Q: Dear Uncle Wang,

How is a child's first birthday celebrated in China and what is zhuazhou?

A: First birthdays are a cause for a big celebration in China. Relatives and friends are invited for a party and bring small gifts, like toys and food.

Zhuazhou, which literally means "grab" and "1-year-old birthday," is an activity held on a child's first birthday.

The earliest written record of this custom can be traced to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and it is regarded as one of the most important traditions on a child's first birthday.

Zhuazhou is a test where a set of items are placed in front of the child to choose whatever he or she likes, without help from anyone. And whatever item the child picks could be a clue to the child's future job.

Zhuazhou usually takes place before babies eat the traditional longevity noodles.

There are usually eight to 10 items, each one having a special meaning. Each item represents a different interest or ability.

Some of the symbols are straightforward, others require a deeper knowledge of the Chinese language and culture.

If the child picks a book, it means the child will become a scholar in his or her future job.

A pen means the child will have an occupation in the literary arts and will probably become a writer or a journalist.

A measuring tape stands for an architect, a calculator for work in the sciences, a microphone for an entertainer, and a stethoscope for a doctor.

For the food items, celery means the child will be industrious (celery, 芹 q!n, and industrious, 勤 q!n, are homophones in Chinese).

An orange stands for fortune.

Green onions represent intelligence (green onion, 葱 c4ng, and intelligence, 聪 c4ng, are homophones).

Peanuts symbolize longevity.

If a child picks a chicken, that means he or she won't ever have to worry about food. Money is a sign of a life of fortune ahead.

Some of the items today differ from the ones used in the past. Now parents usually buy a complete set of ready-to-use zhuazhou items that are mostly plastic or wooden toys.

There are also different sets for boys and for girls.

A long time ago, the item that a child picked on his or her first year anniversary would affect the education and training that parents would prepare for the child.

However, nowadays, zhuazhou is mainly for fun and is regarded as a creative way for parents to do something different to celebrate their child's first birthday.

Even if the parents are not superstitious they will still choose to celebrate their child's first birthday with the traditional zhuazhou.

Please send your cultural questions about China to twocents-sh@globaltimes.com.cn