Zhuazhou is a special tradition in China that takes place on a child’s first birthday. Parents place different things in front of their child to choose from. The picked thing is said to give predictions about their future interests and talents. This custom started a long time ago, during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279).
Zhuazhou does not mean big parties or exorbitant gifts: the hosts do not even send out invitations. Instead, relatives just come over naturally to celebrate. They usually bring simple gifts like toys or a little bit of food, not expensive things like gold or silver.
The Zhuazhou ceremony usually takes place before lunchtime. People put a table on the bed and things like a book, a Chinese brush pen, an abacus (算盘), coins, a cake and toys are placed on the table. If the baby is a girl, the following things might be added: a scoop, a cooker, scissors and a ruler. They stood for skills like cooking and sewing back then.
What children pick can be really exciting! For example, picking a book or pen might mean they will be smart and love studying, while choosing an abacus could mean they’ll be good with numbers. Picking up a toy or a piece of cake suggests they’ll know how to enjoy life.
Even though some parents don’t really believe this will tell the future, they still enjoy the tradition because it’s a fun way to guess what their child might grow up to be like. It’s also a way for everyone in the family to show their love and hopes for the child’s future. That’s why Zhuazhou has been a popular tradition for many generations and is still celebrated today.
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