Family birthdays

[afuna]

It's my dad's birthday on Sunday, and my brother's on Monday!

We don't/can't celebrate *9th birthdays, so my dad turns 60 this year, and then he'll celebrate 60 again next year. I'm not sure why this is so, but it's something about the "9", I'd guess. When we threw a huge party for my grandpa's 90th birthday, he was really just 89. The second 90th birthday was a more quiet, private affair (as far as reunions go when every immediate relative is there (as opposed to every immediate relative and distant relative and their families and the distant relatives' closest friends)).

My brother came very close to being born on my dad's birthday. Narrowly escaped being dubbed "junior" (I'm sure he's grateful for that even as he turns 25 ;))

(Working on a mini-surprise for them now. The problem is, they already know they're going to be surprised >_<)

Comments

[iruka11.livejournal.com]

wow bakit kaya ganun? XD

alam nilang may surprise but you can still surprise them with what you're giving as a surpise :P (labo ba?)

[afuna]

Hahaha. I am trying to figure out how we're going to pull it off XDD

[homeworldfan829.livejournal.com]

maybe bad luck ata yung 9.
hehe. pero i read in a book by a chinese author some chinese believe when you are born you are actually a year old (spent in the womb).
so it follows 89 -> 90. or any *9 is actuallly 10. so i'm actually 22 when I'm actually 21.

[afuna]

some chinese believe when you are born you are actually a year old (spent in the womb).

Yup. I count myself by both my Chinese age and my non-Chinese age :)

[cindyg.livejournal.com]

According to my dad, who claims to have heard it from his Chinese friend, the number "9" has dangerous qualities in relation to age. He was advising my husband to say he's 60 instead of 59, and hubby - who does not subscribe to such traditional beliefs - politely said yes, and continues to list his true age on all legal documents and in conversation.

Not that anyone asks how old Ramon is, anyway, so the point in moot.

^__^

[afuna]

*nods* My parents said much the same thing, but they didn't/don't give any details. It's very frustrating :) I'm wondering if it has to do with the pronunciation of "9" in Fookien (as opposed to Mandarin).