Referral pictures of Max

Max's chinese name is Rui Fu. "Rui" meaning auspicious and "Fu" meaning happiness. The chinese name their children usually when they are a month old.

In old China, the mortality rate was high for infants. In the first month, the mother and child stay at home to regain their strength. The mother should not shower, wash her hair, eat fresh fruit or drink cold drinks. Traditionally, the mother is suseptable to colds, anemia and lightheadedness. They also believe they are at risk for other "cool" or "yin" types of conditions, the most serious being "fung sup", a condition similar to what we call artheritis. Ginger is an important heat generating aromatic that is said to "warm" the body and help prevent "cool" illnesses.

At one month, the baby is welcomed with a celebration of "firsts". The first bath, haircut, new outfit, and then a new name. The baby's hair is shaved, except for the top of the crown, to remove the hair considered grown in the womb. This is to stimulate hair growth . The hair is then bundled in red string and stored as a keepsake. This celebrational party, similar to a baby shower, with the participants being family and close friends, is called a "Red Egg and Ginger party. Traditionally, the Chinese grandmother presents the child. She peels the shell from red dyed hard boiled egg and rolls it on the infants skull, forehead, face and body to invoke a life filled with good furtune and blessed with high rank. Gingerroot, that is pickled in a red brine, is also part of the celebration.

The eggs represent fertility, birth and life. The color red is the symbol of happiness and good luck. Pickled ginger represents a family's strong, deep roots that their grandchilden perpetuate.

The name given to the child serves not only as an identifier but also expresses the aspirations and intentions for the child. The given name is also said to influence the child's role and destiny.