THE CULTURE AND CUSTOM OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITIES: AFTER BIRTH - IN ABSTENTION

INTRODUCTION

Chinese women who have just given birth have to be in abstention for 40 days. The mother is forbidden from taking a bath using cool water to avoid winds to enter the body. The umbilical cord of the newborn is tied and wrapped with a piece of cloth on the baby abdomen to avoid winds to enter the baby stomach and to dry the cord.

A newborn baby physical attributes are always paid attention to by the elderlies. Thick and wide ears mean the baby will be wealthy. A sunken navel means the baby will live a prosperous life, while a pop up navel means a not so good life. The elderlies also believe that a more than one crown vortex on the head means the baby will be mischievious and stubborn.

In terms of food, the Chinese use a type of wine in their dishes that is made of fermented rice. The wine is poured into a chicken dish mixed with ginger and chillies then the chicken is fried. This hot dish is believed to relieve the body of winds apart from for strengthening energy.