Talking about Tatertot in a melting pot! Some people think that once you are American, the cultural heritage of one's background should be forgotten, but quite the contrary, it should not. To have a Chinese American Christian birthday is an honor fraught with much heritage, and can incorporate all worlds of symbolism, without tainting Christian values and while maintaining plain old practicality.
BIRTHDAY TIMING - We know that the traditional Chinese calendar is a lunar and solar calender that is unlike the standard calendar we use in America. Since it is customary to have a Chinese child's birthday and naming ceremony a month after birth, and for Americans to celebrate the day of their birth, we decided that Tatertot's birthday would be held on his day of birth, but carry on some of the Chinese traditions.
NAMING - Since birthdays in China are usually involve a naming ceremony. We asked grandma to infuse a name that closely resembled his American name in sound. So, she came up with a chinese name that sounds like "Cherk-Wah." The name in chinese means brilliant and outstanding. His American name means prudent, discreet and righteous. His name will be displayed for his family and friends to see.
GAMES - One little game that we will use is the pick the object of your future game. This seems very Chinese American almost like the great fortune cookie. We'll put out items and like an abacus (mathmetician), a toy hammer (carpenter), a stethoscope (doctor), pen (writer), toy piano (pianist), paint brush (artist) and see what he likes, maybe he'll be fortunate to reinact the better tales from those great "Choose Your Own Adventure," novels.
CUTTING THE CHILD'S HAIR - In China, they used to believe that it was wise to shave off all of the hair so that it would grow back thick. Well, Tatertot's hair on the side is a little long, so we will have cut off a little curl as a keepsake.
RED EGGS AND GREEN ONIONS- (Party favors) Many Chinese cultural practices have Buddhist qualities, but yet also Christian. It's wild how looking at the age old custom of dying red eggs is also a Greek - Christian symbol. Of course eggs symbolize birth, and red in Chinese is the color of Luck. Greek-Christians believe red to be the symbol of the blood of Christ. The green spring onion is called "Choong" in chinese. "Choong Ming" means smart. Therefore, the fun word-play helps. It is believed that if you give green onions, it the child will be smart. Hmm... Red and Green, sounds like Christmas.
So there you have it, Tatertot is definitly one great fusion of fun.
Here's the link to the formal Chinese cultural celebration: http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa012303a.htm
