第三单元文化研究

ChineseCustomsaboutaNew-bornBaby2.WhatIsSuccess?1.ChineseCustomsaboutaNew-bornBaby

1)One-Month-OldBirthday(满月酒)

Itisafeastcelebratingthefirstmonthofanewbornbaby.TheOne-Month-OldBirthdayisauniversalcustompracticedbyallethnicgroupsofChina.Inafamilywhereababyisborn,theywillprepareseveraltablesoffeastonthebaby'sOne-Month-OldBirthdayandinvitetheirfriendsandrelativestoaceremonytocelebratetheoccasion.Inatraditionalone-month-oldceremony,therewillbearejoicingandfestiveatmosphereinthefamilyandthefeastissupposedtobelivelyandjoyful.Normallythosejoiningthefeastwillbringsomegiftoraredenvelopetoshowtheirregard.Onthedaywhenthebabyisonemonthold,grandmothersentclothes,foodandtheredpapercontainingmoneyasgiftstothebaby.Thebabywearsdoghat(狗头帽),tigershoes(虎头鞋),whichindicatesthatthebabywillbeluckyforthewholelife.2)One-Year-OldCatch(抓周)Itoccursonthebirthdayofone-year-old.ItisatraditionwithalonghistoryinChina.ItwasrecordedevenwhenitwasinSongDynasty.One-Year-OldCatchisusuallyheldbeforeeatingthelong-lifenoodleswhenitisonthedaywhenababyisoneyearold.Thefamilywilllayoutsutras,brushpens,inksticks,paper,inkslabs,abacus,coppercoins,accountbooks,jewelries,flowers,rouge,foods,toys,etc.Forgirls,scoops,scissors,rulers,thread,scissor-cutwillbeadded.Thentheparentsputthebabyinfrontofthesearticlesandmakeitsitup.Nobodywillgiveanyinstructionorcuetothebabysothatitisleftfreetochoose.Watchingthebabycatchthearticlesitlikes,thefamilycanthenmakepredictionsaboutitspotentialinterests,futurecareeranddevelopment.2.WhatIsSuccess?

Inthissociety,someonedefinesuccessintermsofthedollaramountonapaycheck.Forothers,it'sthetitleontheirbusinesscard.Othersmaydefinesuccessintermsoftheaccoladesandawardstheyhavewon.Success=Money?Success=Power?Success=Money+Power?Success=Fame?Success=Achievement?Success=Happiness?Differentpeoplehavedifferentopinionaboutthesymbolofsuccess.Butsomethingisthesame.Oneofthesymbolsofsuccessisthatyouhaveafulfillingcareerwhichgivesyouameaningfullife.Personally,ifpeoplecanchosetheirlifestylefreely,itisalsoasuccess.Sometimes,holdingfasttoone’sdreamisasuccess.Successhasjustasmanyfacesasanyotherpossibletheme,dependingonthesocietyandthevaluesofthepersonwhomeasuresit.Manypeoplemistakenlyequalsuccesswithwealth,fameandpower.SomepeoplekeepcomparingthemselveswiththeJonesesandtheirhappinessdecidedbytheirneighbour’slifestyles.Success,cannotbemeasuredbywhatradiatesfromaperson’spurse

or

materialcover,butfromwhatexudesfromhis

or

herpersonalit