As the saying goes, "Grandma's family 10 years old, my mother's family is 20 years old", which means that both grandma's family and father-in-law's family will send robes, Four Treasures of the Study, steamed bread and other gifts, and they will all worship God to bless and celebrate their nephews or son-in-law. Although 10 and 20 years old are not eligible for birthdays, it is also in line with the traditional customs of China people to hold commemorative and celebration activities on 10, which is called "birthday" by the people. In Xinchang, birthdays are usually celebrated every ten years, but not all ages can celebrate birthdays. Xinchang's old customs have a unique focus on celebrating birthdays, especially in terms of age, and there are many taboos. There is a saying in Xinchang that "eighteen short, nineteen dead, twenty dead", which shows that young people before the age of 20 can't celebrate their birthdays. Xinchang also has a saying that "work at thirty (longevity), and work at forty (homonym)". It is good to celebrate when you are 30, but "four" and "death" are homophonic and unlucky, so you can't celebrate your birthday when you are 40. Either you change your mind or you miss it.
According to Xinchang custom, age is generally counted as nominal age. Since the age of 50, children and grandchildren have offered sacrifices to gods and ancestors on their birthdays and held birthday drinks. Birthday is called "Zhengshou", and the birthday banquet is hosted by children and grandchildren, called "Peach Blossom". For wine vessels, peach is a birthday peach, and the name of "peach" probably means celebrating birthday. The day before the official birthday is called "warm birthday", which is organized by the married daughter. You can celebrate your birthday in advance within one year, but you can't celebrate your birthday after your birthday. As the birthday approaches, children and grandchildren usually come forward to invite relatives and friends to thirst for birthday wine. On the day of drinking birthday wine, it is usually a birthday present. In Shengzhou, Xinchang and other places, birthday gifts are often given at the beginning of the first month of the year of birth. Birthday gifts are all marked with the word "longevity", such as birthday candles, birthday noodles, birthday wine, birthday cakes, birthday paintings, birthday screens, birthday cakes, birthday buns, birthday peaches and so on. And the word "shou" is cut from red paper and put on birthday gifts and birthday utensils. Among them, birthday peach is an essential birthday gift, but if it is not in the season of peach production, rice flour can be used as a substitute.
During the birthday celebration, birthday congratulators should not only send birthday gifts, but also wish the congratulated people, saying such auspicious words as "Longevity is better than Nanshan Mountain" and "Happiness is like the East China Sea". In order to create a birthday celebration atmosphere, lanterns and big candles are usually hung from a warm birthday, that is, the day before the birthday. Hang up Shou Xingtu, banners, etc. People who celebrate their birthdays wear auspicious clothes and are bowed by the younger generation or congratulated by relatives and friends. Daughter and son-in-law need to send clothes, shoes and socks and other birthday gifts in addition to the general birthday gifts. In the old society, vulgar and relatively wealthy people had to hire a troupe to play the immortal drama. Xi Shou often sings Pingdiao, Lianhualuo or "next door drama" (this kind of drama is a folk art based on ventriloquism, which has been lost at present). The main content of Xi Shou's plays is mostly festive, and the end of the play ends with a happy ending of praying for good luck.
Xinchang custom birthday celebration is also done one year in advance for special reasons, which is called "making nine heads". In addition, people think that living to 66 years old is a difficulty in life. To get through this, you have to eat 66 pieces of meat to get through smoothly. Therefore, on her sixty-sixth birthday, her daughter or niece offered sixty-six pieces of meat to the birthday girl. If you are a vegetarian for a long life, you will use the same amount of dried tofu instead.
With the development of society, the progress of the times and the evolution of the world, the ancient custom of celebrating the celebration has changed greatly in form and content, although it exists. People generally no longer worship gods and ancestors, thus eliminating the complicated etiquette of celebrating birthdays. Usually, Kaya Hioki wine is used for birthday celebration, and noodles, steamed bread and cakes are distributed. Feeding people with noodles is called "longevity noodles", which means prolonging life. According to the different hobbies of longevity, the younger generation gives gifts that are beneficial to physical and mental health, and birthday celebrations give updated content.