observed in the cities.
A number of objects are laid out on a tray and presented to the baby. The one she reaches for, indicates her future. The number and type of objects can vary; a variety of objects can make for fun choices.
Le, a 15 year old exchange student staying with Erin Henderson, shared some of the objects her family uses:
- money for wealth
- books for wisdom
- lipstick and/or a hair brush for beauty
- paint brushes for a future in art
- pen and paper for a future in writing
- an instrument for a future in music
- something medical (e.g., medicine, bandage, thermometer) for a future in medicine
- a calculator for a future in mathematics
- clothes/material for a future in sewing or clothing
- rice for a future in cooking or food
Add your own ideas - perhaps a basketball ball for sports or an AOL disc for your future computer programmer.
More examples of Chao Ban Vietnam Adoption Newsletter articles