Sanzhao Wine (Wine Drunk When a Baby ls Three Days Old)

In the past, when a baby was three days old, a ceremony (sanzhao ceremony) would be held, at which symbolic rites would be carried out to mark the start of the baby's `milk-drinking' and `meat-eating'. A woman who knew the way would be invited over to daub some bitter juice on the baby's lips with her fingers or chopsticks, saying, `dear, having tasted such bitterness when you are three days old, you may enjoy sweet sugar in the days to come.' Then she smeared some broth made of meat, wine, sugar and fish, saying, `Eat the meat, and you will be tall; drink the wine, and you will be blessed;taste the sugar, and your life will be happy; take the fish, and there will be always surpluses.' At this ceremony, the family's expectation of and good wishes for the bay were shown.