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China Elevator Stories
Chinese traditions: Full Moon celebration
My Chinese mother-in-law asks my husband to perform a ritual.
23/01/2015
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
In Chinese culture, the 满月 (literally “Full Moon”) celebration marks the day when a baby turns 30 days old. It is a special occasion, and there’s a traditional custom of cutting a baby’s hair on this day.
Before our son reached his 30th day, my mother-in-law sent my husband a message with instructions: “Once you’ve cut the hair, put it into a cloth. Put the cloth with the hair underneath the baby’s pillow. This way, he won’t be as easily startled anymore.”
Did you know about this Chinese superstition?
Explanation:
What my mother-in-law refers to here is the Moro reflex, a natural reflex that most babies have until they are around 4 or 5 months old. The Moro reflex causes babies to suddenly spread their arms and then quickly pull them back in, often followed by crying. It is believed that this reflex is triggered by a sensation of falling, and the superstition is that placing the baby’s hair under the pillow will help reduce the frequency of this reflex, preventing the baby from being startled.