If it’s a boy, what are you going to name him?”
Every expecting family is questioned about what they will name their baby, and most couples begin name selection before the child is born. Parents-to-be will page through baby name books or argue about favorite choices, trying out many combinations before finding one that pleases them. The name is chosen mostly on parental preference with no regard to the life that will carry the name that they have chosen for him/her. Other traditional cultures, however, realize that a name can be a very powerful part of a persons spiritual life and devote more energy into the naming of their child. The traditional Chinese baby naming ritual, the Red Egg and Ginger Party, is a very old and honored ceremony that gives a child his/her name and serves to introduce the baby to the world.
Eggs were considered a delicacy in traditional China and were usually reserved for special occasions or guests. One month after a child is born, hard-boiled eggs (symbolizing fertility) were dyed red (for good luck) and given to family, friends and relatives who had honored the child’s birth. This was an invitation and announcement of the upcoming naming ceremony for the new addition to the family. During the party, the baby’s name is given. The name given at this time can be either the child’s formal name (traditionally chosen by the grandparents or fortune teller) or a “milk name” (a nickname used until school or marriage).
The newborn’s head was shaved during the party. A girl’s head was normally shaved before an image of “Mother”, the Goddess of Children, while a boy’s head was shaved before an ancestral table. While the deep spiritual and cultural meanings behind this may not be known, some speculate that it is a rite of passage to mark the child’s independent existence. The baby is then taken around the room of guests to be introduced and admired.
Guests usually brought gifts for the baby, which usually consisted of clothing or money. Money was presented in a red envelope and were called Li-shihs, a symbol of wealth and success in the future. The babys parents later send gifts of small round pork biscuits to the guests as a thank-you.
Traditionally, a boy’s Red Egg and Ginger party was more elaborate than a girls, as the birth of a boy was valued more than the birth of a girl. A boy would carry the family name while a girl would mean an investment that would eventually leave the family. Daughters often were given small family dinners instead of elaborate parties.
Nowadays, instead of sending out red eggs, a family may have a display of brightly colored eggs at the party. Each guest would take one egg home with them for good luck, along with a piece of ginger.
A child’s birth and naming process are sacred events. The Chinese Red Egg and Ginger party celebrates these events and honors the family and new child. While most of the spiritual meaning may be lost to those outside of the traditional environment, the Red Egg and Ginger Party is commonly practiced by many people until today.
