By  LPJ

“Manyue” is a Taiwanese custom I witnessed for the first time last week. It means a celebration of a newly born’s full one month. Manyue’s description on google states that it is a symbol of new beginnings, and that the word literally means “full moon”. Baby Eva Lin was sleeping peacefully in her stroller as her father went through a ritual that essentially signifies a parent’s good wishes for the child’s journey in life. The props for the ritual were most interesting. On a tray were an apple, a big onion, tomato, celery and scallions. Beside the tray was a tall white vase that held several sunflowers. Each item had a strip of bright red paper around it, and represented various good wishes. Apple for peace, onion for smartness or intelligence, celery for diligence or hardworking, tomato for luck or prosperity, and sunflowers for strength and good health.

As Eva’s Mom lovingly looked on, her Dad picked each item on the tray and gently touched the baby with words that carried the parents’ good wishes. The ceremony embodied what every parent would desire for a child. The ceremony, gentle and heartwarming, was  the parents’ blessing for their newly born. I watched, totally fascinated.

That was a birthday celebration in a most unusual way. Food was plenty. While Eva lin had her fill of milk that led to a sound sleep, six of us at the party had our fill of delicious Taiwanese cuisine. Easily my favorite was the chicken dish marinated in soy sauce and cooked with basil. It reminded me of our Philippine adobo marinated in soy sauce and vinegar and cooked with a lot of garlic. The Taiwanese chicken had no vinegar, however. I also enjoyed the braised patola squash seeped in its own juice. The patola strips, though looking limp was zesty in the palate. There were other foods like noodles and squid, fresh strawberry/blueberry combo, and a multi-layered crepe and raspberry cake from Lady M.

Eva Lin slept comfortably all through her party, perhaps, to the relief of her Mom and Dad who constantly checked and made sure her diaper was dry. I waited for the baby to wake up. I wanted to hear her cry. Not that I wished her to be unhappy, but I was curious about the ring and timber of her voice, and the strength of her expression both facial and tonal. Eva did not disappoint me. For just as I thought the wait might take too long, she creased her brows, opened her eyes that started with a few flickers, swayed her delicate arms and  pushed a few kicks, then blurted out a most delightful and delicate cry that started soft and immediately grew in volume and force. Her  father said, “She’s angry now.”

Angry might have been a strong word. But feisty I would say. Eva Lin knew how to insist. She was hungry, and she wanted to be fed right then. Yes, Mama, now! And that was time for us to leave.

Thie pretty little princess, Eva Lin — only one month old. Already, a very blessed birthday celebrant.

Linda P. Jacob